The New York herald., 1872-12-24
What the Diplomatic Corps
Will Do.
WEDDINGS IN PROSPECT.
Personal Sketches Of Distinguished Leaders
Of Washington Society.


deep-rooted festival in the old Southern tradi.
tons OF the capital city, and, amid the ever
changing elements OF its upper class population
keeps firm hold. Many come here from Darts OF
Inc country where gut small store is set by Christ
mas time, yet they find the homage paid to 1t SO
pleasant that they fall as readily into the custom
as those to the manner born. The Christmas
charities OF Washington are one OF the noblest
features OF the season, and for that II for naught
else, one may wish that Christmas tide may never
be in less esteem than now. Here for instance, IL
reminder Of the day and Its duties in the form OF
paper bag from the children Of St. Johns Episco.
pal Home, and labelled
Pm an empty Christmas bag,
Fill me up fill me upi
S0uthwardly from here Christmas la the one
festival OF the Winter season. but the official and
private receptions OF New Years Day raise the
latter with us to at least an equal rank.
THE EXODUS FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
The railway trains are well filed both ways with
the outflow Of members OF Congress and other gov
ernment officials, homeward bound for the ho
days. and the ind0w Of ladies coming, as is their
yearly habit to assist their resident friends In the
pleasing duties OF New Years Day. There are some
distinctive features in these receptions that rem
der the duties OF receivership attractive to nom
residents, and nearly every lady presiding in her
gas-lighted and decorated parlors is supported by
friends from abroad. II nothing more be accom-.
plished the foundation is laid OF friendships
extending oil over the Union, and the strangers
find peculiar interest In meeting face to lace 80
many men OF representative character and ma
tiona reputation. This constitutes the great dir
ference between the New Year receptions OF WASH
ington and those OF other cities. Society with us
is yet compact enough to admit Of call upon all
properly within its charmed circle, 80 that one may
count on seeing all the lions wherever in the circle
one may be.
sss.& CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR
over and out OF the way the Winters rout
fairly begins and the woman Of society,
resident or stranger must forego all else
but dressing, riding, visiting, gossiplng
ana eating. Sleep must be fought Off from
Sunday to Sunday and from New Years to Lent by
brief concessions Of troubled hours, for in the
bright lexicon Of Washington society there is no
such word az rest Rising on Monday, preparations
must begin for the afternoon reception OF the wives
OF the Judges and the ladies OF the Marine Barracks
and Navy Yard On Tuesday Mrs. Grant holds her
reception at the White House. On Wednesday the
Cabinet ladies receive, and Thursday the wives
Of Senator'S On Friday various lady residents
monOpolize the day, and on Saturday everybody
goes to the Arsenal, where General Dyer has his
residence, and to Brentwood the pretty suburban
home Of Captain Carlisle Patterson. Of the Coast
RECEPTIONS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS
and with miscellaneous host OF other entertain.
ments. The foreign ladies who are to receive this
Winter are Lady Thornton, wife Of the British Min
Turkey; Sehora Treyye, Of Peru; Sehora de Car. r.
valho Borges, OF Brazil; Madame de SOFA Lobo, OF
Portugal % and the Marauise de Noailes, Of France;
nsns but s tSs he debut o he coaS
make endurable The latter is not yet settled in |
value OF the acquisition.
TIE MARQUIsE
is very pretty and vlvaciOus ana speaks excellent
English with a charming accent. She is Of medium
height and rather full figure, with dark hair, eyes
and complexion and face decidedly French and
Enthusiastically Partisan in expression. Aided by
her husbands rank wealth and pedigree, and by
rounded, the Marquise will reign this season by
common consent.
Next to the Noaiss mansion, the house 9f the
ing ing succeeded Ba@roh ron GeToit, N : ' o''t'' '"'
THE VETERAN MINISTER OF PRUSSIA
aud Germany, who had been ,aorc 50 long that it
Seemed as Il mutual forgetiuness had fallen upon
him and his government. With him went out OF
or adopted and society, as well as .the rest OF |
mankind" saw him go with sorrow. Blacque Bey, |
Turk by adoption and an American in all else. If |
he represents anything Oriental 1t is undoubt. |
keeps him in high place in its service |
cannot be wholly enete The Bey is quite hand.
sa and heavy ahs and ae
excellent ln scholar AN ana art fam famous musician
American and his present one is native Turk, 1
educated In France Madame Bacque, who is one |
Of society's favorites Is handsome brunette lady,
especially remarkable for elaboration and skill In
the arrangement OF her plentiful hair. Her man.
ners are easy and m agreeable and she speaks Eng
BILE house, into which they gather nearly all or the
pleasant people or the west end.
SIR EDWARD THORNTON
uf III.
dence Is on street, stately pile in the Gothic
style. Inside everything is stately and massive.
maiity OF an English household stamps itself
the thin premises vG s
Is as thorough looking an Ensshman as can be
neatly in black, Of sober cut and is as straight
and unyiclding as an arrow in his carriage. He is
perfect sS Weston for walking and probably knows
bia than anybody else init In his manner he IL
cold, but always courteous. everybody respects
Her Majesty's predecessors ever had more useful
representative s' wssAISGtSn SS 4SSss4o Hls wife,
Is tall, like her husband and, like him. type or
fu ner native country She is reserved, but wholly
@ iree from ailectation. and is Of domestic rather
nlteen and thirteen, who are dressed as children
strass 30 oenave never going unattended upon the
which ia ~ rbasso. that lncipent woniannood
"A.NA . 1r" TWs .eristic Of our own country
hoco o,a, TEMPERANCE ORGANIZATIONS
mas Vp Ied war upon egg nogg and other Christ.
mas ne, and New Years beverages and society Is
".Jubled about IL, not knowing how to Danish the
accustomed compounds from its tables, and yet
disking to retain them in the face ofprotestatons
that It Is social drinking which lays the foundation
OF many young mans ruin. In the end c0mpro-
mise between custom and conscience will probably
be effected by providing tea and coffee and COM
mending them to their VISITORS while leaving TO
the latter their own choice.
Miss Van Wyck, member Of one OF the old
KnickerbOcker families OF New York, has come to
Washington TO gladden. society for the winter. This
young lady who is exceedingly aristOcratic In ap-
pearance and manner, has quite o reputation as
musician and as q painter.
ADMIRAL wORDEN,
better known to fame rs Captain Worden, OF the
Monitor, is coming to washington chief OF one
OF the navy bureaus, bringing an appreciable add