Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-02-16
Society.

oatufiayJ Win It's sprlng-uke weather and
charming receptions, filled the hearts of many
with mingled feelings of gIsdness and re-
greet. Yes, there was deep regret felt when lin
gering in the parlors that had so frequently re-
sounded with the voices of the gay, the witty
and the beautiful, that all was so soon to be
ever, and these pleasant reunions to be put
aside as "reminiscences of the joys that have
fed.
In the johnson House of the Arlington Ho-
tel Mrs. Freeman Clark, with sweet face
and silvery curls, received her guests with Tho
graciousness for which she is noted. Mrs. Gen
eral Randolph Marcy, who has held her Satur
day receptions at the same time with Mrs
Clark, is one of those general favorites whom
none name except to praise. OF course two such
mothers can only have daughters whose refine
ment, intelligence and good breeding call forth
the Admiration of all Misses Marcy and the
Misses Clark had with them on this, as well as
other Saturdays Miss Davis, of West Va, a fair
young girl with great beauty of person. Mrs
Colonel Berret, who is another fsvorite, held
a large reception. Mrs. Carlisle, with her guests
Mrs. Dudley and Miss Preston had Guite a
crowd of visitors. Mrs. Carlisle Patterson re-
ceived at Brentwood, and as usual there were
these who highly appreciated the opportunity of
seeing this charming lady in her own beautiful
home. A writer recently made the mistake of
saying that Mrs. Patterson was Miss Brent
She was Miss Pearson.
From tn p. IN. Mrs Hutchinson held a
mGtinee ddasdnte, which was a beautiful and
prllIla0t aEalr, Inc attendance VAS both large
and fashionable, and the dancing was vigor-
ously kept PIP until other engagements called
the merry makers away.
Notwithstanding the other attractions of
the evening, the usual Saturday evening lite
rary reunion at the residence of Mr.. King was
quite largely attended. The exercises consisted
OF an essay by DIR. Mackey, poem by MIR. Wal
lis, of the New York Herald, recitations by
General warwick, and piano music by Miss
Garrett: The evening was greatly enjoyed by
oil mari fnf 0rf1 Ao nl
society people will be glad to hear that these
reunions will be kept up during Lent.
The musical party at the residence Of Colo
mel Robert Dodge was the musical event OF
Saturday evening. Among those present and
participating were the Misses Radford, Miss
Wendell, Miss Edwards, Miss Lizzie Dyer, Miss
Jennie COyle, Mrs. McMillen and Mr.. Sands.
These musicdIes will, it is understood, be con-
tinued during the LenteR season.
- Mrs. Westmoreland's lecture on Saturday
evening called out a very large audience of
fashionable and literary people, the hall being
literally packed both on the main floor and IN
the gallery. The fair lecturer has reason to be
Justly proud of her reception on the occasion of
her first public appearance in Washington.
- The social attractions this evening are
card reception by Secretary and Mrs. Rich
ards9n, and german at Mrs. Senator Stock
ions.
Tomorrow evening the Presidents last
Indiana Association hold leyee at Masonic
Temple.
= Mrs. Senator Dorsey will hold her last re-
ception OF the season on Tuesday, instead OF
Thursday afternoon of this week.
THE INTERCHANGEABLE joint select con :,
mittee to Investigate District affairs hold
meeting in the room of the Senate committee
on the Pacific railroad Tomorrow, to make ar
rangements for the approaching investigation
report D-c0 al Of
meeting of the full committee on Friday after
noon last, is printed elsewhere in TIE STAR OF
this date. No specific plan for the conduct of
the investigation has yet been fixed upon.
further than to ask Governor Shepherd to furn-
ish certain Information, which information
when furnished will be the basis OF
full committee on Friday, considerable ques-
ton was made as to the propriety of the cOnrsr,
proposed by the subcommittee, requiring the
Governor to make so voumIDous an. exhibit of the
operations OF the District government, going
hack even prior to ITS establishment in 1871.
Some OF the members of the committee took the
view that it was virtually assuming the guilt OF
the District authorities, when their accusers
ought, in accordance with law and custom, To
be required to come forward, make formal
charges, and name the witnesses by whom
they expected to prove their allegations.
They held that 1t would necessarily
take some time and require considerable
extra outlay on the part of the District author
tiles to furnish the information called for, and
that should the investigation fail to sustain the
charges made, the memOrialists could quietly
withdraw without even rebuke after having sub
Jected not only the District but the general gov
eminent to needless trouble and expense. As
dislnterested person remarked at the Capitol
today: 1T is like asserting that a man is
thief and then requiring the accused to ex-
hibt the record of his life to prove that he is an
honest man; whereas the accuser ought to be
compelled TO prove the truth of his accusa-
tions."
The answer to the various categories of the
committee will be pretty elaborate affair
covering perhaps 900 pages OF fOolscap, and
Its prepa alto will require several days time
AN INVESTIGATION OF SENATOR HIppLE-
MITCHELL ASKED FoR.-Senator Kelly to-day
presented petition, signed by certain citizens
Of oregon, praying for an inquiry into alleged
irregularities in the life of his colleague, Sena-
tor Mitchell, and asked its reference to the
Committee on Privileges and Elections. The
petition sets forth the old charges in relation to
senator Mitchelfs domestic affairs, which have
heretofore beeh published In presenting the
petition Mr.. Kelly said:
'Mr. President. present the petition of cit
lzens al oregon, concerning charges against
the Hon. j. H. Mitchell, and asking the Senate
to investigate the same. Mr.. President, / have
been requested by a number of citizens of
oregon TO present this petition, in which they
prefer certain charges against my colleague,
and AK the Senate to inquire into their truth
In this connection l desire to state, that,
having been well acquainted with Senator
election as a member of this BODY,
/ knew nothing all that time derogatory 10 his
character or reputation. With regard to the
charges preferred, / wish ii to be understood
that do not now express any opinion upon
them, either one way or the other. That is a
matter leave wholly with the committee as il
is a proper subject for their investigation And
row having discharged this unpleasant duty, l
move that the petition be referred to the Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections.
BILL TO MERGE GEORGETOWN IN WASHING
ToN.-In the House to-day Mr.. Chapman intro
duced bill to extend the limits of the city of
Washington, which provides that the present
boundary be extended so as to embrace within
the same the territory heretofore known as the
city of Georgetown, which shall hereafter be
known as the city Of Washington: Provided,
hOscerer, That the property within the late cor
porate limits OF Georgetown shall not be taxed
for the payment of any debt heretofore con-
tracted by the corporation of Washington, nor
Sd all the property within the limits of the city
Of Washington be taxed for the payment of any
debt heretofore contracted by the city of
Georgetown. The second section provides that
the port Of Georgetown shall hereafter be
known as the port OF Washington, and the GUS
toms laws are hereby amended to conform to
the provisions OF this act. The third section
provides that the Office of postmaster in
Georgetown be abolished, and the Post
master General Is directed to extend the