Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-03-10
The State Dinner to the Joint High
Comm laot0O.

II seems quite natural that the past and
present shoald constantly be put in juxtaposi-
ton and to the disparseenent OF the present,
but We doubt after all the descriptions We have
of past glories at the White House, IL in reality
they more equal to what takes place there now.
Since General and Mrs. Grant have been the
occupants, there is On air OF refinement and
look OF habitation, that We never saw before In
tures, vases, and little articles that give look Of
home, whereas in former times there were only
the bare necessary articles of furniture. Even
that great barn known as the Fast room"
looks well with the portraits of Presidents that
now cove. the blank walls. We challenge con-
tradiction when We say that the State dinner
last evening" ss vas Whit, the MOST elegant
dining room is grand in its lofty ceiling,
'spac.ousness and decorations. The table sc-
commodities thirty -six-the number of guests
the Cabinet and their wives were present, ex-
cept Mrs. Alderman, wife of the Attorney Gen
eral We believe she has never been 10 Wash
inston. Sir Edward and lady Thornton. the
Vice President and Mrs. Colfsx, Earl de Gray
Sir John and lady Macdonald, Sir Stafford
Northcote, Lord Tenterden, Mr.. Bernard,
Speaker Blaine and wife, Commissioner Will
'lams and wife, SIR. and Mrs Bancroft Davis,
Miss Chandler, Nr. Hoar, General aud Miss
'ScheDck, DIR. Sharpe and wife, Mr.. Justice Nell
son, and Miss Kitty Felt were the other guests
on his left Mrs. Colfax. On Mrs. Grants right
sat Earl de Gray; on her left the Vice Presi dent
Both ladies and gentlemen were in full dress,
In the highest sense of the wsrd. The gentle
men wore their orders and decorations. IL was
brilliant gathering, and nothing could have
been added to give effect. Adovn the center
of the table (Which is of immense width) is a
horizontal mirror Win gilt frame, and slender
gilt wires bowed, upon which flowers are fes-
TONED. In the center was a grand Oriental
stand In gilt, which was capped BY an immense
basket OF flowers in the form of the crown Of
Eng'ard. This stand had many branches, and
in each was q bOquet. At every plate there
we're flowers, and vases containing them were
disposed at proper intervals all over the table.
The china is white and maroon color, with the
United States shield snrmounted BY the eagle,
and the scroll beneath, with az Pluribus
Unum' on the center Of each piece. There
were nine different kinds Of wine, besides the
liquors aBd-the water. The knives are silver,
with pearl handles, and at the head aud foot OF
the table silver tureeps on silver walters. The
flowers, glass and silver all combined in pro-
ducing dazzling effect. The dessert service
is Of gold. The symbolic emblems Of England
and the United States were blended harmo-
Diously in the forms of confectionery and other
edibles. The lions rampant were embraced by
the eagle, and the Union was smothered IN
cream.
After dinner the gentlemen escorted the la
dies to the drawing room, and then retired to
another room for cigars and chat among them
selves. They returned to the ladies in time for
coffee. By ten O'Clock the guests had all de-
parted.