The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-09

sieigns uasned up tue SIDE lawn, passed
under the porte-cochere and dropped their
passengers at the side OF the mansion. retiring by
making circuit OF the house. The lower part OF
the house, consisting OF two saloons. with an ex-
tension dining room appended to one OF them,
and two large halls were thrown together in the
main hail. On the upper door were stationed
some pieces Of music. The repasr was
set out In elegant style in the ex-
tension room attached to the saloon
where Mr.. Bryant and party received. the author
OF "ThanatOpsis" stood between Governor Tiiden
and his sister, Mrs. Pelton. Miss Bryant, the
poets maiden daughter, and MISS Fairchild, his
niece, stood next. Mrs. Pelton was assisted by
the ladies' OF the house-Miss DlcKerson,
the affianced OF the Governors nephew.
Miss Iilden and Miss McChain. The
character OF the reception was simple and unos.
tentarious, as II Mr.. Bryant himself had been
consulted in the preparation Of It, The walls were
hung with engravings and paintings prousely, as
the taste OF the ordinary inmates OF the house had
placed them. Nothing indicated an occasion Of
more consequence than plain citizen party, ex.
cepr the richly-dressed stan officers in their
uniform OF blue and gold lace, with epaulets and
swords. Mr.. Bryant stood all the evening and
affably exchanged sententi0u3 remarks with the
successive arrivals. To OF the earliest guests
who congratulated him on his hale and goodly
years, he repied:-
CALM CAREER.
eyes, have had pretty long career, with no
sorrow and very little work." When the main
saloons were crowded-the floral ornaments
elegant refreshment table, moving shoulders
and heads, dresses and soft chandelier lamps
among the paintings-a spectacle was offered
pleasing and brilliant In any association;
and when collected around the venerable beard
and COOL Intellectual head OIL MIR. Bryant, 1t sug-
gested the celebrated theme for the painter OF
Franklin at the voluptuous court OF Louis xvi
HOW THE POET LOOKED.
Calm, penetrating, philosophic. thoughtful, any
thing but radiant, the poet who never knew
parhos and spoke very little sentiment looked
to be some quiet waytarer who had
been brought into these Illuminated
saloons under the impression that he
was troubadour or q bard. Mr.. Bryant had q
ready answer for every suggestion, but not word
more than made the answer. II anybody sug-
gested "reminiscences to him he keenly inquired
the time and place ana was never OF his guard.
"REMINISCENCES.
'Were you much In Albany In former days to
AFFECT politics look after .he principles you ad-
vooateds" asked one. 'Not much" SAID Mr..
Bryant, ~ recall one time came up to see Mr..
Van Buren, while he was Governor"
TIE GOVERNOR.
Governor Tilden has not been in very good
health or spirits tor some time; he looked clean
and chirpy, but he said very little, and was not
Mr.. Bryant lett his position about ten O'Clock and
retired less iatigued than his nosts.
THE PRESS.
Considering the literary character OF the ben.
efclary very few OF his own craft were present
None Of the New York editors came to time. Mr..
Purcell, OF the Rochester Union; Mr.. Warren, OF
the Buffalo Courier, and Mr.. Barnes, Of the
Brooklyn Argus. were the only contem-
porary proprietors visible. There were
no professional nor learned men, except the Al.
bany sculptor, Palmer, notable looking gentle.
man, accompanied by his daughter, and Professor
Anderson, OF the Rochester University.
THE LADIES
were often observed for beauty, and opinion
differed among strangers as to whether Miss
Evarts, daughter of the New York advocate, or
the nne blonde daughter Of the Speaker Of the
Assembly. MCGUIRE, or tho petite and bril-.
liant daughter or Judge Church carried of
the award OF comeliness. The dresses were
almost uniformly tasteful without being, except
in few cases. very novel, The Spanish ladies'
were most admired in their toilets, their imported
ornaments and elaborateness making the Knicker.
booker bellies look on with misery and envy.
TIE COLLATION.
was we'll served, and the dishes were in some
cases richly dressed. but no alluson was made in
the titles OF any OF them upon the bill OF fare to
the poet or his compositions. Tea, coffee, choco.
late and punch were served. temperance flavor
reigned In the saloon, md impaired an
air or suave intellectually to the com.
pany. The Governors cook was formerly
cook to the Emperor oil Brazil. and all
the dishes were prepared In the house. The
beauty OF many Of the efigies crowded the supper
room before the eatables were partaken Of; the
large dishes were very fantastic, and often ludic-
rous in their arrangement OF armed Holsters,
riding a-tilt upon ice boats; standing cakes
Of dolphins OF sugar were angled for by grlfns OF
chocolate, and many slender and unrapacious
disciple OF the poet regretted when the appetites
OF the more buxom PATRON bellies cried havoc and
let loose the dogs OF war, there was nothing that
became this supper like the eating Of 1t.
THE KNICKERBoCxER SPIRIT.
Then, indeed, might be seen the spirit OF Petrus
Stuyvesant and the appettes OF his progeny OF
warriors. The entire three pages Of Van Sweasin.
gems and Van Vechtens, Van Dams ana Van Pelts,
appeared to have walked out Of the Albany Direc-
tory and set down to beslege the dinde farcie-
saumon and quarter de chevreuil. A finer collie c.
ton OF pink complexlons blue eyes, rotund shout.
the pages OF Washington Irving. The dance had
its attractions, but the lighted space wedged
every body in some mysterious way back into
the dining room, and there the laughter was
loudest and the conversation fondest.
TIE GOVERNORS SATISFACTION.
Governor Tiden said, few minutes after Mr..
Bryant departed to his cnamoer:-'T feel more
than gratiaed with the manner my irlenCs have
responded tonight. owed this to Mr.. Bryant,
and he has been pleased to the bottom OF his
heart" Then turning to Governor Seymour.
Governor rilden said :-"Governor Seymour, you
are better adapted for this social than am.
You ought to preside in this mansion tonight in.
stead or me-" "No." answered seymour, II shall
20 on farming, Tilden."
Governor Seymour wore Cardigan jacket an.
der his vest. The entire number OF persons who
attended the reception was about nvo hundred.
THE PRESENTATION OF FLOWERS.
The floral ornaments were elaborate. and were