The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-10


Part:es-Great Expectations
from the Inaugural Ball.
WASHINGTON, Feb 8, 1879
Bravo, General Myersl 1t Is you, aided by your
"Old Probabilities" who has made the season
now drawing to a close such success. Had wo
enjoyed clear skies and clean streets the recep-
tions would have been crowded with pedestrians
clerks lobbyists, clearinghouse keepers and
M. CTS from the rural districts, who pack the
drawing rooms and gobble the refreshmentsa
But it has been SO charmngly snowy, and sleetyz
and rainy, and sOshy, and slippery that an
embargo has been placed on this vulgar herd
while those egitimately in good society have
had good chance to enjoy themselves. Even the
male and female lobbyists have been sifted out by
the hotel hops, where they are In their glory ana
where they can order champagne for Congress-
ional victims and have it charged. II stranger
wishes 10 see 'Iife in Washington" these hotel
hops are the places to go to- All the states ana the
Territories there represented and one sees the
sar0re az,la OF the Old Dominion; the quaint and
dyspeptic Yankees, quick-eyed men bearing the
pleasant couatenances Of their Milesian ancee.-
tors; massive Kentucklans. blur ana burly Anglo
Saxons swarthy Creoles, Pennsylvanians, who
appear to have fed ON their cherished pigir0n;
thoughtful Teutons. diplOmatists, wearing theiR
ribbons and stars, and chepotterS dtnSustTte Who
may some day sport steel bracelets and with these
men are danes ct demoiSeltes OF high and low
degree presenting Kaleidoscope whirl Of gay
colors bright eyes, towering headdresses and
nashng Jewels Sometimes, too, one sees minis
terial guest at the establishment standing at the
doorway, looking somewhat as Hawthorne's friend
Sias Foster did when he gazed at the masquerade
mun,meries at Merry Mount. The eating and drink
ing at these hotel hops good the table on such
an occasion Is an advertisement Of the culinary
excellence of the fare. One great charm Of the en-.
tertainments for the uncivilized Is the easy ad-
journment to the bar, where the young men, CHRIS.
tened by Sala ''bottle conurors" display the agility
OF acrobats and the prestidigave skill of magicans
as they toss tumblers about in c0ncocting fancy
drinks Very different from these free and easy
mosaics OF society are
THE RECEPTIONS OF MRS. HAMILTON FISH,
who is the acknowledged head OF good society here,
which the Secretary leases. Mrs. Fish dresses in
good taste, and always has one or two OF her
daughters, with Mrs. Bancroft DAVIS or Mrs Horace
ncnt among them Is Lady Thornton, who, by the
way, looked charmingly the other night in q
lace, and with sweeping train over
a white silk skirt. Madame de Noailles, the
the ladies here, her toilet being far inferior to
those Of Mrs. Sunset Cox or Miss Brooks. One great
charm OF the Fish entertainments is that the young
secretaries and attaches the legations, who
rudeiy and who put on such airs elsewhere have
there to be gentlemanlike and civil In the presence
OF their respective Chiefs There is also a notable
absence of newspaper men, as the Secretary only
invites those who publish his praises and excuse
MRS. SPEAKER BLAINE
had crowded house last night, including every
d0orkeeper from the Capitol. Mrs. Blaine Is q
styhsh-ooking, iadyiike person. and Is admirably
set of by her attempts at the glrike vivacity OF
her cousin, Abi-Gail hamilton Dodge. The Speaker
is a genial, hospitlble man, who not only expects
to he reelected to preside over the House, but who
IS aiming at the White House Jour years hence.
THE CABINET RECEPTIONS
have been regular brushes, especially that OF Mrs..
Secretary Delano who was dressed IN rich black
velvet, trimmed with black lace, while her daugh-
ter wore pearl colored satin trimmed with cherry
c0lored velvet. Mrs. Attorney General williams
has the most delightful entertainments, and q
charming hostess she Is, especially when she wears
most 3eGune sa1e 81 sne scar n,,o M Mrs pCst
favorte. Mrs. Robson devotes deal OF her time
to 'that blessed cnild' of hers. and Mrs. Boutwell,
never entertains, although she and her Sps1ttlelle
daughter always attract clever people around them
when they go abroad. Assistant Secretary Rich
ever makes vacancy in the Senate. Is entertain.
ing in good style, and his Friday afternoon dances
are very popular lar. rv1,nv ,,o,,,
congregate at the spacious saloons OF Charles
Bristed Benson, on Franklin square; at the cosy
old Wirt-Everett mansion, where Mrs. Los Gring0S
Wise gives tea aud talking parties; and at the
where the venerable Professor henry gdes about
like an electrified EEL There are o good many
clever people at these blue stocking gatherings,
with tribes OF insipid and ordinary mortals, whose
brains could not be discovered with the aid OF the
great telescope which Is soon to grace the 0bser-
vatory.
AS FOR THE DINNER PARTIES,
why they are numerous and 40 much to thaw the
most glacial Congressional hearts. Sam Ward had
the venerable Poand's legs under table at
welcker's night or two ago. with some Com
g occasional crones and VIII wager tha ted ne
Mobillier report. Even Edmunds, Of Vermont,
crusty and grabbed as he sometimes Is In the
passes his superb sherry. Mr.. sumner brides him.
self on the dinners he gives, spiced win MS con-
ae os Tne with
most OF these Congressional dnner-gtvers ID that
instead Of two he caser
house s to house. speaking Of the grand rounds re-
GENERAL sHKRMANs RECEPTIONS,
so charming and sans gene 1t is long way out to-
dences. but his devout wife doubtless likes to be,
so near her Church OF st. Aloysius, and when ono
Ssss gs saTi W and
bewitchng TO hear his recoliections Of campaigns
-"' r. THE ORIENTAL DIPLOMAT, MORT OF JAPAN
has taken WOrmleys new ball rooms for Monday
night, when ne will play the host without regard
vine give q bali at the Masonic Temple where
their daughter viii make her debut and the Little
Emma Mine win supply famous supper.
gurat!on day comesl YET the Inauguration ball
must be attended, although 1t IL whispered that
FISHERMAN Downing Or Barber Davis choose 20 pay
$40 for ticket let them pay IL and welcome; but
the ball VIII be success. The presence OF the.
the cadets from West Point and Annapolis, WIN at
tract every good-looking woman In the District,
with many from abroad. y iso'
ALONG THE SOUND