Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-01-05
Washington Correspondence.
WELCOMING ~ or THE NEw YEAR" INV WEARS
CNLLs"-TiE BEcErriON AT THE WHITE HOUSE,
THE TotErrEs or THE LNniEs-ofiEH hhcff-
rioNs IN THE CfrY--pEsC RiirioN or THE DEAD


when mas prevailed during the Ncthi s"'' WV
this noon to the most beautiful sunshine, and the
new year was ushered in under clear skies and
with balmy air The auspciousness OF the
weather quito naturally had It's effect on the spir-
It's Of society throughout the city, and everywhere
the utmost good humor prevailed The custom OF
New Years calls has been INDUCED in very gem
orally through the day, and in fact, it may be said
that all other business was given up to the one
prevailing amusement Over one thousand doors
il Is said, have had their latch-strings on the out
side to-day In this city, and within these doors
has been dispensed the most generous and lady
like hospitality The new year was welcomed
here ut midnight in q manner worthy Of the citi-
zens Of the capital Of the nation. thrill Of old
fashioned patriotism seemed TO have run through
all hearts at this evontful epoch in the nations
history and all were eager to testify their enthus
asn as soon as the new year had dawnod In
stead Of a general demonstration, each man vented
his feelings in his own peculiar manner, each sep
amte organization made their own little demon
stration, and thus the whole city was awake and
rejoicing at the event Though not great deal
was done in the way Of illumination, the noise OF
rejoicing in every quarter Of the city fully com
pcnsated for the absence of light A salute OF
and nc seven minutes before that hour the opera
tor at the frc-alarm Office tuned in the numbers
one seven. seven, six, and a chorus Of bells all
over the District sung ont, In their own language
the year Of Independence. At twelve O'Clock,
amid the racket Of the city, the same bells sang
out 1876 and a general demonstration begun
The night was one of the foggiost on record the
fog was so thick one could cut It with q knife
while IFS great density was made moro striking
from the surrounding circumstances Ever and
anon the flash Of cannon would penetrate its
mursy depths, Illuminating a large portion, as it
were Of the city; then q bunch of frc-cmckcn
would hc let of, and other rciocings would ring
ont upon the air At just twelve every engine In
the fire department turned out into the street and
increased the noise by vhistltng, aided. by loco
motive and other whistles SO that those few who
were uup1trotic enough to retire before that hour
were kept awake aud made aware thatthe Centen-
uial had really begun
The Executive Mansion has been to-day, as
usual ON New Years the center Of attraction for
a large proportion of tie population. aud was
thrown open to the public Tor the annual rccep-
ton by the President The cabinet were received,
with their ladies, a, eleven O'Clock, the diplomatic
corps at hali-past twelve followed by the Judges
Of the Supreme Court, seuat5fs and Representa-
| tiyos, and other notables At one O'Clock Che
/ doors were thrown wide for the reception OF
/ citizens, and for an hour thc crowd thronged IN
aud out OF The White House. AN pressing forward,
eager to grasp the hand Of the President Al
ages c1lors. sizes and conditions wercreprcsented
from the merchant prince to the boot-back Il
was warm work getting In. To some of them and
soon the Presidents right glove BEGAN 10 show
symptoms of having come in contact with per.
spiring rioveless hands
The tollettcs Of the ladic. are said TO have sur
ras.ed i'm bcanty those OF any pre,ious o,.a.ion
Mn. Grant wa. attired I'm A snporb blac,, ak
cashmere finish with pottieoat and side ries.i.
OF rol3colored .uk the HIGH eor.,.e ,,,s am al
mirable blending Of the tyocolor. IIcrbair wa.
ARRANGED Ina uuifs. onals and diamonds ,rerc tbe
ofnamout. Alr. Fred Grant wore a crushed
strawberry tinted silk. with white lace and small
bouauet. ofyiolet, and diamond orpamept, lad,
Thornton wore pn,y-bluc silk combined with vol
vet Of the same shade and hat IN match Mr..
FISH was ACCOMPANIED by two Of her daughters
and was herself very becomiurly attired in a Ion.
train Of black velvet with over-dre.. Of mappi6
cent eern lace Her hair was worn in pnfr. caugI
with blue feathers and 9iyr,fie Of cold and ala
mond ouament. Mrs Secretary Hickman an
pcared in a cha croinre of Worths A Sleeveless
corsaee aud oyer-dress Of a ,leony fabric. siripet
with dove color and maize was coptr,.,ed win
sleeves and train of sbimmerinr rolden bronz
silk The combination prodo,ed sncb an erec
AS an arti.t alone could make plea.iuy Tho wiz
Of the Iapanese minister wore a lem,n-colore,
silk train. n cream tinted crlp, ie chin dress
and a sonare-rut eor.aee filed with puff. Of lace
Mr.. senator Morrill, Of Vermont wa. a..i.te,
in receiving her many friends. at her residence
by her charming sister Miss swan Miss rlorope,
rryou. of Boston. whose name has been recent,
brought into such interesting connections viii
Or Jed II Baxter and by the daprbter Of Seua
tor Edmunds The wife of the latter senator di,
not receive owing to heroVp ill-bealtb and 10 IA,
absence Of Mr.. Edmund. from the city The wifi
and daughteroi Congressman Joyce received thei
friends at their parlors nj Mrs Rmest ponplo
boarline-honse in company with Mrs senator 20
gan. Mrs General Carlip. Mr.. Dr Woodvorth an,
Miss Kilte jerks, pranddanehtero of Honorable G.
S Bangs. Of Mississippi rhi. bon. le,p.year
number of youne men of the c.iuitol. ON martina
nlal thoughts intent and de-irous of roturnip,
the compliments of the season 10 thcir lad,
friends. with the kind intention of giving then
the privilege Of enioving the opportunity Of max
ing New Years calls have been receiving tbei
lady ac1uaintances at their own residences duriu.
the day. Whether any proposals were received
remains TO be seen
Tie agitation Of the subject Of a reduction o.
the postal rates, the object sought by the bill iu
PRODUCED in Congress by Colonel Joyce. led Il,
the other DAY 10 visit the Dead Letter Oficc. An,
as it Is an institution which concerns Ms all yer,
nearly, q few words concerning il may not be on
Of place here This is the place where all our mis-
directed letters reyove around a wheel which vii
return them 10 us again II we only have the goo,
sense to sign our names aud give the right al
dress Some five hundred thousand such etter
are opened here every month. They mass through
numerous hands. The one whoopens them Is no
supposed to read them: he merely sorts them. Law
ing in one pile such as contain money or othe
valuable enclosures, and the rest upon the table
at his left hand. The average amount Of none,
coming in this way, is over three thousand dollar
yearly We saw postage stamps popping out
samples Of silk and other dry goods. and news
paper clippings. The system by which such i'm
portant letters are recorded and examined and re
the correspondent dates his letters " At home
or In the study" or In stairs and sian,
them Thomas" or Your Father" or "Youl
adorable Polly" as the case may be? Applica
tons for lost letters sometimes exceed one hun.