Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-02-11
Society,".

portunity had been given to enjoy the hospital-
~ Of the Governors residence. Mrs Bradley,
Mrs. Richard Harrington and Miss Lydia Har-
rington assisted in receiving.
Mrs Macarthur who receives on Tuesday
during February, had many calls as also did the
other ladies who received yesterday, among
whom may be named Mrs. Bryan, Mrs. wylie,
Mrs. Blake and the Misses Wood. In George
town 1T was very gay. Mrs. Franklin Steele
and daughters, Mrs. and the Misses Fisher.
Mrs. Key and Mrs. Hamilton Smith, Mrs
Alvord, Mrs. and the Misses POore, Mrs II. d.
Cooke, Miss Cooke, and Mrs. Harry Cooke all
made their homes agreeable to many callers.
Later in the day Mrs. III. ID. Cooke made one of
the guests at Governor Shepherds. Mrs. Cooke
is looking exceedingly well, and Miss Cooke is
looking so blooming that all the pale beauties
look faded beside her: There is so much sweet
ness and goodness in this young lady's face that
1t almos distTacts the attention from her per-
feet complexion and lovely eyes.
The third state dinner of the present sea-
son was given at the Executive Mansion last
night. Those present were the President and
Mrs. Grant, Lieut.. Col. Fred. Grant, Miss Nell
lie Grant, Gen. Harvey, the Portuguese min
lister and Madame Lobo, the Spanish minister,
the Russian minister, the Belgian minister, the
Turkish minister, the minister from Ecuador
and Madame Flores, the minister of the Meth
erlands, the Japanese, CHILEAN and Danish
charges d'affaires, the French charge d'affaires
and Madame de Turrene, Senator Gordon, SEN
ator Patterson and Mrs. Patterson, Representa-
tive and Mrs. Bradley, Representative and
Mrs. Woodford Representative Clark and Mrs
Clark, and Representatives Lowndes and
Phelps.
- The assembly given by the gentlemen of
the Bachelors and Washington german clubs,
at Masonic Hall, last evening, was decidedly
the handsomest ball of the season. The decor
atoms Of the hall, the music, the supper, but
above all the number of distinguished guests
present, combined to make the occasion excep-
uODably brilliant, and to rank favorAbIy with
the many elegant entertainments given in Wash
lngton in the past. The walls were draped with
American flags; lace curtains were hung at the
windows, and in the spaces between we're hand
some mirrors, above each Of which were two
swords crossed. In each window were hanging
baskets, and also beneath the chandeliers,
group or several baskets depending from the
SehIrsi ehandeier. On the platform, at the
head OF the room, the music was concealed by
bank of potted plants skillfully arranged. GA
either end of the platform small tents were
erected, giving hint OF army life outside the
pale of civilization. Guns, with bayonets, were
stacked outside the tents, and tiny cannon
guarded the entrance doors. The uni
veIsal exclamation of every one on en-
dScorations!" The picture was worthy OF
its setting. The most distinguished representa-
tives OF Washington society, composed the COM
paDy. Generals and statesmen, secretaries and
diplomats were there; while the many superb
toilets and lovely faces constituted an array of
beauty and magniticence seldom equaled. The
NUMBER Oh guests was limited to SIX hundred,
mat, although the hall was full, it was at no
time crowded. Mrs. Fish, Mrs. Belknap, and
Madame Borges received on behalf of the gen
tiemen. These ladies were very richly attired:
Mrs Fish in lilac silk, lace and diamonds; Mrs.
Belknap in pale pink silk of exquisite make,
with diamond and pearl ornaments; Madame
Borges wore rert dedu silk, very rich, and from
the chain OF her throat fell diamond pend ant
But the diamonds of diamonds were those worn
by the wife OF the new French secretary,
Madame de Clermont- Tonnerre. There was
10 fnf
ly around the throat and in front long pendants
Of diamonds. The long ear rings of the same
stones terminated in huge solitaire pearls, while
leaves of diamonds were used as ornaments for
the hair; the bracelets were richly set. The
dress worn with these superb Jewels was a null
berry pink silk, with very full of overskirt and
MOWERS OF handsomest lace. Mrs. Charles Moulton
was M gniticently attired in black velvet the
petticoat formed by alternate stripes of black
velvet and white silk, richly trimmed with va
ieDciennes lace. Her diamonds were scarcely
less numerous than those above described. She
wore necklace and wreath OF these sparkling
gems. Where there were so many toilets of
striking elegance it is pity that only few can
be mentioned, but want of space only allows it
70 be said that every lady seemed to wear the
choicest specimens of her wardrobe. The dane
ing was kept up briskly until after 2 p. m. A
night.
The events of this evening are a reception
at Gov shepherds and the hop at Wlllard's,-
both being "card' entertainments.
Mrs. Senator Conkling's Thursday recep-
tons have been discontinued for the season, in
consequence Of the death of the Senator g
father.
Mrs. Senator Stewart will have no more re-
ceptions this season, until after Lent.
Mrs. Senator Dorsey will not hold her usual
reception to- morrow Thursday afternoon, but
the card reception will take place Friday eve
ming, 18th instant.
The DIsTICT INvEsTIGAT roN.-Int the House
to- day, the Speaker announced that K. ii. Rob-
erts had declined service ON the Joint special
committee to investigate the affairs of the Dis
trict, and the Speaker then appointed Lyman
K: Bass to fill the vacancy.
Inc Joint Select Com met this after
noon in the room of the Senate Committee on
Mines and Mining, Senator Boutwell, presiding
and appointed subcommittee consisting of
Messrs. Boutwell,, Wilson, Thurman and HamIl-
on, to consider the best mode of conducting the
investigation and report to the full committee
whenever Trt.tns To-. they are prepared: The com.
would be best to have the investigation public
to the extent OF allowing present during the
sessions of the committee authorized repre-
sentatves Gn me press and the parties especially
sell This, IL Is understood, includes not only
the persons making charges against the District
government, but the parties OF that govern
Dent affected by these accusations. The joint
committee will not meet again until the sub
committee is ready to report.
REDUCTION OF THE ARMY.-The House Com
mittee on Military Affairs got to work this morn
ing on bill looking to the reduction of the
army, which, however, will be subject to msny
amendments. The new bill in its provisions
will not muster out any commissioned officer
now in the service of the United States, but
contains provision that no vacancies shall be
filled until such officers are reduced to a certain
number. The committee will depend on deaths
designations, and other casualties to bring the
number of officers within the provisions OF the
bill, which virtually provides that the army
shall reduce itself. One section of tho bill re-
duces the number Of infantry regiments from
twenty five to twenty, with an equally equita-
BILE reduction in the other arms of the military
service. A change is also recommended in the
number and mode of the selection of staff Of
fcers for commanding generals of the sever al
military departments. 1t is probable il will be
some week before report is made but ii can
be authoritatively stated that reduction is to
be made, and that all recruiting stations for the
enlistment of soldiers will for the present be
recommended to be broken up.
NAVAL ORDERs.-Lieutenant Commander
Chas. L. Huntington, ordered to duty as navi-
CATION officer Philadelphia navy yard. Master
w. f. b. Delehay, to the Shawmut. Assistant
Surgeon Geo. E. Harmon, to the naval acade-
nv. Assistant Surgeon Jas. H. Gaines, to ma
val hospital, New York. Ensigns G. H. Rich
man and John b. Collins, detached from re-
ErxnA aw-N~ I..s-. n-I