Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-02-09
Social and Personal.


evening being sisnalizcd by notable enter
tainmeuts. No brighter scene can be i'm
agined with the beau monte in the foreground
than our fair city presented yesterday alter
noon, when the fashionable localities were
thronged with the carriages and gayly
dressed pedestrians Fastening from one TO
the other OF the ailuring receptions Mat
TeeS ddnSo3ne, once one o. the most agreeable
features OF our social life, have been so in
frequent this winter that two which were
given yesterday were doubIy appreciated
Mrs n. X. Shepherd gave one and Mrs
Elijah Ward tie other, and apparently our
entire society attended both. The number
calliI was unusually large owing to the
fact hat It was the first reception of both
LADIES after their delightful balls, and fur
theImOre. the weather was too enchanting
10 be resisted. Mrs. Shepherds beautiful
nome revived the memory OF her Source OF the
3lst, so crowded were the parlors with an
Industrious company, and so numerous were
NE cancers IN the bal room. She was
sisted by Mrs. MoTsell, Mrs. Evans Miss
DeEnls0n, Miss Campbell and Miss Sargent,
MIS-. Ward was assisted by the Misses Stu
art and Miss Brewer in welcoming a lost of
distinguished gentlemen aud ladies. The
cancers prolonged their pleasure until the 4
O'Clock bellf warned them ii was time to 90
rome TO prepare for the evening fetes.
There were two of these 10 divide atten-
tCn-that of Justice and Mrs Swayne, and
That of Mr.. and Mrs. LoWsry. There was
dancing at both. Justice aud Mrs. Swayne
had invited their friends 20 meet their sons.
MesSrS. Harry and Frank SWayne, and their
brides, and were assisted in dispensing their
genelous hospitality oy their daughter, Mrs.
EDWIN Parson, and their two daughters in
law. his Sctfee partOOk OF the nerrImCDt
incident 10 wedding festivities, rs was wi
uenced by Inc e'lpTGsSelHeW with which all
present entered into tie spirit OF the Occa-
sion. The residence of Justice SWayne is
admirably arranged FOR entert ainmenIs. y
PERCUSSION OF flowers was used last evening
IN decorating the suite Of parloIs and the
supper table. The manteis were q mass OF
boom, and many OF the windows were EN-
DOW ered with rare eXotics. Many toilets of
SURPRISING elegance were observed. Mrs
SNayne, whose native goodness fiuds ex-
manner. was richly attred in black velvet;
the Skirt was trained, the cOrsage nigh and
beth GTaped with point lace.
Mrs. Parsons was becOmingly dressed in a
turquoise blue GamasGuire over rich SILK or
the same shade, and garnished with po,rL
race; ornaments diamonds. Mrs Frankaud
mis. Harry SWSyne wore their wedding
ICbes OF InstrOuS white silk G2rniSheG vi n
point lace, rich white damaSquine was
mn sled with the soft rich SILK worn by the
former lady.
Mrs. Fishs magnificent violet roo, vas
e.i1rely covcie" with superb poiHte lace: or.
aneniS priceless diamonds Mrs BrisiDw.
MS. Robson, Mrs. PierTepont, and Mrs
Sbandler were most elegantly atJireI. Mrs
Je|eH wore rich garnet velvet garnished
Win the Enest point lace. Madame 8oTgaS
w@s looking even nandsoIner than usual IA
toilet Of deep rose and 7sge tei,d.e silk ef:;.c-
lively combined. Her q 1monds were OF in
esiimaOle value. Nine. SAINT Anna over
Paie Que SIR wore pa ID tUile of the same
nue. relieved with rushed roses Mime
Mantilla wore most digilIe combination
toilet OF flesh tinted silk and car:inaI red
velvet; ornaments diamonds. Madame de
iegCrfnPEn wore ivory tinted SILK garnIshed
" IN violet velvet, with a corsage OF yioiet
velvet most becoming toilet; ornaments
diamonds. Madame BaltaZzi wore tinted
white Fix relieved with black velvet Her
diamonds are superb. Nine. MariScaI was
most tastefully aid becOmingly atffred. and
wore ornaments composed Of pearls of nm
usual size and purity.
10 me great pleasure Of her many frien3s
Mrs. Ernest Kinney has recovered her healin
'uHcient.y 10 enable ber to ri.,,to ,,,oa
':;0Ie III so1lety. She wore one of the most
exquisite toilets observed last evening.
among others OF note observed were all
the Cabinet except the Secretary of War tie
Chief Justice and several OF the Associate
justices OF the supreme Court, accompanied
by ladies, a majority Of the diplomatic corps
aud many OF the more DISTINGUISHED Sena-
tors and Representatives. and a number OF
our most respected citizens: a supper con-
sist1ns of champagne, punch, oysters salads
ices, cakes, fruits, and many other delicacies
was provided and greatly enjoyed.
A little incident OF the diplomatic dinner
~ Inc White House on the lst instant has
Deen whispered about in the gay world.
When the foreign ministers are entertained
az uinntr no outsiders are invited, and as
eleven OF these gentlemen are without wives
eight ministers aud two charges T0rnires
b-ing unmarried and the wife OF one of the
ministers not having yet arrived. ladies' are
o. course very decidedly in the minority
ana are IN great demand. These dinners
Delng generally continued during four hours
every gentleman who attends is naturally
very anxious TO secure an agreeable lady as
partner and on Tuesday last there was an
unusual excitement among the dfpIounatS
When, on arriving in the cloak room each
received the tiny envelope containing the
card on which appeared his own mama and
that OF his partner at table, indicating their
seats, because there being so few ladies' in
Vlted II was known that some of the gentle
men must escort each other. Mrs. Fred Grant
Is always in demand because OF her beauty
ana brllllancy In conversation, so the diplO-
mats were ali anxious TO be the fortunate es-
cort OF so charming lady. Therefore when
Inc Glmlnultiye tettres de cdchet were opened
and Mr.. Nidela Dorna, charge dGtuires of the
Argentine Republic, proved 10 be the chosen
one there was quite sensaSion.
The distinguished artist Mr.. Healev as
sisted Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Bryan in re.
eelVing yesterday, and accompanied Mrs
DahlgTen and Nine. de Overlook to Justice
SWayne's SOiTee.