Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-02
MCCLELLAN.
A Very Awkward and Altogether
Annoying Demonstration at Mrs.
Grants Reception.


Grants Reception.
Correspondence of the New York World
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-Mrs. Grant
held another of her afternoon receptions
to-day from 2 to 4 O'Clock. 1t was by
far the largest and most brilliant of any
given thus far this season. 1t was also
in way highly sensational; for, instead
of one, the public really attended two re-
captions, of which the more unexpected
was perhaps the more welcome and sig
lifieant General and Mrs Mcclellan held
this latter, and that not only within the
halls of the Presidential mansion, but in
the famous Blue Room itself, with Mrs.
Grant and a gorgeOusly affixed retinue
standing % cote, and witnesses of the
scene from beginning to end
II happened in this wise. The recep-
ton was at its height. The whole suite
of gorgeously furnished rooms was
crowded with people The living tide
was surging and tossing with old-timed
restlessness through the channels marked
out by the four rooms and the long cor
Tidor, thrown open on occasions of cere-
mOny like this for the last score of years
or more. Many had come and bowed at
the shrine of Presidential greatness,
nodded promiscuous greetings among the
crowd, and squeezed away through the
files of incomers, and had Como.
Others were left, however, to fill their
places. Mr.. the President had come in
late from attending fashionable wedding
end was at his post by the side of Mrs.
tho Drac3doDf Tho .o,,r4Ioee Do,,4, 1900,
ubiquitous-a power hence happy. The
affair was eliminating.
A carriage drawn by two white horses
drove up to the door. From it descended a
pale, misunderstanding woman, leaning on
the arm of a handsome, military-IoOking
man. They slowly entered the outer door
and passed into the vestibule.
Somehow passage opened for them
where others found only an impossible
barrier. People looked, and those in front
whispered huFriedly to those behind. The
moment they had passed, the open space
filed up as by magic, and there was a
violent pushing to the front.
In a little while they had passed through
the crowd and were exchanging saiutations
with the Presidential party,
Then began a scene, one long 10 be re-
membered; the present ineumbents of the
White House will never forget it.
People forgot them, or if they did re-
member them, they didn't care to show
it. Some one said: ''There is the man
who ought to have been President and
the sentiment spread like wildfire.
In less time than it takes to tell it, the
scene of the reception was shifted and
the actors had changed places. General
and Mrs. Mcclellan were for the time
being the President and his wife; and
General and Mrs Grant ''outsiders"
body.
The real President grinned and grimaced,
and, as Is his habit when in social trou-
bles, plucked at his beard. 1t was conf
cal TO watch the look of chagrin and an
noyance on his face rs he in turn watch
cd the scene at his elbow; but what cold
he dol
The situation was desperate beyond
hope, and until his unwilling rival had
quilted the field of his triumph, he stood
there in blank desnair, Relief came at
last, however; hat hO& until the reception
had come tG 40 end.
As Ge4efal Mcclellan quilted the room,
thoroughly worn out with the terri.
BILE hand-shaking he had undergone,
Mrs. Secretary Fish came in-the most
magnitieently dressed woman who Ia;
trod the White House floor for ten years
Cologne Cathedral, which has beer
building for some 900 or 500 years, viii
be finished in 1875