The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-03-31
The Presidrnt,. Lr,rr.

! WASHINGTON, March 20, 1s66-The Presi-
| dental leYee Of tonight differed somewhat
| from the previous receptions at the White
House, and, notwithstanding the chilly and
forbidding aspect of the weather, was
| largely attended by officials and fashiona
bles of the city. Passion week seemed to
have been forgotten in the general desire to
| be present, and throngs OF ladies and gen
| tlemen in full dress were arriving and de-
| parting continually from an early hour IN
] the evening until the time for closing the
| doors Of the main entrance. The marine
| band were present as usual, and its leader
| was more than ordinarily felicitOus in Sc
| Letting airs for the occasion, and securing
| their faultless execution. The East Room
| and adjacent passages were crowded by
| young and old to listen 10 the delightful
| strains, where misses and matrons Of every
| degree Iromensded 10 measured cadences.
Arlstocracy and democracy were alike re-
presented, and titled danes and republican
| wives and mothers we're scarcely distin-
| guishabie in the crowded rooms Of the
| Presidential mansion. The ladies displayed
a large variety Of toilets, from the plain
! parlor TO the extreme evening, or party
dress. There were velvets, sstins, pearl,
| lavender, crimson, garnet and black silks
| in prOfusiOn, as well as tulles and tArletans
These, adorned with diamonds and other
ornsments, with their neatly arranged
coiffures, presented an attracting and fssei-
mating scene.
The President, as usual, stood near the
entrance in the Blue Room. The guests
were introduced BY Marshal Gooding. Mr..
johnson was dressed in plain black, with
straw colored gloves. His daughters, Mrs.
Patterson and Mrs. Slower, assisted in re-
ceiying the guests. They stood az the right
and rear of the President. The former was
attired in black velvet low neck and short
sleeves, with illusion bodies, hair ornamen-
ted with flowers and back curls. Mrs
Slower wore rich black silk trimmed with
lace, low neck with hair tastefully arranged
and back curls. Many of the guests loiter-
ed around the Blue Room, but the larger
portion Immediately found their way into
the East Room. Among those who remain
ed in the Blue Room were Secretaries
Welles, DenisOn and McCulloch. Promi-
nent among the prOmenaders were Mr.. and
Mrs. Gen. Banks, the latter attired in q rich
salmon silk, with pink flowers, low neck
and tral, and coral necklace. Governor
Sharkey and lady were also quite eOnspiou-
Gus. Mrs. ShFrkey was dressed in a rich
pearl colored silk, long trail, with velvet bor-
der and trimmings, with steel edgiag, with
an elaborate cOlfiure. Sir Frederick Bruce
and Lady Thurlow were in the East
Room most Of the evening. He was dressed
in the plain republican style, without
any decorations, while Lady Thurlow's
attire was Of the same simple style. She
wore a dark watered silk. Senor Romero.
the Mexican Minister, escorted the lady of
President JuArez. She was attired in a rich
lavender silk, richly trimmed, and long
trail, with diamonds. Hen. Z. .. Camp
bell also had 4 Mexican lady on his arm
She was attired in blue silk, long trail and
fluted trimmings around the bottom, with
diamond pin. Mr.. Labantree, Of the State
Department, also escorted & Mexican lady,
who attracted considerable attention. The
brunette countenances and well formed fea-
lures Of these Montezuma ladies furnished a
contrast with the American ladies, and
made them the centre OF attraction. It's
useless 70 attempt 10 describe all the ladies'
toilets. A few Of the most conspicuous
must suffice. There were, however, many
others as equally brilliant and attractive IS
those narrated above.
The army was well represented. Gene
rails Howard, Fry, Bryce, Dyer, Ricketts,,
Robinson and many others were present.
with and without their ladies. Among he
Senators and Congressmen present were
Steward, OF Nevada Davis and Mckee, Of
kentucky salisbury and Riddle, Of Della
ware; Darling, Taylor, Brooks, Humphreys
and many more from New York. The even
ing wore awsy Pleasantly to all, and by
eleven o'clock the crowd was rapidly de-
parting.