The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-02
OUR REPUBLICAN LRVEB
Transcendental Qualifications of
the Incoming Year.
TIE CAPITAL In A MELLOW MOOD.
Old Time Customs and Present Ak
IONS Of Etiquette.
GRANTS FOURTH RECEPTION.
Quick.Witted DiplOmatists and Side-ShOw Gen.
tlemen in Full Uniform.
Republican Simplicity on
the IIalEShell.
Washington Society as 1t Began
and is Continued.
STARS FROM THE EAST.
Sketches of Diplomatists Worth
Their Weight in Gold.
Cooked HATS AND GOLD LACE.
Great Britain, France, Spain, Austria, Turkey
Sweden, Prussia and Peru Represented.
TEcUNSEH AND HIS BOYS IN BLUE.
Cooked HATS AND GOLD LACE.
Great Britain, France, Spain, Austria, Turkey
Sweden, Prussia and Peru Represented.
rEcvMsEH AND HIS BOYS IN BLUE.
Receptions by the Cabinet Ministers and
High officials of the Government.
SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES AT HOME
WASHINGTON, D. G., Jan. 1, 1873.

WASHINGTON, D. G., Jan. l, 1873.
At this season of the year in Washington city
the skies are generally blue and mild and the
streets full Of melting snow. But such looked for
confusion out OF doors never deters the official New
Year caller nor answers for an apology to the
oa1ctal hostess. The latter drives away her hus-
band the Senator report to the other ladies, and
looks over her card basket carefully at dark to
count the derelict and express opinions upon
them. The society which exists here 10 o good
deal disparaged, but 1t Is really hale and simple
mixture Of New England and Western family life,
with some New York city style and a good deal OF
quaint and declining Southern mannerism. 1t
may be claimed that Washington city affords the
best New Years celebration In the world. Consid.
ering that the LIST Of January never received en-
tire acknowledgment as the first day OF the year
until about three hundred years ago, our repub-
Iican capital has made very general use
Of that acknowledgment during the three
quarters of century OF its foundation The New
Years practice at the federal capital took its orr
gin from New York city, where General Washing
ton lived about year the first President. 1t is
quite apparent from the diary-keepers and letter.
writer's OF that day how disappointed onice-holders
At large were with prim and sedate Philadelphia,
as compared with the Frenchiled, jocose and lido
syncratic social life OF embryo New York.
NEW YORK, COURSE,
got the habit Of New Year calls from its early
Dutch founders obeying Holland custom, and our
official people have carried that custom through
Philadelphia to the banks OF the Potomac, where
there may be said to be more general observance
Of New Year at each succeeding first day Of the
rear.
NOT TO BE ABANDONED
1t would be hard indeed to break up this custom,
because the Judges Of the Supreme Court, the
sflcers OF the army and navy, the old soldiers Of
1912 and the heads OF bureaus would require at
least three years. notice of suspension OF New
Year ceremonies at the White House te learn It..
President Grant, albeit not DESTINATIONS nor gay
chief Magistrate, has struck q very excellent mean
rom the beginning between
wORLDLINEss AND SERIOUSNESS.
While he goes to church with puntuaity every
Sabbath at the head Of his family, he has not
accepted the dictum of ascetic people in closing
up his state dinners or dispensing with his cigar,
and the other cordals which belong even to repub-
can courts. He has been the first Presi
dent TO break down altogether the official
etiquette of Washington's administration, andgo at
large. as he pleased, to private weddings and private
dinner parties, and his family have embraced the
occasion of New Years so heartily that to-day
their reception was of an unusually brilliant char.
acter. II was prominently announced, and the
hours OF reception distributed between the
CABINET AND THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS,
the Judges OF all the courts and members OF Con-
gress the army and navy the heads of bureaus, the
old soldiers and old citizens, and finally citizens at
large. Two hours were given to the privileged
classes, or from eleven to one O'Clock, and another
hour to mere sightseers. Very complete arrange.
ments were made for these celebrations, and for
the rapid transit and return OF carriages, which
pause but moment In the deep colorado at the
White House door, while within ,.I the arrangement
the rattling energies OF sergeants file Of men.
Meantime hundreds OF people are rubbing on their
mir md ron nutn haf ia m
Vulnerable noises, sqaeaks and ouches which might
otherwise be distinguishing are drowned by the
has place near the East Room, and to-day keeps
up continual explosion. beginning with "Hail to
sort from the better composers.
Let u start ons with The White
Years on this fourth occasion Of the same
UNDER GENERAL GRANT.
city with splashed streets melting snow, blinking
kind OF eye In the weather and the furious running
ters to o. grace entertainment tables. Soon alter
ward appeared great number Of negroes carrying
huge iced cakes upon the tops OF their heads, as II
TO give them age and keep them warm there. Next
we saw punch bowls for hire Of great girth, and
heard the cry Of "Yers yer lemons I" Alter the
had passed out Of sight ana the rst cab made
squirt from the livery stable and went about in
had ordered Il, then we saw the wonder OF our
period,
all feathered, crimped and slashed with lace, FUN
bling along Irrespective OF his sword to join the
other Legations and salute the President and
family. Grave old judges also rolled along In staid
cabs. and the boys, who are always agog, stopped
their cries up 'Shine OF yer boots" to get around
the White House gate. the spectacle Of an elabor,
atcly dressed and besashed and bespangled
oniccr with side sword and chapeau, descending
the rickety wooden steps OF some tenement to md
his way into carriage was one OF the frequent
sights Of the forenoon, and 1t was pleasant re,
minder that quiet cottage and demure and
thrifty family life are not incompatible with the
glory and sternness OF the republican service.
HALF OF wAsIfrNGTON
does not know how the other half lives, and what
Is better, Is not distressed about IL when 1t fnds
out; whoever can keep up his head here as an
anabe person without evil In his nature finds no
crticism upon his apparel or mode Of life. IL was
sometimes ludcrous however, to note that want OF
MI NH baI