Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-21

addition TO her own attractions, she added
those Of Mrs. Morsell and Miss SRnderson. The
Governor was also present, so that there was
nothing left undone to entertain the large
crowd who called between the hours of and
p. IN. The ball room was brilliantly lighted,
and the merry dancers enjoyed the deli shtfui
music In another room champagne punch,
salads, and other refreshments were served.
Among those who were present were many
members of the Cabinet and diploml ATTIC corps,
and citizens generally.
- Strangers who have been told that Wash
ington is a succession of novels, bad manners
and worse morals, open their eyes in astonish-
ment when going the grand round on any one
day in the week, to find that the houses are
sumptaOus, the company refined and elegant.
and this not in isolated cases. but in every house
that Is thrown open. This remark is emit
nently true of the beautiful home OF Mrs.
Bryan, who was assisted yesterday by her
sister, Miss Page. and Mrs. Gen. Pope.
who is visiting the Presidents family. So yery
pleasant were these three ladies to look upon
and converse with, that many fingered during
the afternoon, preterring TO torego other en-
gGgements rather than TO take their leave. Mrs
Judge vile did not receive yesterday.
- Mrs. Commissioner Douglas was assisted by
her daughter, Miss Douglas, and two young
lady friends. Mrs. DR.. Turner and her sister
Miss Boswell, received. Mrs. Lathrop had
large rece ptiOn. Mrs. DahlRren received many
calls. Mrs. Gen. Beall and her two daughters
also had a brilliant reception.
OF course the event of the day or rather of
the evening, was the Presidents reception,
which, as is usual with such affairs, had large
and brilliant attendance. The guests included
nearly everybody of prominence in the city, re-
sidents and strangers, and the crowd, though
large at times, was not uncomfortable. The
toilets covered a wide range of taste and ex-
penditure, and there were many handsome
dresses to be seen in every part OF the house.
This was the first Opportunity mos. of those
present had to observe the east room in its new
outfit, and all we're delighted at the rich effects,
controlled by the very best taste, which char
acterzed every part of the splendid salon. The
lst Of distinguished persons present was so
long and the number of elegant toilets so large
that ii is well nigh impossible to find room for
them all, and to name few where so manv are
worthy of mention would be ungracious 80 we
shall not undertake the task.
The german party at Senator Thurman,
last evening was delightful affair. The mum
Der of guests was not large, comparatively speak
ing, but those present were all pleas ant agree
ahle people, so that the evening was thoroughly
enjoyable.
- Miss Maggie CrOzier, daughter of Senator
Crozier OF Kansas, is in the city, and Is staying
at Major Nedder's residence, No. Ill Mdssa
cbLsetts avenue.
JUDGE DURELL, at the solicitation of friends
has withdrawn his resignation as district Judge
for Louisiana, and will 60 through the ordeal OF
impeachment, already threatened by a reso!u-
ton OF the House OF Representatives.
EiTONAl -btHtldl lllDtT IL. y. treas
urerl and daughter were at the National Ho-
tel, Jacksonville, Florida, January Is. Tx
Senator Henry s. Lane, of indiana, was on the
floor of the House to-day. Secretary Robe.
sun Is still laborng under the effects of the very
severe cold which has prevented him from leay-
ing his private residence for the past two OF
three days. Gen. John Pope, commanding
the military department of the Missouri was
on the floor of the Senate to-day, and received
much attention from Senators.
t,.o-......- -. r,
Public Buildings and Grounds of both Houses
OF Congress, as announced in The STAR a few
days ago, adopted resolutions that in view o.
The financial condition of the country the coz
structlon OF no new buildings should be author
ized at this session. The House com mittee, r.
addition, extended an invitation to members o,
Congress to appear before them and give rea
sons, if any they had TO offer. why this was no.
sound and logical conclusion. This morning
representatives from Texas and Missouri an
peared, and were, according TO their own ideas
abundahty able TO offer proof as strong a hol;
wit that in Their own particular localities the
eHigencies of the public service were such thai
something in the way of public building mus.
be erected and that right speedily. Ii the
sense of the House is to be tested bv the opin-
ons on this subject of those who have already
been before the committee, Mr. Mulett will
soon be called upon to make plans tor a new
post once and courthouse in every Congress
sonai district not already supplied.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE CAPITOL 6 ROUNDS
L he subject of the improvement of the Capitol
grounds engaged the attention OF the House
Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds
this morning. 1t will be remem bered that Mr.
Clark, the architect OF the Capitol extension.
has reminded Congress through the committee
that in order to save the trees in the park il will
De necessary TO move them in winter, and he
has advocated strongly that action looking to
this end be taken speedily. A few DAYS since
MI olmstead, OF the Central Park commission,
OF New YORK city, IN conversation with several
members OF the committee pointed out what
now seems to them to be defects in the proposed
plan OF improvement. For instance the sys-
tenn OF terraces around the grounds is too sug-
gestiye, it is said, of parapets on fortifcations
ana 100 menaclng for the approaches to free
dons citadel. The committee have agreed to
ehdeavor to overcome these and other objec
lons by Offering resolution to the House. Civ
ing them authority to employ scientific ex-
pert, whose duty it shall be to prepare "A plan
covering the improvement of the grounds en-
tire, with view to their beauty and general
adaptation for the purposes for which they are
INTENDED IL the authority is thus given, the
committee VIII commence work in earnest, and
by next summer make such an improvement "a
they think will be generally acceptable to the
In the Senate yesterday Mr. Morril. OF Yer
mont, submitted resolution, which was con-
sider by unanimous consent, and agreed to-
mat the Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds be instructed to inquire into the ex-
Peuiency OF employing competent person or
persons to make q preliminary typographical
survey OF the grounds around the Capitol, and
10 furDlsh plan for laying out and the i'm
proving OF the same.
TERRIBLE WIFE MURDER AND SUICIDE
AT san Francisco Cal, a terrible tragedy &C.
Cured at house in Commercial street MONDAY
afternoon; man named Randolph Mitchell
entered hotel and murdered Annie Mitchell,
ms Wlie, with razor after a desperate strug-
gle, and then killed himself with the same
weapon. Annie had run away from her hus-
band In Wisconsin recently. He followed. and.
~hen she refused to live with him again. killed
her and himself, as above stated.
"A FATAL FIsHr WITH TAILoRs' SHEARS
Maurice Healy and Thomas Smith, conyicts in
taS Massaehusetts state prison, working in the
tallorlng department, had q desperate fight yes
terday with tailors' shears. Smiths wounds are
p,o .,y mortal. Healy was badly cut, but will
"A CANDIDATE FOR THE GALLows-The trial |
vi freq. Heiden blut, at Philadelphia for the |
murder OF George Kuhule, the German baker, |
was concluded yesterday. The case was given
to the jury at SIP. m. At q late hour thew re- |
turned With verdict Of guilty of murder in the |
first degree. " '''
IHE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE assembled at |
noon yesterday. j. ID. Shadd coiored was elect.