The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-01-07
Centennial Tea.Party.

A Centennial Tea-Party was recently
held in the rotunda of the Capitol at
Washington, and it was a most brilliant
occasion. The magnificent hall, and its
equally magnificent surroundings, con-
tributed vastly to enhance the results of
the past few days work, but the array
of visitors and the mutual good feeling,
besides the enthusiasm displayed for the
success of the object of the" party" was
none the less worth witnessing. One
could scarcely imagine that the SEEM
ingly cold and measureless surface of the
walls could be susceptible of such beau
tiful decorations. These, however, were
planned by master-hand, and arranged
with the most artistic skill. Immediately
over the south door was ship placed at
convenient height, from which two lads,
in Indian costume, threw out small pack
ages of tea, while over the east door was
suspended a huge bell, with the motto,
"Proclaim liberty throughout the land,
and to all the inhabitants thereof" The
balustrade, Immediately under the tholus
of the dome, was decorated with fags
and pennants. All the prizes were trans
formed into rows of vari-colOred bunt-
ing, while from north to south, over the
center, was a rope lined with flags, the
central one of which was of silk, and of
extraordinary size.
The tables were ranged around the
hall, and were beautiful beyond descrip-
ton, each being surmounted by rich can
opies or framed bowers hidden with flow
ers and evergreens, and bearing either
the coat-ofarms or flags indicating the
States represented. The principal arti-
cles offered for sale were the Centennial
tea-cups," which, bought with tea, cost
one dollar, illustrated histories of the tea
party of 1878, tea chests, and bells, be-
sides various trinkets, made of wood from
Old Independence Hall, refreshments,
and, indeed, almost every conceivable
article which would tempt purchasers.
The ladies in charge of the tables, and
their assistants, were attired la Martha
Washington, some of the costumes being
of the richest description, one of the most
notable being that worn by Miss Mary
Markoe, which was one hundred and
thirty years old. At the Connecticut
tab the principal attraction was Miss
Clara Louise Kellogg, who was the OBJ
served of all observers.
Miss Sallie Woodbury. wore the bridal
dress of her great-grandmother, Sallie
Kast, nee McHurd, of Boston, Massachu
setts. 1t is a heavy white brocade, the
figures being of three different designs,
and the colors retain in remarkable
degree their original brilliancy. Among
the relics in the possession of the family
we noticed the commission of her great
Grand Uncle lanes McHard. This com.
mission, from George H., bears date the
14th day of September, 1856, and was
signed by w. Shirley, the Governor Of
Massachusetts, Bay. Miss Woodbury. also
wore an old miniature of one of her an
cesters-an oil painting on ivory, in
antique setting. On the Massachusetts,
table was a copy of her grandfather
advertisement, printed from copper
plate. He was an importer of drugs in
Salem, Massachusetts,, more than cen
tury ago, and physician by profession
also, his snuf-box, and silver corkscrev
were on exhibition.