The New York herald., 1871-02-19
WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
T2E LAST LEvEE OF THE SEASON
The 3overeigns in Force at the White House.
Scenes and Incidents : Metropolitan and
Country Fashions-Th Ladies' Toilets
WASHINGTON, Feb. IS, 1871.

WASHINGTON, Feb IS, 1871.
The third and last evee OF the season was held at
the White House tonight Washington Is overflow
ing with strangers who have come to the carnival
and the centre OF attraction for them this evening
was tne Presidents levee. AS soon as the doors
were thrown open mass OF men. women and
children squeezed and pushed their way along
the corridors, through the Red Room and into the
Blue, where II you were 30 fortunate to secure q
comfortable little nook, you could derive considera
bic entertainment from watching the long process
sion as IL passed through the door, hating for an
instant rs one after another was presented to the
President and Mrs. Grant, Many OF the faces were
so unattractive that you were glad to look beyond
them 10 others on which your eye would fain linger
Plain street dresses appeared, and many hats and
bonnets were worn, some bedecked in cheap tawdry-
looking Gnery, but now and then you saw dress
the shades Of which were artisticaly Blended
that II was perfect study.
MANY AMUSING INCIDENTS
occurred. One reverend-ooking gentleman politely
asked The President how his family were; another
manifested his sympathy by saying, "Well, MI. Pres-
dent, you nave hard row to hoe.n sharp individ-
ua who probably has favor TO ask OF the President
before long, told him that he looked at least ten
years younger than his pictures. The apparent dis
position OF the crowd was TO pause near the array OF
beauty and elegance around Mrs. Grant, but usher
requested them 10 pass through into the East Room.
they disappeared through the doorway INTO the
Green Room; aud pretty-laced little woman asked
her husband IN rather a petulant tone why he was
not Cabinet Minister Congressman, or even Mar
slal or the District so that she could nave the privl
lege of remaining IN the Blue Room.
THE GREEN ROOM
presented rather a forSaken appearance in compar-
son with the others. Still, many lovers OF nature
turned their eyes for moment from the pomp and
glitter OF art TO examine the profusion OF brilliant
nued flowers which peeped from the depths OF eX-
qnsite stands and traied over the sides OF antique
vases. But
THE EAST ROOM
presented brilliant scene. Among the many mag
nihcent toilets was that Of Mrs. Fish, who were
scarlet and white striped gauze with duchesse lace
trimmings over white silk and headdress OF
white lace, scarlet flowers and wheat.
LADY THORNTON
looked very elegant IN white satin, with two rows Of
green satin points on the bottom, green and white
striped satin overskirt trimmed with white ducheSse
lace, and mass Of white tulle gathered about her
shoulders.
MRS, VICE PRESIDENT CoLFAx
wore white gros grain, with point lace trimm ngs
over peach blossom san beautiful pearl necklace
was casped around her neck and sprays OF tea
were fastened at her waist on her breast and in her
hair.
Mrs. Sharpe wore q light blue silk, with white
muslin rue on the bottom OF skirt and long muslin
oyersklrt trimmed with nuted rufres. She wore
coral 0rlamentA
A light blus siii with black thread overskIrt and
pertha fa-wed q Scactiful contrast with Mrs. GEN.
cral FremUnsB very hair.
There was an unusually large number OF people in
attendance, but not so many magnificent toilets
as on former OCCASIONS. THIS Is the last Presiden-
ual leyee 0f the season.