The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-06-18
The Martha Washington Reception
A BRILLIANT AFFAIR.

OLD TIMES REVIVED
The Martha Washington Reception and
Tea Party, held at the Court House, Bel Air,
on Thursday and Friday nights, June 10th
and 18th, was the great social event of the
season, and i'll all respects most gratifying
success to the energetic and devoted ladies
who proposed, arranged and carried it to a
successful ISSUE
The assemblage on Thursday night was
one of the largest and most brilliant ever
gathered together in Bel Air, and included
besides the youth, beauty and fashion of our
own county, number Of strangers from 9th.
er parts of the State.
THE RECEPTION.
About 81 o'clock, the curtain cOnccaling
the stage was drawn aside and discovered
George and Martha Washington, standing
upon a raised platform, in the rear of the
stage. Lady Washington was personated
by Miss Mary Cough, daughter of the late
Harry d. Cough, of this county. She was
elegantly dressed in the fashionable costume
OF century ago, and performed her part
with the utmost dignity and grace. George
Washington was represented in the person
of Mr.. Charles s. Sewell, great grandson of
General Scwell, of the old Maryland Line.
On either side of the President and Lady
Washington were grouped the members of
their family and intimate friends, us follows :
Mrs Morris-Miss Emily Bradford, daugh-
ter of ex-Gov. Bradford; Nelly Custis-Miss
Mamie Norris; George W. P. Custis-Har-
ry Mitchell; Mrs. Clinton was admirably
personated by young lady of fourteen Miss
Maria Norris.
The guests were ushered in by Mr.. vii.
liam Young, who announced the names of
each couple rs they came forward. The Ia
dies were daintily and CALAMITY escorted in
front of the General and Lady Washington
who received them graciously and returned
with equal courtesy the low bows, after
which each lady was escorted to position
on the side of the stage.
When the guests had all been received,
the company broke up into little groups up
on the stage, in an easy and natural manner.
The scene ut this time, was very fine. The
ladies wore quaint and elegant costumes,
many of which were the identical ones worn
by the bellies Of nearly hundred years ago.
The gentlemen were dressed in gray pow
dered wigs, some of which were turned back
from the forehead and fastened in queue.
The coats were of velvet, handsomely trim
med, and cut like court dresses of the time of
George iii. The knee breeches were ee-
giant the stockings of white, black and
purple silk, and the shoes were fastened with
ornamental buckles. The waistcoats were
very long, and many of them handsomely
ornamented. Altogether the scene was a
vivid picture of the revolutionary era, and
one to be long remembered.
band, led by Prot. Ziegler, of Baltimore, and
assisted by several Baltimore musicians.
They did their very best, and their efforts
eliciied much praise.
The court party, after the formal reception,
became scattered through the audience, their
singular costumes adding not little
picturesqueness to the assemblage.
THk CHARACTERS REPRESENTED.
The characters represented in the court
were as follows:
Lady Washington-Miss Mary Cough; Gener-
al George Washington-Cha 8. Sewell; Mr..
Peyton Randolph and Mrs. Chancellor Livings.
tons. Archer Of Jno. and Miss Lizzie Archer
Mr.. and Mrs. Alex. Hamilton-Wm. Snow and
Miss Katie Sewell; Mr. and Mrs. John Jay
Chas L. DaIam and Miss Jennie Dallam; Mr.
and Mrs. John Adams-G. Morris Bond, Of Bal.
timore, and Miss Libbie Whitaker; Lord Ash.
burton and Lady Sterling--John Shriver and
Miss Mary Archer DR.. BENZ. Rush and Miss
Sophia Chew-G. NJ. Whitman and Miss Abbie
Steuart, Of Baltimore Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Miss Cornelia Norris; Mr.. and Mrs. John Duer
Herman Stump and Miss Lizzie Bradford, of
Baltimore; Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Caton-James
A. Amos and Miss Fannie Amos; Marquis dc
Lafayette and Miss Ann Corbin-Chas. A.
Young and Miss Mary Barbour, of Va; Count
de erase and Lady Templc-Waltcr Fruser and