The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-08-18
BANGOR, August 16, 1873.


ToIker-Ho BOnnd-saii up tne
peuobscot Raw and River-Reception at
Hanger. -
BANGOR, August 16, 1873.
Tho Presidents visit to Maine, although
n,ro,y nersonol and social, is altogether too inn
nortant an event to escape the attention of the
faithful chronicler. When the Chief Magis-
trate of the nation goes abroad it is one of the
inevitable penalties of his high station to be
the object of eager attention from all classes OF
people, And when the head of the Republic
unites in his own person the glory of the sol
der, the eminence of the statesman-when he
has acquired the prestige which comes OF I'M
varied success alike in the strife of war and OF
peace-when grateful country has crowned
his civic rank with the grand honor OF a second
election, which has been accorded only 10
few of our most illustrious Presidents-wheh
all that is possible to human ambition has oeen
achieved and there are no more pattles 10 NC
waged, no more victories to be won, ne stands
upon such pinnacle of fame, that 1t IS perfect
ly natural that the instincts of curiosity, adj
miration. and patriotism should impel men,
women and children to gather in crowds to
VA
man whose deeds have lifted him to so dazzling
an elevation. Gen. Grant has shown his good
taste in selecting Maine as the place in which
to seek temporary respite from his Official
cares. He has visited the State before, but
this is his first sojourn in its Capital. 1t would
certainly have been difficult for him to have
found anywhere in the wide world a more
genial host than Mr.. Speaker Blaine, or more
agreeable hostess than Mrs. Blaine. Cards
were issued by them for a grand reception on
the evening of the 14th, at which the elite OF
Augusta were assembled. The parlors were
profusely adorned with flowers, presenting the
appearance and emitting the fragrance OF a
beautiful conservatory. The guests after being
introduced to the General and his daughter
Nellie, gradually dispersed into the various
rooms of the honse all of which were put in
requisition for the purpose of the occasion.
When the number became inconveniently large
inside, there was perceptible gravitation
towards an improvsed pavilion in the ada
cent grounds, where an excellent band was dis
co1rsing unsteady; and orders of dancing Law
ishly distributed gave notice that ample pro-
vision had been made for saltatory enjoyments
A beautiful supper table still further in the
rear, contributed its tempting reflections con-
tnuously to those who could for a time forego
the music, dancing and conversation of the ball
rom, for the regalement of their appetites.
propensity to linger resulted from all this ac-
emulation of meansfor night entertainment.
The guests found it hard to tear themselves
away. When midnight came there was no
perceptible diminution of the happy throng,
and it was some two hours thereafter before
the last carriage bore away those who had Or
dered it punctually at H. -..-...---.
The Presidents daughter shared the honors
with her illustrious father, to whom she bears
an observable resemblance. She comported
herself so modestly, there was such an entire
absence of pretension or self-consciousness
about her, and she entered into the spirit of
the occasion with such an evident enjoyment of
it, that her presence lent additional grace to
the scene. .nr.
Her brothers, U. S. Jr., young gentleman
scarcely out of his teens, whose home or pet
name is universally Buck or Buckle, and Jes-
Sc R., a bright lad of fifteen, apparently shrank
from any personal participation in the honors
of receiving, for they mingled with the crowds,
and were seen only by those who took pains to
seek them out. However when the ball open
ed, the former had place in some set for ev-
cry dance and gave himself up to the amuse-
ment with evident relish
Among the prominent gentlemen from other
places who were present, were Senator Gamer
ON of Pa, Hon. Chas. P. Kimball and his son
from Portland, Gov. Perham, the Governor
n naJ IS TO pc, NeIson Dlnglcy JA., T. II. sIHss
bard of Biddeford, Mr.. and Mrs. E. f. Webb
of Waterville Senator and Mrs. Hamlin of Ban
gor, Hon. Eugene Hale of Ellsworth, Hon. j.
H. Burleigh and Mrs. Bureigh of So. Berwick,
and Chas A. Boutelle, editor Bangor Whag.
Senator Morrill,, who resides in Augusta, was
present with his daughters, and so were Hon.
Fred N. Dow, E. G. Harlow and other MEM
bers of the Governors Council. ARENAS Lib
by, whose name was among those balloted form
the late Democratic Gubernatorial Convention,
was in the company, and was the object of sew
eral good natured congratulations on his es-
cape from that assumedly hopeless candidacy.
1t is impossible to speak in detail of the Ia
dies of the party. The subject is difficult alike
because it is delicate and because it is mex
haustible. There was very happy representa-
ton of the feminine beauty for which Maine
is distinguished and it involves no small de-
gree of fidelity to conventional propriety to
avoid mention of several of the specially bril-
liant. One in particular, a lovely girl of nine
teen, ''sole daughter of her fathers heart,
elected such universal homage that the whis-
per "who is she?'' was on the tongue of every
stranger in the company. She illustrated alike
in feature and expression, all that is possible Of
maidenly sweetness. And better still her
neighbors and acquaintance with one accord
represented her as being not less richly endow-
ed with mental accomplishments ard amiabili-
ty of disposition than with rare personal charms
We frankly confess decided inclination to
enlarge upon this fascinating theme-to in
dulge in "reminiscences of other handsome spec
linens of the fair sex, whose presence lighted
up that gay assemblage-to pay tribute not only
to the single women, but to several fine speci-
mems of matronly elegance who would seem
to have discovered the secret of perpetual
YOUTH and of whose maturity of years one
could find no other evidence than the presence
of their sons and daughters. But newspaper
columns are limited and editorial censorship in
exorable, therefore 1 stay upon the very thresh-
hold of this inviting topic, simply promising
that in luxuriance of appointments perfection
of taste, and warmth of hospitality the Speak
er's reception has rarely been equalled and
never surpassed. ra -al
On the morning of Friday, 18th of Augusta
special train was provided to convey the Pres
ident and suite, and few invited guests to
Ioo17asd a s;s5sje I,,iIosn,,, car served For
their accommodation. The following list COM
prizes all the company as far as my recollec-
ton serves, viz: Gen. Grant, Miss Nellie
Grant, U. s. Grant, Jr., j. r. Grant, Gen E.
E. Babcock, Mr.. Blaine, Mrs. Blaine, Walker
Blaine Emmons Blaine, Mrs. Stinson, Senator
Cameron, Pa, Mr.. Calder and son, Pa, Mr..
Hildrup, Pa, Governor Perham, Senator Nor
rill. Miss Morrill,, Miss Annie Morrill,, Senator
Hamlin, Mrs. Hamlin, Hon. Eugene Hale,
Hon. J. H. Burleigh Stanley I. Pullen, G. w.
Goddard, Isaac III. Bailey, HI. S. Osgood and
A. S. Washburne.
At Bath. Wiscasset Damariscotta and
Thomaston, notwithstanding the rain which
now began to fall heavily, there were large
gatherings of people of both sexes to greet the
President and he was the object of much en-
nod nd bout