Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-31
Society.

tDe most DIllllant uay OF tne season.
The "morning receptions" SO called because
they take place In the afternoon, were many,
as also were those who attended them. Mrs.
Baird, Mrs. Parker and Mrs. Bouligny, Mrs.
Dom Piatt, Mrs. Ross Ray, Miss Edes, Mrs.
Alexander Jeffrey, and Mrs. Gen. William
Myers all had very large and agreeable recep-
tons. Mrs. Myers was perhaps the largest.
She had dancing, as she intends doing on FRI
days during the remainder of the season, and
nearly all the dancing members of society took
adv vantage Of the hospitality to indulge in thei.
the rooms and bountiful refreshment table
was spread.
- Three large and remarkably elegant enter
taiDnents took place in the evening, and each
OF the three would have been sufi cient to mark
an evening with a red letter in token of special
and enviable distinction. These were the
masked ball given by Governor and Mrs. Shep-
herd, the party and german by Mrs. and the
Misses Boyle, and the party given by Mrs.
Wise.
The entertainment at Mrs. Boyle's was a
very beautiful one. The floral decorations were
magnificent, and the favors for the german of
the costlest description, The dance began
about IL o'clock.
- To those who attended or heard the partic-
ulars of the masquerade given by Mr.. and Mrs.
Shepherd two years ago, it is not necessary to
assert that that of last evening was In every re-
spect successful. An awning, carpeted and
lighted with gas, stretched from the house to
the carriage-step, and the house had numerous
carnival decorations in the ball room, parlor,
and on the stairways. To attempt to describe
the scene during the evening would be beyond
the powers Of social chroniclers. The costumes
were rich and varied, and even the dominos
were so well gotten up as to be grotesque in
stead Of hideous, as such ordinarily are. With
few exceptions every one appeared, as invited,
en- masque. Stationed at the door of the first
parlor were two masked dummies, In costume,
who deceived mary by their lite like appearance.
Governor and Mrs. Shepherd were in dOminoes,
and so thoroughly disguised that few of their
guests discovered their Identity until the ring
ing Of the bell gave the signal to unmask.
Only few of the characters can be named.
Mrs. Macarthur, as Spanish lady, wore a
costume, as "COming Thro' the Rye" Miss
Bette Beck's representation of Flora McFlim-
sey was ingenious as well as very becoming.
Mrs. Mansfield Brown wore a pretty Roman
peasant costume. Mrs Darlington represented
Luna in becoming dress. The Evening Star
was well represented in two editions by
tie pleated and ruffied skirt and bodice
composed of files OF our popular jour
nal. Then there was a beautifully gotten
up page in white cashmere and blue, who
turned out to be Mr.. Cliff Warden. Mr..
II. NJ. Hutchinson was richly dressed as Me-
phistophiles, and there were other fascinating
hcnds In various disguises, while two beautiful
young ladies appropriately filled the role of
Marguerite. Mr.. Harrington was one of the
jolliest monks imaginable. Representative
Sloss represented Hamlet admirably, his solio-
quies being often times disturbed, however, by
the vagaries of Don Cesar de BaZan, who found
an appreciative interpreter in Gen. Jones. Mrs.
Westmoreland made "a most striking Medea, and
Mrs. Franklin Philip appeared in one of the
richest and most beautiful costumes OF the eve
ming, as Mary, Queen of Scots. Miss Gilman
was most beautiful Night, and Miss Abbott
received many compliments for her simple and
pretty Scottish costume. Charles l., represent
ed by Mr.. Mullett, hob-nobbed socially with
Scion Shingle, in the person of Mr.. q. s. Noyes,
but their quiet interview was rudely disturbed
by the arrival of four noisy sons of the celestial
empire, represented by the brothers Young and
Mr.. Smithmyer. Mr.. L. X. Wilson made an ex-
cellent Richelieu, and If Mr.. Fred. Aiken wasn't
Duke Alexis, he ought to have been. The
Misses Cake wore fancy dresses of striking ele-
gance, as did Mrs. Judge Granger, in the char
acter OF a Persian girl. Miss HebertOn was one
of the sweetest nuns imaginable. Mrs. Van Ris-
wick, as Winter, made DIR. Evans, as Lieuten-
ant OF Police, button his coat tightly about his
manly form, and caused, Mr.. Ross, the Weather
Bureau, to frequently consult his instruments
as to the probabilities of q change in temper
ature. This character was remarkably well
dress was elaborately decorated with thermomo
eters, barometers, and other appliances of the
signal office. Mr.. James II. Young was for the
lev represented Hungarian Prince in hand
some costume. Miss Patterson wore Turkish
dress Of great richness and beauty, the histor-
zeal correctness Of which is attested by the fact
that 1t was presented to Gen. Sherman when in
Constantinople couple of years ago. Mr.. w.
E. Chandler persenated Sir Peter Teazle The
nne figure Of Mrs: Bouligny was shown to ad-
as Spanish Girl, was very graceful and
charming. Mr.. George b. McCartee mystified
his friends notably as the demure Monk of
vacious Vivandiere. Miss Ida Thompson In a
rich and tastefully arranged fancy dress.
Among the many beautiful evening dresses
disclosed when the dominoes were removed,
the following were noticeable: Mrs. Shepherd
wore lovely shade Of green silk with polonaise
OF. white striped chambery gauze; Mrs. Brad
trimmings; Mrs Stearns a beautiful rose-coi-
ored silk with mantle trimmed with elder down;
Mrs. Kaufman an elegant white silk striped
with black; Mrs. Dom Pratt rich black velvet
with rose -colored trimmings and falls of lace;
Mrs. Banning over blue silk wore white French
muslin trimmed with very deep valenciennes
dressed Mrs. Mors III wore most tasteful and
becoming toilet; Mrs. General Wallen, of New
York, wore black velvet and collaret Of ex-
9uisite pointe lace and beautiful black lace
shawl, and Mrs. Senator Dorsey a beautiful
dress of rich velvet and satin. Miss Kate Nc
!ntyre, Mrs. Hastings, Mrs. Savile, Miss Bart
Cartee, Mrs. Mcclure, Mrs. Colonel Frank
Jones, Mrs. +. w. Jones, Miss Kitty Cooke, and
Mrs General Charles Ewing were all noticeable
for their rich and tasteful toilets.
General Sherman was in general demand BY
the bellies of the evening as a partner in the
dance, and responded like gallant man and
soldier. Secretary Richardson was a looker-on
at the gay scene for time, as was Judge Mac
Arthur, Mr.. Mariscal, the Mexican minister;
BaltaZzl Enendl, the Turkish minister, and
Others of renown In official, diplomatic and
other circles. Colonel Berret, not in mask, was
conspicuous in the throng In his natural char
acter of the handsome and polished gentleman.
MIR. George Alfred Townsend maintained his
incognito by concealing his shapely nose under
Proboscis OF slawkenburgian proportions. Col.
Corkhill was the handsome cavalier, both in
costume and out. COL Piatt showed his disre-
gard of masquerade cOnventionalities by drop
ping the mask from his classical features when
ever 1t tickled his nose interfered with his
breathing. Later in the evening q notable
quartette of real actors entered the ROOM
sothern, gray Of hair and with stylish, clear
cut features; Florence, rotund and Jolly; and
our home favorites, MIR. and Mrs. Savilie.
Sir Edward and lady Thornton gave fare
well dinner to the French minister and his wife
last evening, and afterwards small reception.
Mr.. SOthern was one OF the distinguished guests
at this entertainment, as he also was at that at
the Governor 3 residence.
Among the bellies now here frem other
cities is Miss Thoms, from Cincinnati. She re.
ceiyed yesterday with Mrs. Dom -Piatt.
Mr.. and Mrs. H. F. Ward are passing por-
ton OF their bridal tour at Willard's. Mrs.
Ward was Miss Stetson, of Boston, n young