Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-04-07
Jenkins In the Federal CapitOl-A Modish
I,evee I'm Washin gtou.


A few evenings since, Mrs. Senator Gwin,
of California, gave her annual levee at the
Federal Capital. The following is part of
the description Of it, furnishedythe Baltimore
Republican by Washington correspondent.
Prefacing that Mrs. Gwin is one of the state
liest, handsomest and most graceful of Amer
lean women, we come at once to the pleasant
description of the party, the prominent actors,
dresses style and order of beauty:
From the ball we pass into the superbly
lighted rooms, where in spite of the cold
evening multitude of the rarest flowers are
breathing forth Goods Welcome" Mrs.
Gwin, Miss G., and neice, Mrs. Cowgirl, are
'.receiving"-in superb toilettes, cleaning
with velvet and diamonds, flowers and lace.
Mrs G. formed on this evening our standard
ofstately elegance. She wore anewly arrived
Paris dress of superb garnet velvet the skirt
composed of exquisite flowers of blonde lace
gathered over silk illusion, with rows of vel
vet between. A wreath of pomegranates,
surmounted by feather of exquisite finish,
was folded over her hair, and gave aqueenly
look to her commanding figure. There was
II happiness to the guests in raeding the face
of the hostess, for there was a frankness, a
spontaneous kindness, an evident merging OF
the misquiets and fatigues of the entertainer
in the enjoyments of the hostess, and in addi-
ton to this certain graceful ldisser alter,
which made the welcome to her house next
to the salutation of home voices
Miss G.s toilette contrasted beautifully
with her mothers. A Paris dress of the most
delicate rose tint over which foated cloud
like an upper skirt of blonde lace. Her long
abundant hair, of a pale gold color, was
folded back from her forehead in heavy waves,
and wound and wound about her small erect
head like coronal, while japonicas, with
their long beautiful leaves formed her only
head dress. Mrs. G. a mild and very inter-
esting young married lady, was in Paris
dress of pink silk, the upper skirt superbly
trimmed with rows of narrow black blonde.
The ball which we are describing was not
by any means the crowd which one so often
meets in Washington entertainments. But
two hundred cards had been issued, and on
looking down the beautiful rooms our eye
fell upon detached groups of the first station
and fashion. In one direction, Mrs. Bodisco,
widow of the late Russian ambassador,
Baron Bodsco,) appeared as if Just glittering
from diamond shower bath. Her dress, a
magnificent lilac brocade was covered with
founces of the finest Point d. AIeRcoR, which
are said TO have been purchased in Paris at q
cost of ten thousand dollars. Mrs. B. resided
in st. Petersburg where her sons are being
educated in the palace of the Emperor with
his family, and is now temporarily here on 9
visit to- her relatives in Georgetown.
Conversing with her was Mrs. Won Limburg
lady of the ambassador from the Netherlands
in rich crimson silk, with Brussels point
fiounces. Attracted by the heavenly melody
of Weiber's Band, we passed on to the bali
room, to be almost dazzled by the beauty
that met our eye. Debutantes of that pleas
antest Of all ages, the blushing, bewildering
coming out age, were floating down the
dance like Peris through the air, as if their
tiny feet were gifted with wings.