Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-01-23
Society. Etc.

cepGolS.
Mrs. Hallet KilbOurn's was very large
and brilliant. She was assisted by Miss
KilbOurn, Mrs. HIIlyer and Miss Bruan. late
of Boston, but now a resident of Washington.
Mr.. Rruan has purchased the Cluss house.
between Shepherds and kilbOurn's, and the
family have taken possession. The ladies
wore elegant tOilettes, that of Mrs. Hillyer
was of cherry -cOlOrnd silk, with lOw-neck
waist over the high bodice of silk, and over
dress of white canton crepe. edged with cherry.
Lace ard diamonds made this beautiful
and becoming toilette. In the dining-rOOm
there was bountifully supplied table which
glittered with silver and Sevres china.
Among those who called were Madame
LcVert. Mrs. Chapman Coleman. Mrs. John
CObuTn, accompanied by Miss Hanneman
and Miss Shoemaker, who are visiting Mrs.
CObuTn. There were also Mrs. General Mar
cy. Mrs. James Beck, Miss Bette Beck, Mr..
Howe, and many others.
- Mrs General Paul, assisted by her
niece, Miss cambridge, received many visi-
tors.
Mis-. Dom Piatt and Mrs. General Ban
ming had very large reception.
The western part Of the city was thrOnged
all the afternoon. as there were receptions
held in nearly all the handsome residences.
, The evening was divided by many between
three large entertainment, while others CON
tented themselves with two.
The german given at Masonic Temple by
the Washington Club was a most attractive
affair. The hall was handsomely decorated
with army and navy devices and impie-
ments, and presented an enchanting appear
ance. Mrs. and Miss Fish received for the
gentlemen, and Mr.. Rand led. The music
was superb, the selections being from " La
file dc Madame AngOt." The young ladies'
who danced resembled a bouquet of the
choicest flowers, while the matrOns on the
back seats were admired as the most charm
ing wall flowers. Among these were Mrs
Judge Field, Mrs. General Wallen, Mrs
Con, nj halp AIra
Ricketts,, Mrs. Admiral Powell, Mrs. Judge
Richardson, Mrs. Heap. The young ladies
who danced were Miss Lutte Cults, Miss Isa-
belle Richardson, Miss Victoria Freyre, Miss
Wainwright. Miss Wallcn, Miss WatmOugh
the Misses Wood. Miss Annie Heap. Miss
Lizzie Porter, Miss Lula Ray, Miss Nellie
Dorsey, Miss cambridge, Miss Geraldine
Reed, of New York, and many others.
Many left the german a ten O'Clock and
attended the reception of the Attorney Gen
eral and Mrs. Williams. Her spacious AMI
well-arranged house was packed TO its Ut
most capacity for entertaining a crowd. II
was almost impossible to move about OF APP
preclate the elegant tOiiettcS. The arrange
ments were admirable for preventing cOnfu-
sion in the arrivals aud departures All
carriages drove around to tile west side OF
the house I'm arriving, and there was no diff
Guilty in reaching the draSSing-rOOms, as
every one ascended one staircase and de-
Scended another which brought them to the
parlOr door, where Judge and Mrs. Williams
stood receiving. The grand parlor, the halls,
and dining-rOOm are so arranged that they
appear as one, which was great advantage
on this occasion. There was d band of music,
but the crowd was too great to permit dancing
until II O'Clock, when many left TO attend
Mrs: s. p. Browns ball. Miss Bessie Smith
received with Mrs. Williams, who looked
charming in white silk with trimming of IL
lusiOn and cherry ribbons. One of the most
elegant toilets was that of Madame Freyrc;
white silk, with The front entirely covered
with embroidery in white bugles and TUFTS
Of maTabout feathers. Diamonds flashed in
her hair and about her neck. But there were
hundreds of superb dresses. Among the
noted persons present were Mr.. Justice
Swayne, Judge and Mrs. Macarthur, Major
Poore, Senators Frelinghuysen, McCreery,
Washburn, and Allison, Representatives
Garfield. Stanard, Gunckel, Banning, Major
and Mrs. Brown, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles e.
Lee, Leeds Off Of New York, Mrs, Or. Linderman,
and lace, General T. Kilby Smith, ex-Sana-
tor Pomeroy, Mrs. Francis NJ Carter. Mrs.
Walker, Miss Sally Frelinghuysen, General
and Mrs Banning, Miss Judith Coleman,
Sir Edward Thornton, Lieut.. and Mrs. Mil
Ter, Miss Morrill,, Mr and Mrs. CarliSe Pat
terson, Mrs. Admiral Powell.
The party given last night by Mr.. and
Mrs. s. z. Brown, at their roOmy and de-
lightful country home, "MOunt Pleasant"
was, as on previous occasions, a very largely
attended and enjoyable affair. IL would be
almost impossible in the throng to designate
all the notable people present. Among them
Dodge, Senator Morton, DR.. yelling, Judge
Lawrence, Mr.. w. II. Stickney, Judge Mae
Arthur and Mrs. Macarthur, ex-senator
PomerOy, Senator Spencer, Mr.. d. c. Cox
Senator Boutwell,, Prof. Huntington. Hon.
Mr.. Hines and Mrs. Hines, Prof. FristOe etc,
etc. Mrs. Brown was dressed I'm an elegant
black silk, the waist trimmed with velvet,
French taus lace, rIssiOr, the 1acinGs
trimmed in cardinal red. Miss Julia Brown
wore an elegant moonlight silk, trimmed
with light blue, with lace facings. Mrs.
L.4Fs 1Vnn =.
richly trimmed with light brown velvet and
point lace. Miss Dodge wore a light drab
silk, with elaborate trimmings of rich vel
Vet TO match. Mrs. RamSdell wore rich
satin dress of light cardinal red, with point
lace and diamonds. The costumes of all the
ladies present were rich and tasteful. Among
those who were especially y noticed were Mrs
HanscOm, Mrs. Hines, Mrs. Judge MacAr-
thur, Miss Thurman, Miss Hunt of New
Orleans, stopping with the family) Miss
Hathorn of Saratoga, Mrs. Cox, Mrs. w r.
Evans and daughters, Mrs. w. r., Smith.
Mrs Mullett, Mrs. Shaw, Mrs. Clephaue,
Mrs Mcfarland, Mrs. Senator Morton and
Mrs. senator PeaSe, Mrs. COnger, Mrs. Fox,
Miss Stickney of Connecticut, Mrs J. w.
Buker, Mrs. Burleigh, Miss Burleigh, Miss
Farwell of Chicago, Miss Standeford of
Louisville, Mrs Morrill,, Mrs. General Scho-
field and daughters, Mrs. Judge Miller, Mrs.
Stocking, Mrs. Kitchen, Miss Woods and a
host of others.
The experience of the past few years has
forced upon the attention of that part of
Washington society who are in the habit of
entertaining, and especially in winter the
necessity of some improvement in the quail
ity OF the service rendered them on such Oc-
casions. This species of employment may be
said TO be mOnOpoliZed by class of colOred
persons who find occupation in summer at
seaside hotels, watering places and noun
tain retreats. IL proves TO be with them, as
with monopolists in general; they too often
become careless, untrustworthy and unreIi-
able, and, whenever opportunity offers, make
eXorbitant charges for very light and easy
service. Indeed, families who entertain are
driven TO consider of some means of relief
from the annoyances they have to meet in
this way. Some revolve the idea of falling
back altogether upon white helps and wait
ers; others suggest resort to Chinese and
japanese, as well for permanent as occa-
siOnal service. The next Qf not the presently
season may inaugurate more or less exam
pies OF these efforts at improvement.
THE TRANSIT OF VENUS commission, re-
ceived at SIS this morning, through Prof.
Joseph Henry, OF the Smithsonian Institu-
tion the following telegram from Prof Airy,
OF the Greenwich Observatory: "fngreSs and
egress of Venus well observed from the sta