Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-02-06

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
These were received at the door by the iani-
tors; and parties minus the precious bits Of paste
board "who had left their cards at home" or
were "sure II would be all right" were rigor.
ously excluded or kept good while in proba.
ton.
By ten O'Clock the arrivals were thick and fast,
and from that hour until midnight the East Room
presented a brilliant spectacle indeed.
The President and Mrs Lincoln occupied the
center Of the room, no formal presentations being
made to them, but the guests on arriving advanc-
ing to pay their respects to each.
In other parts Of the room and in the adjoining
rooms various celebrities held court also, their
various localities being designated by the crowds
that eddied round them.
Gen. Mcclellan, whether stationary or PRONE
nading with Mrs. Mcclellan or Miss Marcy, was
thus lionized. Tall, Englishy Senator Sumner
had his circle, and Gen. Fremont and "Jessie,' -
on their appearance in the rooms were immedi-
ately surrounded by their admirers. Sturdy, SOL
dierly looking Mcdowell, conversing In Eng lish
and French with equal facility, was not only the
object Of respectful attention from his fellow
countrymen (who believe in him despite Bull
Run), but was made much Of by the Diplomats
and foreign element of the gathering generally.
The Oval Room (sometimes known as the Low
er's Reireat) seemed to be the favorite gathering
place Of the diplomats. White neck-cloth,d
kindly Lord Lyons, dsshing nj. Mercier, urbane
NJ. Stocked, and other representatives of leading
nations together with those Of lesser powers were
Congregated here, 1.-THE farer sex of the same ma -
tlonalities in due propoftioD;) and the patter of
languages that fell upon the ear In approaching
this room was slightly " NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. to
a degree. Hereabouts was Mr.. N. r. Willis, In
full force saying witty things and graceful things
in equal proportion, and clad in dress coat whose
awful wrinkle across the back was surely Intended
10 entrap all unhesitatng followers Of his In mat
ters Of costume.
Secretary Seward, white-neck -cloth,d like his
late viS-a-riS in matters diplomatic, seemed in
extra good humor, and nothing could be gathered
from the lines Of his face indicative Of any Dor
tentous signs in the foreign heavens Senator
Chase, too, bore the look OF an official quite able
to shoulder the and responsibilities OF even
his onerous position, and to provide the requisite
two millions per diem for a season longer
Secretaries Stanton, w elles and Smith were
there; and more NJ. C.'s than we can here emu
merats, including a full representation of the
border-State delegations, the venerable Cri.ten
den, Maynard Of Tennessee, Kennedy and Pearce
Of Maryland, Garret Davis, Salisbury, and others.
II, u
Preme Court, were present; and amongst the
military men the following Brigadfers General
commanding divisions) Heintzleman, Fitz John
Porter, Blenker. Hancock, Hooper, Mcdowell,
Keyes, Stone, and w. F. Smith, and Brigadiers
General Marcy, (Chief Of the staff Of the Army OF
the Potomac Van Rensselaer,, Andrew Porter,
Provost Marshal, y Doubleday, and Casey. Also,
Captains l.. P. and p. d. Orleans, (of General
McClellan's Staff and Prince Salm SaIm, (of
General Blenker's Staff Captain Dahlgren, Gen.
Shields, and many others; in fact the rooms were
brilliant with uniforms, making fair set of to the
gay plumage Of the ladies.
Gov. Wicklife, Of KY; Mr.. Frederick Seward
Assistant Secretary Of State; Mr. Clark Mills, the
sculptor, and his lady; Mr. Robert Lincoln, ex.
Mayor Berret, Mr.. Geo. Ashmun, Of Mass; were
there; and as the visitors moved through the
rooms the eye was continually resting upon some
person Of note in various walks Of life
At eleven O'Clock, the President taking the
daughter Of Senator Browning, Of Illinois, upon
his arm, entered upon the promenade, and Mrs
Lincoln followed with Senator b.
sense Of duty to lady readers admonishes u.
70 mention that Mrs. Lincoln was tastefuIIy, ele.
gsntly dressed according to the verdict Of lady
authorities present, and who are sure to be rigid
enough critics in such matters) In white satin,
with black lace hounces, perhaps half yard or
more in width, the founces festooned I'D with
white and black ribbon. She wore pearl orna-
ments, and a handsome Partisan head dress with
punches Of Grape myrtle, &c, and with bouquet
90 match.
Having passed through the rooms In prone.
made, the President led of In the direction of the
suPPer-room, and the guests following were
struck with admiration by the scene presented
ha ted
who has been here In person for some DAYS, with
his head waiter, Charles Hartmyer, and other, of
his force-wsiters, cooks, artists in CONNECTION
ery-hsd evidently exerted himself To give wash.
ington taste Of his quality, and the table, were
loaded with the products Of his genius The
supper was, in many respects, the most superb
affair Of the kind ever seen here
At the west end Of the table was a war device
a helmet Sugar supported by figures and with
waving Piumes OF spun sugar; next came taste.
fnl basket next a hermitage, followed by a tempIe
snfmounted by the Goddess Of Liberty; then Chi
nese Pagodas, Roman temples, cornucoptss. foun.
tains with spray OF spun sugar and surmounted
oy stars and then the good American fr,oate
Union" with guns, sails, flags, smoke stack
and all, complete in sugar, and the whole ann.
ported by s,ar.snd stripe draped cherubs.
Fort Pickens doomed up In sugar on a side
table, surmounted, however, by something more
eatable than barbette guns, In the shape OF de-.
IiciouslY prepared birds, and similar ucbieken
hIins." There were pates topped by birds, sit
ting apparently on their nests; and there were
oee-hlves, the perfection Of initiative art, with
hie-nte bees swarming about the entrances. but
wnioh being unroofed were found loaded with
Charlotte Russo, instead Of honey.
There was superb pate de fol gras inviting the
respectful attention Of gourmands, and other dep.
cacies aud luxuries In such profusisn that the
joint attack OF the thousand or more guest. fa,ed
10 dePsete the array. Champagse and other Costly
wines and liquors f,wed freely in hospItable
emulation with the enticing abandonment. Of N.
edioles. The immense japanese punch. bowl ~
the White House had been filled and set ont I'm
another room earlier In the night, and aanked nv
sandwiches, biscuits, chsese, &C., had served 81,
part In the Inequalities Of the Executive Mansion
Among the ingredients Of this big bowl Of punch
were some twenty bottles Of champagne. with
srrack and rum In proportions to furnish a SUBJ
stantial foundation. E4
Rv tha tim. tk. ol.x.-.