The Portland daily press., 1870-04-21


In the midst of all the light diversions ~
Washington society the past winter Mr.. Ho-
ratio King (once the postmaster generaD de-
veloped a plan of evening entertainments
which should combine mental improvement
with recreation. He determined to prove
that there were people enough even in this
abandoned city speaking after the manner of
scribes in general) who would be glad 10 pass
an evening once a week in listening to good
reading, original or selected, charming music,
and holding social intercourse with each other
Every Saturday evening for some time past he
has assembled enough persons to fill his three
good-sized parlors, and has had readings or
lecture from some accomplished man or wom-
an to occupy the attention of the company for
the hrst hour, or less. The invitations are
simple, being printed ON a single slip of pa
per, and usually run thus: "Litertary reunion,
Satqrday,-, at IL o'clock, p. m. Read.
ing by (name Of reader follows). Yourself
and ladies lin evening dress) are invited.
Horatio King;" and the address of his
home is given. By giving the intmation as
regards the 1ress ladies are expected to wear,
Mr.. King really eonfers favor, as any lady
Will admit who has suffered the agonies of
doubt incident to the receiving of an ambigu-
GUS inVitation. 1t is exceedingly comfortable
not 10 know whether bonne. would be in
bad taste or no ohead-covering in worse. EVEN
ing dress at these literary soirees means SIM
ply any description OF toilette, with or with
out train, but certainly with high corsage,
and halr arranged according to the taste of the
wearer. NO refreshments are provided or ex-
pected on these occasions, and by eleven
o'clock at latest the last OF Mr.. Kings guests
has hidden him good evening, with the assur-
ance of the pleasure be has received.
MI. King believes that such entertainments,
simple, confined to early hours, and vet never
stiff or stupid, will in time take the place of
the conventional Washington reception, where
the host and hostess 60 to great expense. are
Kept standing enduring incessant hand-shak-
ing until after midnight, ard vet rarely sue
ceed in satisfying the countless numbers who
throng their parlors, pushing each other and
waging an internecine war with ices and
punch, on magnificent dresses Whether
this is consummation devoutly to be wished
or no, remains yet to be proved. Thus far no
one has followed Mr.. Kings example, yet be-
fore the close of the season there were not a
few among the leading members of society
here who declared that what they had suffer-
ed this winter, they would never willingly
submit to again.
In connection with one of Mr.. Kings liter
ary reunions, little incident may be told
which offers problem worthy of solution by
an enterprising debating society. On Sat
urday evening not long since, Mr.. King gath
cred together most distinguished audience
lO llSltu W Tic TtdueT Vi tue evening, Urdce
Greenwood. The President, Vice-President,
General Sherman, Senator Sherman, Judge
Holt, Senator Ross and many other promi-
nent men were present, besides Mrs. Cox, her
daughter Miss Nellie, Mrs. Sherman and 9TH
er well known ladies, some of whom are dis
tinguished in the world of letters. 1t happen
ed that two ladies, by no means prominent,
were necessarily detained beyond the hour Of
the reading beginning and entered the room
w
ing front seats Immediately rose and offered
them to the ladies, politely insisting that
they should be accepted. Both ladies declin-
ed, but finding that by so doing they were
disturbing the company, if not interrupt
| ing the reader, they took the vacated
places The two gentlemen who offered
this polite attention were the Vice
President and Senator Howe, and the prof
fered seats were next the President, who did
not rise at all then, or afterwards when other
ladies entered the room and stood near. At
ter the reading was over two or three young
ladies and gentleman debated whether the
President ought or ought not to offer his
place on such an occasion to the ladies'. One
thought he ought not because he was Presi-
dent. The gentleman said it was not ques-
ton of rank at all, but, as poor Mr.. Twemlow
would put it, "it was the question of the feel
ings of gentleman" 1t was maintained
that any man ought, as matter oil, courtesy,
| to give place to any woman, old or young, of
position or without it. Whether any woman
would take position offered by the President
was another matter; certainly few women
would care to do so. But the Vice-President
| seems to make no question of his rank in
| such a connection, and does not allow it to
! debar him from paying the small attentions
| to women which are Incident to his kindly
nature.-Cor. Springfield Repub.