Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-02-02
WASHINGTON RECEPTIONS.

-RecepttOns ny Day ana NlSht'
Another sunshiny week has
passed, when the season-fgura.
lively, at least laughed, danced
and clapped its hands, and cried
aloud, "Behold me in my glory!'
It's very absurd that there should
lie but two seasons in Washing ton,
the very gay and the very dull.
During the formeryou see all your
"Set" morning and evening oI each
day; during the latter you don't
even know where TO find your
friends. They have collapsed, or
gone back into their shells, or be.
come grubworms, to develop into
butterflies, another year. Proba.
bly, there is no other city where no
one is expected to visit at all dur.
ing nine months in the year, and
every one is expected to attend re-
ceptions or hold them six days in
the week for two or three months.
There must be aching bones to day.
Some ladies and gentlemen, eXcep-
ting Sunday evening, have danced
OF stood for hours during every
evening in the past two weeks.
Oh, these receptionsl If only
some synonvmuns term could be
found for the everlasting word,
how happy social gossips wonld be
The pangs of tautology-that
word inflicts on writer's sensitive
ears are beyond the conn rehen-
sion of the reading public, which
docs not realize the necessity OF
having certain nouns aud adjec.
tives, especially among the last
"brilliant" forever at ones pen
point. Well, every day gives oc,
caison for the mention OF several
receptions to which "brilliant'
alone can be applied, and variety
in description can scarcely be eX-
pectcd "But what do you do al
those receptions ?" some one
asks, "ond do you eat and do you
sit down or stand up?' Most un-
fortunately we do more of the latter
than any thing else, A foreign
lady says she believes American
women wear themselves out with
this inccssant standing. A fash
ionahIe woman in Washington
stands as many hours out Of tht
twenty-four as a shop'girl in any
of your stores. The same foreign
lady saws that in England this in
cessant standing is not customary
A host IS here may not sit, often
during an entire reception, say
three or four hours at the time.
As to what we do, we chatter usu
ally, but not to begin with, we
give out names as we enter to the
man servant, who makes the an
nouncements. A party were quite
amused the other day at recep
ton by geing percmptorily stopped
by the dark serving man acting in
the capacity ofannouncer. stop,
ladies'" he said; stop, gentlemen
One at a time, if you please. !
must have the names correct IT
was rather embarrassing to enter
alone n parlor full Of people just
after your name had been hurled
into their midst like q bombshell.
Itis rarely the case that the gas
is lighted at a day reception The
rooms arc partially darkened, just
enough so as to prevent glare.
The hostess welcomes all corners
with profound courtesy and a
shake OF the Land, which those
being received return. The Wash
ington reception courtesy is al.
most an oheisance, relieved only
from being so by the mutual hand
shaking.
Usually n hostess has one or
more young ladies receiving with
her. Few married ladies receive
without some young and pretty
assistant After each entree Of
guests, chocolate or coffee. wine,
which are very thin home
made water crackers, aud cake, are
handed, At the day of receptions
Of the Cabinet ladies this year,
there has been no wine, but the
above eatables and drinkables are
alone used, This is because it has
been determined, if possible, to
simple customs.
At Mrs. Fsh's reception, to
,yoid the risk Of spilling chocolate
IN ladies' dresses because the par
ors are 80 crowded, ladies and
gentlemen are invited to walk into
he dining.room back Of the par
or, where chocolate is poured
rom a silver pitcher into fine China
cups, and wafels and cakes are
landed Vino is used at some
louscs, and bouilon or beef tea
It others. Salads and ices are
arelv offered during the day,
}ouillou is also customary at even
ng entertainments, and ought to
,e commended as a sensible drink.
is refreshing and nourishing and
after coming in from the
old, and surely refreshment, nour'
shment aud warmth are needed
" our Eshionabl $, WHO are al
Rays exhausting their energy,
AT day receptions short dresses
e silk, poplin and velvet are worn,
made with over.dresses and
asques, and round hats are as
luch worn as bounets, Trains are
arely seen in the daytime. AT