Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-12-17
SOcfSIy, Etc.

THE GGEAT TEA ARrY-Ghere was 1t one
fault 10 be found with the rea Party last night,
and that was-that it was TOO much of a success.
The crowd was SO great, from the beginning To
the end OF the evening, that it was almost i'm
possible TO sec the tables or approach them Tor
refreshments. The effect Of tue decoration and
tOllettes was not as marked as they would have
been in more open space. The ladies who
undertook the stupendOus work of organizing
and carrying out such novel and wonderful
entertainments have certainly shown great sx-
ecUtiye ability. They have proved that tdey
aIe well versCd in the history of their couutry,
ard he glory which belongs to he thirteen
original states The tables which Tepres ntei
Florida and South Carolina were prolific with
the flowers, fruits, ard products of those states.
They were baZars Of lOveiinesF. The dark-eyel
te&uties who presided at those tables were ht
representatives of the Sunny South. The Mary
land table was conspicuous tor its number OF
Revolutionary TGliCs, The Eub CAnuetaDr3S,
the property OF Nus. SteuaTC, niece OF Mr,.
General Hunter, have been in the family over
hundred years.
Each table Was mostly OF minute description,
AID every lafy's dress vas in perfect keeping
with the period represented. The powdered
hair and face, with black patches,
qpettsh csp-, prRdi-h 'kerCb.efs, and
dainty aprons, were becoming to all. II any
one doubts the existence OF beauty OF as fair y
type as that OF hundred years ago they hsd
only TO be present last might, aud ind thar Ii Is
the dress that makes the difference. Miss Pae-
NIX were Perfectly preserved brOcaded dress,
two hundred wears old. The back CT the dress
was CT the Vatican style, and So nearly re-
sembled q toilette OF the present day that its
novelty was modified. Miss Annie LETTERS wore
IN entire costume which was OEeT a hundred
years old. Mrs General Emory vas the coun-
terFaft of the pictures OF her great grand
OFheT, Mrs. Franklin. She were a tur0aa OF
" hite t3rletau hat was wound about her head
in artistic style. All of tbs d. scendan5s OF
Franz lin wore the tGrban instead OF the Martha
NashiT gtJn caps. Miss BrOie looked superb 10
Ter ED E'me dress. Miss Jessie al Marie Wal
ZEN were among the beauties. TIE scene was
fall of inspiration, for all tie ladies' AMI gentle
men of the city participated. All seemed TO be
fired with a renewed patriotism. aud by viyidly
reproducing the scenes ard events of our ma
tons birth, they have succeeded in warning
the hearts of the People 10 proper recognition
OF celebrating tae huUcTedth yesr of our indie
pendence. TIE CentenGiaI tea parties which
have been hsld in different cities for the mast
year are only iHteE ded TO attract the attention
OF the public, and are used a means OF rails
ing funds for the grand event OF 1876.
The dome OF tie rotunda was artistically deco
rated With flags, anG the vast space looked very
beautiful. There was a bell on exhibition
whose tongue had proclaimed the glad tdings
Of liberty TO the people. There was a miniature
ship with men disguised as Indians tbrOGing
supposed tea overheard, The attention OF
genuine Indian was attracted to these bogus
fellows, and the Indian for ten minutes gsZed
Wlihout the moving OF muscle. The Oh Ii all
OF Representatives was wrapped in dim re-
hgiOus light, which added to the scenic effect OF
the marble columns and st4tuafy. The marine
band, in uniform, with their music st ands, each
of which had a candle, that made the
darknsss more visible, supplemented this
erect. There was rOstrum, from whcl
General Hawlcy, and afterwards Secretary
Robson, addressed the vast thrOng. 1t was
Impossible TO hear the addresses, for thOusands
Of people were suTgiDg back and forth in search
OF fresh novelties and without any desire to use
more than the one faculty OF sight. No other
place in the city but the Capitol could have &C
commCdated the multitude. The Tea Party
will be repeated tonight.
- The bridal dress Of Miss Blair, which at
tractsd much notice at the wedding yesterday
was furnished, we understand, by Maf4me
Emma Soule.