Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-02-17
Society.

10th of February, the crocuses and violets were
blooming In the open air. In Franklin square
the scarlet buds of the Pirus jsponica are
ready TO burst into leaf and flower. The gay
birds OF fashion made their calls in many in
stances III spring attire and parasols we're needed
TO shield the face from the suns rsys. In the
houses the windows were open and the lace cur
taiIs were stirred by soft summer breeze
With such auxiliaries it is small wonder that
yesterday was brilliant and eXhIarating.
The attractions at Judge Swayne's were
many. There were the flowers, the tine library,
and the agreeable hostess, with her popular
daughter, Mrs. Parsons. The latter wore "a
superb black velvet, with fichu OF valenciennes
lace and ornaments of coral.
- The long sweep Of rooms at Judge Hunts
were none too much for the crowd who called
during the afternoon. Miss Van Rensselaer,
and Miss Clark assisted Mrs. Hunt in doing
the hOnOTs.
- Mrs. and the Misses Strong received their
guests with their usual grace and courtesy.
Mrs Strong, we are sorry to state, is still suffer
ing from influenza.
- Mrs. an nIiss Bradley and others in the
eastern part of street also had large recep-
lions. AT General Sherman's visitors were
agreeably entertained by the General and his
wife, who wins more hearts by her kindness
and goodness than all the bellies OF the season.
Then, too, there we're Miss Minnie aud Miss
Lizzie Sherman, Mrs. and Miss Mccoy, Miss
Itnch and Miss Harris, daughter of Judge
Harris, OF Virginia.
Miss Barley had dancing reception.
Mrs. Kelley assisted by Miss Miller received
many calls, as did likewise Mrs. Thomas Will
son and Mrs Richard Harrington.
The reception in the evening at Secretary
Richardson's was brilliant entertainment
The toilettes were very beautiful, but the crowd
was almost too great for a falr display. Mrs
and Miss Richardson were elegantly attired
Miss Richardson has many exquisite costumes,
but the one worn last evening was especially
remarkable for its elegance. Ii was primrose
SILK with Overdress OF illusion wrought in colors
and trimmed with wreaths of flowers Miss
wise wore pure white, which was perfect in
material and finish. But il is impossible to
mention all who were worthy OF notice. There
were many strangers present. Judge and
Mrs. Macarthur were accompanied by their
cousins from Boston, MT. and Miss NewcOmb
and Mrs. McArthur's fair young niece Miss
Willcutt. Mrs. Burgess of Allentown, Penn.
attracted much attention by her rich robe o.
garnet colOred velvet and superb diamonds.
Mrs. Stockton gave her son, Mr.. Richard
Stockton, most beautiful german last even
ing. There were thirty-eight couples, and six
flavor figures were danced. The favOrs were
all very handsome, and most of them were of
original design: To the gentlemen ''Orders"
were given SIMILAR to those bestowed by foreign
courts on those they wish to honor. \ broad
ribbon, red, blue, or yellow, was passed over
the LETT shoulder across the breast and back
and caught at the waist with tiny silver bell,
while silver star giittered on the breast. Tam
borlnes and beautiful fans were among the
fayOrs for the ladies' Another and most be
coming favor for air arms was a band of black
velvet for the wrist and one for the upper part
of the arm, united by strap extending along
The arm, studded with small sleigh bells. Miss
Edith Fish and Mr. John Davis led the german;
Miss Grant and Mr.. Stockton were the next
couple, and Miss Oldfield and her partner the
thlrd. Mrs. roCktOn's toilet was magnificent.
IL was rich silk, the court train of the shade
known a. ''frOzen mOOnlig ht," and the petti-
coat OF ''glacier" blue. To the uninitiated it
must be explained that "frozen moonlight, il
greyish white, II might be more properly called
morning twilight" suggesting the faint grey
hght OF early dawn. The GLACIER blue" Is
green in some lights, and Is a choice tint. With
TINS toilet pearls and diamonds were worn
Miss Oldheld's exquisite silken robe was OF the
palest shade of green, just the faint tinge OF
green seen in shallow brook of limpid water
One Of the features of the refreshment table
was punch bowl made out of a solid block OF
ice clear as crystal.
The graduates Of Yale College living or
temporarily in Washington, have rendered a
complimentary dinner to Chief Justice Waite
The invitation, which was conveyed to Mr.
Waite this morning by Representatives Phelps
and Kellogg on the part of Congress, and Dr.
Peter Parker and Francis Miller, esq, repre-
senting the graduates resident here, was &C
cepted, and the evening of Monday, March 81
liked upon as the time for the dinner, which
will take place at the Arlington.
TIE DISTRICT INvEsrIGAr1oy.-The Joint
select committee to investigate District affairs
at the meeting on Friday last adjourned to meet
to-day, but yesterday, after informal con
sultaton, Mr.. Boutwell,, the chairman, and the
other members, concluded that no meeting will
be necessary until after the information called
for has been furnished by the Governor. 1t NAV
be proper TO state in this connection that th,,
committee have not yet decided as to the man
ner and scope of the investigation. This it
would seem, is to be an after considers alton, the
committee believing that they can better deter
mine as to the character of the investigation
when they shall have received and duly digested
the information they have called upon Cover
nor Shepherd 10 furnish. They will next meet
at the call OF the chairman, Mr.. Boutwell, The
IN ,nrfaTfN anr 49,
vestgati0n will be held, is large apartment
and is tolerably well adapted to the purpose 1t
is little larger than the room OF the House Dis
II let Committee in which the last investigation
was held and faces west. Adjoining il is an
ante-rCOm, in which the Transportation Com
mittee occasionally hold meetings. 1t will not
sc over fifty persons, outside OF the me bers
OF the committee, and is lighted by two small
windows. The room is situated directly over
the office of the Secretary of the Senate.
METEOROLOGICAL OBsERvATIoNs.-A circu-
iar just issued by Brigadier General Albert j.
Myer, chief signal officer, and addressed 'to
the voluntary meteorological observers who
have reported to the Smithsonian Institution"
states that ''with the approval of the Secretary
OF War and at the very courteous suggestion OF
the distinguished secretary OF the Smithsonian
Institution, Prof. Joseph Henry, this office has
assumed such charge of the system of meteoro-
logical observations hitherto conducted by that
institution as may be found consistent with the
interests of the public service. The voluntary
observers heretofore reporting to the Smithso-
MAN Institution are therefore invited 10 con-
tnue their labOrs, reporting to this Office.
Stamped envelopes. blank forms, Instructions,
etc, will be supplied upon application" In as
Stunning this care, the chief signal officer ex-
presses the hope that the cordial and effective
cooperation, so long had on the part of the OBJ
servers with the Smithsonian Institution, may
be extended to his office; and says ait is pro-
posed TO furnish such observers may, by this
arrangement, become correspondents Of the Of
ice, copies of papers from time to time pub
lished by it."
An accompanying circular Of Prof. Henry's
addressed that of Gen. Myers, hopes the
transfer will meet the appreciation OF Observers
generally, and says: eve shall retain for the
present all the records of observations which
have been accommodating at the Institution dur
NO IN. 'ast p years, and continue the work of
their reduction ana discussion up " ths end Of
the year 1873"
TrE PRESENT CITY is in very little sugges-
tive of its former dearth, squalor and reminis-
cence, being a remarkable renaissance; its
grades, sewerage, pavements, water supply,
common roads, bridges. street and steam rail-
anh rival 10 rft,ra hav