Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-16
Society.

being "Court day" visiting took wide range
extending from the West End to Capitol Hill.
The wife of Mr.. Justice Field was assisted
in her reception by her mother and sister, Mrs.
and Miss Swearingen. Miss Swearingca ha>
passed five years In Europe enjoying its man,
advantages. Like her sister, Mrs. Field, she Is
handsome and Agreeable. Mr.. Justice Fields
house is supplied with choice paintings ano
works ofart.
Mrs. and Miss Bradley will not begin re-
ceiving until after the holidays.
Mrs. Swayne and Mrs. Strong received
many calls.
Mrs. Gen. Sherman, accompanied by her
daughter, Miss Minnie Sherman, left the city
on Friday last for Cincinnati where the two
Youngest daughters of the family are at school
They will be absent Q week. Miss Lizzie Sher-
man represented her mother in receiving, and
WIS assisted BY Mrs. Colonel Audenreid, and
Mics Wheelan. The General was also present
the latter part Of the afternoon, and proved
himself, as he always does, the equal Of any In
the art Of making . short call pleasant re-
Among those visiting yesterday were Ad-
miral Polo. Assistant Secretary Sawyer, Mrs
Judge Wylie, Mrs. Lathrop, Mrs. Senator Nor.
rill, Miss Swami, Mrs. General Blake, and her
two charming daughters, the Misses Wood,
mrs. senator Stockten, Madam Dubarry and
shepherd, and many Of the distinguished
strangers who are now sojourning in the city.
Death or Hr. Frederick Beat.
Mr.. Frederick Dent, father OF Mrs. President
Grant, who has been In feeble health for some
time past, died at the White House last even
ing. In the morning Mr.. Dent was as well as
usual, but during the day he complained Of
being unwell. No alarming symptoms mani
Tested themselves until q late hour last evening,
when he grew worse, and died at twenty min
utes before ~ O'Clock. The Presidents family
we're present at his death bed, but Mrs. Mar
shall Sharp arrived too late to see him breathe
his last. Mrs. Casey lies quite i'll at Philadel
phia, and it lie feared that her fathers death will
place her own life in jeopardy.
The deceased was born near Frederick, Mary
land, October 6, 1885, and was therefore in his
eiehty-eighth year. In 1912 he enigrated to st.
Louis and entered into business, where he re-
lived with Mrs. Grant ever since. The dece ased
was an amiable, kind hearted gentleman, aud
his loss will be deeply felt, not only by his fam
lily, but by large number of friends.
THE DENT FAMILY.
The Dent family have now in their possession
the patents for grants of lands along the Mary.
land shore of the Potomac, from quite a dis
lance down the river to the mouth of the East
ern branch. Since Mrs. Grant has been in the
White House she has received a letter from
Miss Management Dent, Of England, asking if her
family and that of Mrs. Grant were not origi-
nally the same. Strange to say, the old home
stead o. the Dent family of England is called
the point near Washington, which was Included
in the land granted the ancestors of the late
Mr.. Frederick Dent.
Mr.; Dent was much beloved in st. Louis, near
which city was his country place. He lived In
the o'd-fsshoned style Of keeping open house
for friends and neighbors. His hospitality was
not d. He was the best of neighbors, always
off debts for those who became pecuniarily en-
barrassed. He was q very handCome man in his
younger days, ard until the last retained traces
of his once striking appearance. His wife wa,
beautiful and intelligent woman, of most agree
able manners. When his eldest daughters were
old enough to enter society, Mr.. Dent took
there, that the young ladies' might have every
:oclal advantage. Here they mingled in tina,
delightful circle which has always made st.
of the old Frer CHI families and the oldest AMI
most highly connected of the American fami-
Ines.
Mr.. Frederick Dent was never engaged in
POLITICAL life except in bis own neighborhood,
where he was always called upon to preside at
POLITICAL NEE. ngs. He persistently refu5ed q
accept office, though often asked to do so. He
that he had voted for every democratic Presi-
dent since he attained his mn iority, except Blu
snarST o. mnGm iGT some reason ne did rot
ington to attend Presidential inaugurations
An uncle of Mr.. Dent was q member of Con
gress from Maryland, and gave the casting vote
when the election Of Jefferson was carried into
the House.
The SENATE FINANCE COMMIT BE at their
meeting this morning listered to the arguments
OF delegation of Philadelphia druggists
against ruling of the Internal Revenue bureau
to the effect that all prescriptions filled BY
apothecarics and marked in writing es to the
pue stamp upon them. The committee also
agreed to report adversely on Senator Clay
toms bill imposing tax of ten per cent. on the
circulation OF oil banks except national banks.
PENSION BILLs.-Already there Rave been
presented in the House thus far this session over
one hundred and twenty-five bills, looking to
the granting of pensions to widows and or phans
come directly before Congress on account of
the law which prescribes q Limitation of time
for filing the same, as this branch of the gov
eminent !, under existing regulations canonly be
bill will be introduced in q few days I'm the
House looking to an extension of time for the
filing of such claims before the Pension office.
NAVAL ORDRRs.-Ordered-Co Jas.
A. Greer as member Of the Board of Inspec
ton; Commander Frederick H. Baker as Light
House Inspector of the 5th district; Lieut.. Com
Wsn6er z, T. Woodland to the receiving snip
special duty with the bureau of navigation
Lieut.. Isaac j. Yates to the CanoDicus; Acting
ASSISTANT surgeon Br1bt0n stone to duty at the
Marine barracks, Washington; PaymasterJ j. Q
Barton to the receiving ship Relief at Wash
ington.
Detached-Lieut. r. P. Gilmore from the
Frolic and ordered TO the Minnesota; Lieut. A.
B. H. Lille from the Ganoricus, and ordered
to the Minnesota.
QUITE NUMBER Of persons, including mem
bers of Congress, Senators, and others, have
been to the Treasury department to talk with
the Secretary on the subject of the proposed in
crease of taxation. Judge Richardson has little
to say on the subject rs he has no views 70 pre-
sem or statements TO make, other than those
contained in his letter to Representative Dawes.
The Judge says he does not propose taxation
He simply tells the needs of the government
and points out the way OF providing therefor
1t begins to look Just now Is II oil the interest
in public affairs, which wss suddenly trans
ferred from the Treasury TO the State depart
mont when the news Of the yireiniue seizure
was published, 10 about to return to its old
quarters.
TIE GENEVA AwARD.-The House Commit
tes on the judiciary this morning heard IN ar
gument delivered BY judge Mstcalf, Of Maine,
with regard to the dispoeition Of the Geneva
award. He fAyored-drgt, payment to the ship
ping interest OF the country which lost vessels BY
reaeon OF capture b. confedorate cruisers; sec
ond, tho determination Of insurance compa.
niles and those Who took war fiska The com
Dittee decided 10 invite a1guments on the
subject, with view b prepare bill making
IN equitable award Of the amount paid BY