Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-01-06

FRuM FAIR woMANs HAND--THE CEREMONIES AT
THE WHITE HoUsE-ELEdANT TonErTEs-THE
DAY IN TIE oITY's PRIVATE HoMEs-A CHARMING
THOUGHT, ETC., ETC.
Special CorresDondeace Of The Commercial,
WAsHNoToS, D. o., January 2, 1878.
In no other city, New York not excepted, ia
New Years day more closely observed than in
this, the Capital Of the Nation, and any
stranger who passed along it's bustling streets
yesterday could not but endorse the aiiirmati on.
Notwithstanding it was threatening rain over
head and the payements were d isagreeably
slushy under foot gayer New Years has rarely,
il ever, been knowas and that TOO Ia tho face
Of the fact that spirituous liquors were almost
entirely discarded by those receiving" The
various city papers OF to-day are teemng with
articles, editorial and otherwise commend
ing and eoinplimenting the ladies' for this noble
stand taken by them on the side OF temperance.
One of the aTticles1 closes with the statement
that probably In the history OF the city there
never we're 30 few headaches after New Years
as on this 2nd Of January 1873" which no doubt
must haYe been read wibh intense satisfaction
by all those who have suffered heretofore but
wore 80 fortunate as to escape to-day.
The temperance advocates and members OF the
Young Mems Christian Association are indulg-
ing IN much self gIatulation. over the change,
tliey, the latterpaftic1larly, having baan most
assiduousy at work during many years to ac-
complish this end, The adherents ofNew Years
as 1t WAS, with it's egg-noggii roman puhch, &c
and who fear not to look upon the ,"wine when
i ia req slrug their shonlaars, smile aud assert
knowingly OF course that never before did the
saloons do sothriving a business aud that the
proprietors were in ''ring" to aid in this much
extolled abolishfnent, in order TO add the more
to their III gotten gains. Thus you have both
sides Of tho question and it remains only to be
said that, whether or not there was moro or
less liquor drank yesterday than ON similar occa-
sions heretofore, the fair sex were not charge
able with inducing the gentlemen to partake Of
1t by rendering II with their delicate hands, and
that il the gentlemen would still be naughty
they can hold themselves alone responsible.
Int the intent OF this letter was to give You
brief description OF the Reception here and not
to mOTalize upon temperance and therefore
your readers may wen think have digressed en-
tirely too far alre ldy. To tho Reception at the
White House must be given precedence. For
it an official notification Is published in the pa
pers, several days in advance stating the hour
and order at and in which the various callers
will be received. II o'clock was the hour set for
the opening presentation Of the members Of the
foreign legations, but sometime beforehand o.
usual, the representatives OF the press put in
their appearance at the White House. The car
peting was all covered with white linen, tho
vases filled with the most fragrant Of flowers,
and the whole interior brilliantly illuminated from
the humorous gas sets on the handsome chan
deliers. The Marine Band, in full uniform
occupied the main hall between the entrance and
| the East Room and discoursed its most delight
full music during the entire reception. At IL
o'clock the President and Mrs Grant entered the
Blue ParlOr the Band playing "Hail to the
Chief, and at once the presentation of those
| assembled began. The mombers of the Cabinet
and Legations came first in order, and were pre-
sented by the Secretary Of State These were fol-
lowed by the Judges of the U. s. Supreme Court ;
Senators and Representatives; Judges OF the
District Courts and Court Of Claims and Cover
| nor Cooke and the officials Of the District.
AT II o'clock, the officers of the Army, pro-
ceeded by General Sherman and the officers OF
the Navy, headed by Admiral Porter then the
heads of Bureaux, in the several Departments
| the Soldiers Of the war of 1879, and the Oldest
Inhabitants, Association OF the District. Genl
| Dent who stood by the left side of the President
introduced the callers to him while Genl Bah
cock oiiciated in similar manner for Mrs. Grant.
The latter was assisted by Miss Nellie Grant,
Mrs. Sec'y Fish, Mrs. Seo'y Boutwell,, Mrs. At
torney General Williams, Mrs. Genl. Dent, Miss
Lizzie Porter, Miss Dent and others.
We noticed among the throng Secy Belknap
with his neice, Miss Worthington, ,Sec'y Robson,
| Attorney Genl. Williams. Sir Edward Thornton
British Minister, and Lady Thornton, Kufd Won
SchlOzer, the German Minister, Baron Gutenberg
| the Russian Minister, and Blacque Boy the Turk
| ish Minister the latter being accompanied by
| his wife and General Mott, formerly OF our SER
vice but now of high rank in that Of the Khe-
! dive Of Egypt, and who wore many decorations of
| that country. The Navy was we'll represented
| by Admiral Porter, Rear Admirals Goldsborough,
| Lee, Case, Poor and others.
Among the officers of the army were Generals
/ Sherman, Townsend, Vincent, Whipple, Howard,
Barnes and others. Mrs. Grant wore a rich
/ pearl gray silk with trimming Of darker shade.
i Miss Nellie Grant wore a light green silk very
prettiy and becomingly trimmed. Mrs. Secy!,
Fish's dress was sage green silk most elabor-
/ ately trimmed. Madam Bacque Boy was array
\ ed in an elegant black velvet, and magnificent
/ iewery and Madam Flores, wife of the minister
| from Ecuador, youthful and beautiful as she is,
i wRs unusually 30 in sage green silk with vel
Il vet trimmings of the same shade; a ,sleeveless
i jacket of velvet and hat Of the same silk and
velvet as the dress; elegant jewery completed the
| feel myself inadequate to do justice toithe de-
i cidedly beautiful toilets OF many other ladies'
| present. Fyz. gr { r, N ]
: From to q O'Clock The President received the
| public and during the entire hour it was a con-
| stRnt passing in and out of the multitude. The
/ new uniforms of the Army officers attracted D
/ great deal of attention. 1t ID exceedingly
/ snowy and decided improvement upon the
i former pattern. The coatis of a dark blue
| closh, double breasted, and with skirt reaching
very nearly to the knee. The pants Of stair of
i ficefB are OF light blue color with stripes to
match the faoings OF their respective branch Of
the service. phe plumes of the various branches
are also designated by different colors. Tho
General Of the Army has two rows OF buttons,
i in fours on the breast of his coat. His plume
also consisted of three white ostrich feathers.
The other general and staR officers wore three
| black ostrich feathers and nregimental officers
wore horse hair plumes OF color similar to the
| trimmings OF their coats. General Sherman
and the General. and STAFF officers wore chapeaus
i light artillery and cavalry officers black felt
helmets with gold cords and tassels and gilt
trimmings; and all other officers dark blue cloth
hats, .aE ~