The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-05-28
Al MARTHA WASHINGTON TEA
PARTY.
From the Washington Capital.

Onial times, and in our little community
We were able TO collect for the celebra-
ton in question enough relies ofundoubt-
ed commences and high value TO make
thi, ten party equal to any celebration OF
il IN the cities; IN point Of value Of the
relics and representation OF drawing
room manners and ball room etiquette
of our distinguished ancestors.
The tea party was conducted by Mrs.
George r. Colds borough of this county,
granddaughter OF Eliza Parke Gusts.
one of Mrs. Washington's daughters, who
married Mr.. Law, whose interchangeable
energy. wide charity and "tiabillty are
suggestive examples from her great an
cestrcss dcscendent to the large circle Of
her own acquaintance. The town hall
was decorated suitably for the exhibition
with tea tables, rcfrcshmcnt tables,
flowers &c. to attract buyers to contrib
ute to the fund for the orphan asylum,
for whose benefit the entertainment was
.riycn. But the v,W.n,On bphum o. all
wa, behind the curtain, which upon the
first rising, revealed an ancient drawing
room, supposed to be that OF friends OF
Mrs. Gusts. Mr.. and Mrs Chamber
layne, at whose house she was staying
while Colonel Washington was counting
her.
In the foreground are two Of her child
rcu PLAYING cards. At the right are
seated her host and hostess, and by the
fireplace. over which is hung a beautiful
picture of Nelly Gusts, by Gilbert Stuart,
are standing the lovely widow and her
Iliustrious lover.
The curtain rises in the second scene
nj the termination of the marriage SER
vice OF the noble pair, and as her hns-
band leads her forward she receives the
congratulations other friends, who finally
form the mirUet, which Is danced with
Il, much grace and stateliness a | fancy
could our much honored ancestors. The
dress worn by Mrs. Washington (pro
TENN formerly belonged to Mrs. Barrister
Carroll. who wore it at the Court Of st.
James in the reign of George Ill. Her
earrings and buckles belonged to Mrs.
Washington The embroidered green
coat worn by the groom was General
Wa,hington's. \ PINK ,ilk dress, trim
med with swans down, worn by Mrs. Col.
Tench Tilghman wife of General
vs. aid when she entertained the Mar.
qui, de- Lafayette, upon his first entrance
into Baltimore, formed the costume Of
one of the bridesmaids Another brides
maid wore one Of Mrs. Washlngton's
own wedding drcSscs-a blue silk. The
third bridesmaid had on an India muslin,
worked with silver in sprays, which for
mcrlv belonged to Mrs. Eliza Purke Gus
It's. One of the guests displayed 10 adj
vantage pink and green brocadc,
trimmed with costly point lace, formerly
belonging to Mrs Carroll. Another
dress was one hundred and seventeen
wears old. Also another magnificent bro
cqdc, belonging to Mrs. Carroll, with
Jewels she wore when presented to the
Queen Of England. Another dress over
a hundred wears old, was nm orange col
orcd ground with scarlet flowers.
A yellow brocade, formerly belonging
to Mis- Calvert, daughter-in-law to
Widow Curtis was displayed by one OF
our Young bellies rs Miss Calvert herself.
There was n striped brocade belonging
to Eliza p Curtis, with petticoat of Mrs.
W.. 4 dress belonging to Mrs Hugh
Darcy, Il hundred and twenty years old,
= figured on u guest. But the dress worn
/ bv Miss Lizzie Chamberlain, formerly
belonging to her great.great-grand
/ mother, is one hundred and ninety-three
/ wears old, of white satin, with brocade
flowers. which, in quality, was the equal,
and IN point Of age the superior, of any
/ fabric exhibited. 1t seems strange to Us
to-day, who put away for Il few years,
pieces of what We deem the productions
Of the improved age, to lind, upon COM
parison with our great-granimother's
antiques. tina: our colors are faded, while
their. are fresh. and what TO Us seem
princely in quality before the opening of
the old chest now appears beggarly and
sinks in our estimation.
There were many other dresses exhibit
ed by the ladies and gentlemen compos-
ing the party, but | am almost afraid to
90 into detail for fear of imposing upon
YOUR valuable time. But in brief-a
grey brocade train belonging to Mrs.
Carroll. with aturbar over century old,
Of Miss Calvert's, vino married q. W.
p Gusts \ white satin overdress. with
blue quilted satin petticoat. from the
Chase family. Mr. {. ii. Gibson, rs Gen
eral Washington, wore q buti satin vest.
which once belonged to Mr.. Char
les Carroll of Carrollton; and It
silver brocade vest also worn
hv one Of the gentlemen, has APP
pcarcd at the court Of Charles IL. !
must mention further that the hall. n
well as drawing room was decorated with
mixtures. all belonging To the country
families. Among them were Lady Ann
Francis bv Coplcy; Mr. and Mrs. Mat
,bn,y Tilehman. by Pcsle. | mentioned
before the one of Nelly Gusts, by Gill
bert Stuart. the fac SiHsiic OF which now
hangs in the art gallery at New Haven,
Connecticut. There were also portraits
OF President Monroe, Archbishop Car
roll and Lord Camden, and too many
others Ia mention.
The relic table must not be forgotten,
for upon it were seen many things which
WI. appear at the Philadelphia centen-
maj! There will be nothing there which
VIII interest more the lovers of antlQul-
ties ana patriotic momentoes. One Of
the most curious things was II gold ring
containing miniature portrait of
Charles |, made in 1913. 1t was pre-
Sented by Qneen Henrietta Maria to one
OF her maids Of honor Mrs. James Neal,
and 10 whose descendants in this country
in now belongs. There was silver mus
tard cup from MtVernon, buttons Off Gen.
eral VS. coat, silver camp cup used bv