The New York herald., 1870-02-28
WASHINGTON PLEASURES.
RECEPTIONS AND BALLS LAST WEEK.
JAM AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

WASHINGTON Fec IS 1870
rns PRESIDENTS RECEPTION
Tue Presidents last levee on Thursday evening
was overwhelming ID point or numbers and com.
pared BY veterans TO the last one held by Andrew
Johnson. At ten the doors closed and hundreds
went away without much "a seeing the inside
walls OF the ante rooms OF the Executive Mansion
The Prssidsns shows his good sense IN placing his
hours from eight until ten p. NJ. The prevalent no.
ton that prevails in fashionable circles OF extending
social amenities late into the night has everything
intelligent against Il and nothing IN its favor The
desire among Americans 10 ape foreign manners
ana modes ana manufactures ~ discreoitabe to
us. We nave abundant need TO be proud or our
nationality, and can well aYord 10 establish customs
OF our own. adhere TO them and stamp them with
soe seal OF republican nobility. Perhaps no other
CITY IN the country, In proportion TO IT'S wealth and
population can show more abundant PROOF OF the
aspirations Of tue people TO be European in
como way or another than thls capital. The
dresses must be Parlsan; the furniture has been
shipped from abroad; jewels Rleam with oriental
splendor, and everything savoring or foreign work
nanship valued higher than our own admirable
American mechanisms. This Is all wrong Uf oil
our cities no one should take pride In being 80 com.
petely anu pHhudy American as this. No better
opportunity can be furnished to show foreigners the
extent and excellence or skiled labor than Tor
public men and women here to furnish their honses
mish American goods, In the artistic as well az sub.
stanLai sense anu II the empire or fashion yields
glory let Washington be the rival OF Paris ana
American women follow In the train OF tho grand
danes Of their own republican court instead OF
Aping The fashions and folies, OF the court of
France IL is not beyond the ability OF the women
representatives here, Judging from what ono sees.
II 10 one thing to have gown and another to wear
1t right royalty.
Mrs Grant was splendid in q robe OF ruby velvet
with her portly shoulders subdued under q nchu OF
point d'Aiencon, and some or the same dainty
gsrniture ABOUT the short and small sleeves. A
medallion OF the President was the charm at
ner throat. Exhausted With fatigue upon re.
eelving she was obliged to relinqutsh her place
ana SAT apart from the throng surrounded with
lew Trends. The Kindness or her heart ex-
dresses Itself above all circumstances. as upon
coming mutitudes OF late con,ers s. looked pa,nea
ana said II am 50 sorry. IL Is really too bad after
tney nave taken the trouble 10 Gomez
Mrs. Hamilton Fisn stood near the President after
MIS- Grant retired. Her toilet was OF the cosesr
descrlption--a delicate mauve satin with flounces
OF point lace nall yard deep, aud yards ana yards
" similar pattern about the waist and sleeves
Her ornaments We're of diamonds and pearls-a
necklace and cross OF diamonds
Tired as was the President the magnificent oya
sioa must have warmed MS heart There can be no
mistaking his popularity. He has an excellent
memory. TOO. II Was Introduced 10 you on Tues
day,n he said, taking tue hand or a certain lady
upon xhe second lntroduction and holding it
experienced nothing equal TO this before, he said
ai!uding to the visitors. he seemed glad FOR q icw
minutes talk, TO De mOmenidrly free from tile
eternal handsnaking. II IL matter Tor astonshUcnt
that men or women, after once c6mDrehending
the social maityrdom that attaches itself to the
Executive Mansion can have the per5lstence TO In.
duge 10 presidential aspiratons
entering the White House there was considerable
iun IN tne crush. A continual firing OF humorous
speeches Kept everybody IN good hunor who had
room Ia which to laugh. 'tSeei there goes my sash
hoating down the tide, (" exclaimed lady, tragoaly,
A. sne discovered ner appendago. several feet
sue DID. gentleman asked hrs lady II sue ever
tainted She said no, and lie expressed much
lno great Inconvenience experienced by rhe visit
ors was good desl attributable to imperfect ar.
rsngements, or rather lack or tact the part OF
some OF tho attendants Of The White House IN not
establishing some rules for entering and leaving.
Ol course people must suffer III such q vast throng
when those going out or trying to- were opposed by
those coming IN, or rtrying to- can only Imagine y
usual everybody obeyed the impulse OF rushing for
Tue door. The jam could not have been much
WORSE
BY nine O'Clock the crowd was at s,s height vestI.
bue, corridors, pariors showed compact, strug
giing mass OF men and women. Policemen tried 10
Keep the crowd back without avail. Men aud
women got on chars, pianos or tables-indeed,
upon anything that would relieve them OF tho press
Gentlemen VINO brought ladies found 1t tmD0ss bic
10 join them after leaving the dressing room LADIES'
were carried one way and husbands or lovers the
scutive Mansion were closed. Just before Captain
C0mmereli and Lleutenants Pinkleton ana Vintz had
come Ia ana tried 70 get thIousn the crowd. Ihay
whether they ever reached the President Is ques-
ti0n
ADMIRAL PoRTER's DAsCE.
Wonderful TO State, while the Presidents levee
was going on, with IT'S tremendous crush and jam,
another crush and jam were at Admiral porters
elegant establishment. 'lhe German was the at
traction mere, and everybody invited, believe at-
tended. Tncre were too many TO aow comfort.
n yer
reprehensiDe practice. refer to the practica TOO
frequently indulged, OF stripping the table OF flowers
by those most eager to satlsy their appetres Which
exercised TO llcentlous degree. While nours
necessary TO enable the vast tnrong to reach the
supper table IL required but short space or time to
witness the appropriation " private uses 0f Its NOS
expensive ana attractive ornaments. IL has cer-
talnly very vulgar look, not to say worse, 10 see
persons protesting TO be gentlemen sCrambiiag for
thc decorations OF the board aud would suppose
salons OF fashion with purchased aoral accompani.
ment5 TO leaving them with bouquets rudey
0icned from the table. such scenes sometimes
originate n ignorance, but are TOO frequently par
ticipatcd in by many who know enough to under
stand the proprieues OF polite society. II is time
inls sort OF barbarlsln were discontinued.
MINISTER THORSroN's PARTY
which also took place last night was decidedly bet
nted that it was one or the most enjoy affairs OF
Inc KIND ever given In this city, The guests Of course
comprised TO marked degree the c,eae &c u creme
OF the resident population. TO which was added
nearly all the ladies and gentlemen OF the several
corps dtplomatique, of the judges OF the United
states Court, and prominent representatives IN Con-
Rress. The ground -four OF the spacious mansion
presented scene OF beauty, sp!end0r or attire ana
sportiye society not often witnessed In the yeest
hours OF this brilliant possible for
beauty and animation to fan In rendering the occa
one OF great attraction and deep interest, the
presence OF SO many persons conspicuous for their
Onlcial RANK, social position, historic renoWn and in
teectual distinction consplred to impart q degree
OF iascinaii0n which made eacn individual happy
aud the company luxuriousy buoyant. The
excellent taste which devlses rather the en-
JoJment or guests than their numbers was
never more apparent, for while one could
scarcely imagine the absence or any oonspIcu-
Gus for rank, beauty or position, and while many
strangers could be observed amid the Lively assem-.
plage, there was no sucn throng as precluded free
and easy movement or inlerposcd to lessen the ef-
OF the studied. rich ana tasteful attires which
commanded admiration and supplied objects OF ever
varying interest," To those who for the nrat time,
were favored with invitations 10 the British Lega
ton nothing appeared more delightful than the
cordial suavity aud ease wherewitn greetings we're
dispensed ~ Mrs. Thornton. ana the pains taking
efforts OF the Minister ana gen. emen OF the Leea-
q trihlle a iha af