The New York herald., 1871-02-04
THE PEPUBLICAN COURT.
PRESIDENT GRANTS SECOND LEVER.
A Brilliant Assemblage at the White House
Washington's Beauty and Fashion Well
Representative Toilets Of the Ladies'
WASHINGTON. Feb. 8, 1871.


steps and through the wide, open portals OF
the mansion Ushers, In broadcoth. white neck
ties and gloves were thickiy scattered about and
q polceman's Uniform greeted the eye at almost
every turn. Ladies' in full evening dress emerged
from the dressing room every minute, as wave upon
wave OF silks and laces rolled In. All the surround
tngs were suggestive OF festive scene. The Presi-
dent had consented to sacrifice himself for the bene
ft OF the sovereign people on the occasion OF his
SECOND GRAND LEvEE.
There was the usual jostlIng, pushing and dress
tearing among the dense crowd, composed Of
almost every class OF people, who streamed through
the Red Parlor and into the Blue Room near
the door OF which the President stood ready TO grasp
the hands OF the countless throng, whom Marshal
sharpe presented TO him. President Grant under
went this handsnaking ordeal with as good o
grace as could be expected from the soldier hero
whose broad, sinewy hand is familiar with the
sword ht than the gloved fingers OF beautiful pelles
Your name is pronounced iI Deep manly voices a
pair or keen gray eyes look searchngly yours:
the honest hearty grasp relaxes It's hold, and the
Chief Magistrate turns TO welcome another guest
THE BLUE ROOM
presented fairy like scene, with Its bright-nued
sweeping silks, sparkling eyes, nunering fans,
waving pumes and nashing Jewels, with hood OF
brilliant light over 1t ALL and the sweetest notes OF
the Marine Band noatlng cut on the fowerfreignted
air. Pretty ever-varying ableaux appeared. Groups
OF eager, upturned, bright young faces and trail
ing velvet robes formed q rich background for
lithe graceful figures in soft white draperies and
gay coiored ribbons Physiornomisis found broad
field here for the pursuit OF their favorite
pastime as the laughing eyes OF school
girl glanced merrily into theirs, or their gaze
rested for an instant upon the beautiful. bright
tinted face OF a well known belle, then wandered
and massive forehead OF talented statesman;
peered into the deep-set, twinKling gray eyes OF
money loving money ey-making broker, and was cnal-
enged at last by the wen trained features and cold,
steady gaze OF q middle aged woman OF the world.
THE LADIES' TOILETS.
Mrs. Grant arrayed with exquisite taste in a
corn-colored MORE antique, with deep black
thread lace nounce fastened near the waist on the
right side by large bow OF black lace and corn.
colored taratan, and sweeping around the skirt TO
the left side, where similar bow was
placed near the bottom Of the dress; low
corsage, trimmed with black lace, and tarlatan
sash and necklace and earrings OF amber peads,
was the cynosure OF every eye. A spray Of natural
flowers trailed among her bralds and a butterfly
rested lightly among them. The galaxy Of ee-
ganly attireo ladies' who shared with Mrs. Grant
the honors OF the evening were the next most pro-
minent attractions OF the room. Tney were Mrs. ex
Fish, Mrs Cramer, the Presidents sister, Mrs.
Judge Dent, Miss Kitty Felt, OF Gaena, ILL.,; Miss
Nellie Grant ana Mrs. General Dent
Mrs. Fsh's toilets are always perfect and her dress
tonight, although not as elegant as many which
this queeny looking lady has appeared in this
son. was very beautiful. II a lavender silk,
trained skirt and oversklrt trimmed with rufies OF
same; low neck and short sleeves, with dotted
white net; bertha and sleeves edged with point
lace covering her neck and arms: alavender os-
trich plume waved among her lovely gray curls
and she wore diamonds.
Mrs. Morgan presented very imposing appear.
ance, in a heavy name-coored rep trained dress,
with black thread lace 1ounce, extending nearly
half way up the skirt, where 1t was finished by
three rows OF fiame-coOred satin piping; low cor
sage, over which a black thread lace shawl was
draped; headdress Of white point lace blue feathers
and Dlnk MOWERS. Diamonds finished this magnln-
cent toilet.
silk, with long oversklrt trimmed with ruchngs
OF crimson SATIN white point lace collar and barbe
at her throat and crimson rose nestled among
Mrs. Judge Dent was handsomely but rather
thread lace BERTHA fastened at the throat py coral
Mrs Felt was tastefully dressed in light blue
silk, the front width and court train trimmed
with narrow ruff1es. A mass OF brown hair was
rolled back from her face and dressed with blue
Miss Nellie looked as pretty as usual in a short
pink SILK skirt, with white muslin overskirt, trimmed
with medanions Of inserting and valenciennes lace;
bertha OF the same half concealed her neck. over
which long curls gracefully fell.
Mrs, General Dent wore pearl colsred silk. with
overskirt trimmed with white fringe, low cOrsage
and while point lace bertha.
ro, s..,,o ,ns BRILLIANT LA PAxosA1A 1,s 49, .,.,
fashion, scholars, statesmen, poets, artists SOL
dlers Treasury clerks and every other kind Of
youthful faces and close at their side appeared the
snowy locks and trembling form of old age.
blaze OF light from her diamonds she moved
along her royal purple satin, with Its deep
e9 nsI "a and neT rare wake old % sa
pretty, piquant face of Mrs. Creswell In
her becoming costume Of black velvet, with pearl
Ornamenst and o white rose fastened among her
heavy bralds, which long ends Of black Velvet
streamed; Then came the pleasant, genial face and
about the square corsage. and diamonds blazing
| the innumerable tnrong attired with great eie.
gance IN maroon velvet dress, with deep point
lace lace collar caught aug together with ola diamond pin,
black velvet draperles sweeping around her, trim
ming OF black ostrich feathers edging the over
skirts and low corsage, and handsome ornaments
OF Jet, with pink japonicas on the hair completed
this much admired toilet.
Mrs COlfax wore heavy black silk, with pufed
ulusen Oversktrt, dotted with black satin bows
THE COUNTESS DE POURTALRs
was exquistely dressed In corncolored silk, with
q lrostworK OF white lace over 1t.
The dress which probably attracted M more atten
Miss Annie Williams, OF Baltimore. r. was white
that appeared. The skirt was trimmed
over it peach blossom satin was
looped, with sprays OF pink roses The brightness
OF her eyes We'd Nth the lustre OF her diamonds,
which are the envy OF many q Washington belle.
mass OF glittering golden hafr noated around her
shoulders, and over 1t trailed long sprays OF pink
roses.
The petite, sunny-faced Mrs. General Babcock was
never more becomlngly attired Than tonight, In
light blue, rued SILK, the high corsage relieved bya
point lace bertha, OF exquisite pattern and texture
fastened with pin OF the palest OF pink coral and
blue bow was caught above her forehead by @
branch OF pink coral n0wers.
Miss Mcintyre looked extremely well in o sea-
green silk over which some gossamer IaDrc
trimmed with blue satin foated. This lady IS de-
cidcdly one OF the most agreeable In Washington
society.
dress which was much admired was worn by Mrs.
Governor McCook OF Colorado. IL was green irish
Boplln. heavily trimmed witn swans down, and
was very becoming to her bright face, with It's
creamy Units and sparkling eyes.
A corn-c0iored silk with embroidered muslin over
skirt, ever which proiusion or autumn leaves
trailed was gracefully worn by Mrs. Waller OF New
York, a daughter OF Senator Nye