Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-04-28
Washington Society Gossip.
BY ALADY CORRESPONDENT.
WAsHIxcroS. D. c., April I3, Is

WAsHIxcroS. D. c., April I3, ls76.
T. tho Editor Of the Free Press and Times
The last season in Washington has been
unusually social. The very mild winter
and the unusual freedom with which the lami-
lies of the diplomatic corps have mingled
in social life, have contributed much to the
pleasures of the season, and have given a
fresh impetus 10 the charming morning
visits.
The Presidential receptions have been IN
usually brilliant, especially the one which
occurred the Tuesday following Washing
tons birth day. The throng was - dense
at 9 o. clock, that foil halt hour was con-
sumed in our passage to the cloak room
After dePositlng our outside wrar> and Sc
curing checks for th . same. We commenced
a toilsOme det0ur to the " blue room
lime and patient endurance completed the
work, and at ten o. clock we were paying
our addresses 10 the Presidential party
Col. Fred Grant performed the honors with
that genial. easv heertness. for which he
Is 50 popular. Mrs Grant. in opai-tlutfd
silk, and garnitlre Of white ostrich tips and
lace. was assisted by her daughter-in-law
IN velvet and earlands of came.iaS and III
les of the valley. that swept the entire
length of her ample train. She was also
assisted by Mrs. Dr. Newman and Lady
Thornton, and by Mrs Secretary Fish, IN
an Immensely trained mauve colored silk
From the cosy blue room, whose carpet.
furniture. walls and floral decorations are
blue. combined with white and opal tlnts,
we passed to the great east room. The mag
nihcent costumes, downy carpets, onclrcllng
mirrors and g.ittering diamonds, blended
with Fishing eyes, brilliant repartees.
while the marine band discoursod Exquisite
music.
There were some hundreds Of very foe
looking people present. among whom We
will mention the venerable Dr.. Newman
Sir Edward Thornton. Postmaster General
Jewell and many other notables Doth ma
tional and foreign. There are more men
and women in Washington who are really
beautiful, than We ever saw in any other
place-many Of them most exqulsltely
beautiful faces.
Mrs. Eish's receptions are always pop
ular. Her pleasant, cordial dignity. taste
ful parlors, choice paintings and delicious
chocolate, always draw the elite and cul-
tured. A. usual We found a charming cir
Gle there.
At Attorney -General Pierreponts we
met. for the frs. time, the dainty little VIE
of the japanese minister, Mrs. Aoshlda
Fei, who has heroically adopted our COS
tune. every article Of which l. SO different
from her native dress. She wears costly
fabrics, made up with simplicity OF cut
and garniture worthy of imitation. and
wears her unaccustomed garments a. grace
fully as if she had always worn them. >ae
would pass for a bright, timid. little brun-
ette. with large. liquid black eyes, that
speak and plead
OF all the cabinet, and all other ladies.
whom we have met in Washington. Mrs.
Pierrepont Is the most charming. OF Dig
nified, c0mmaniing mien, native ease and
grace Of carriage, equlpolse OF intellect
and strength Of mind, she charms by her
quiet refinement as much as by her intel
lectnal culture and entire absence OF alice
tatiOn.
Mrs Belknap appeared to us-that was
before the iall-a very ordinary, somewhat
mercenary, vain woman She talked weari-
ly and conceitedly of the demands Of So
ciety exhibited very little culture or ele-
walton of mind Her relreshment tables
were the most sumptuOusly laid of any OF
the cabinet ladies.
Mrs. Speaker Kerr was very cordial,
courteous and atiable.
Mrs Robson as usual displayed the most
exquisite and the most artlstically arranged
flowers, which, with many indications OF
taste and culture, give that ar OF intel
lectual refinement 50 richly merlted by the
Secretary and MS estlmable wife.
In Mrs Bristow's parlors we found live
ly circle of which she was the charming
centre She Is young, brilliant and airy
The lady who always takes precedence IN
in the Diplomatic corps is Lady Thornton,
= Th.r,tap IA 4 X Anp
Is tall. slender blonde. of the palest type ;
has rare dignity, kindly courtesy, and has
made many friends during her eight years
residence here Madam Mlrscal. vile OF
Senor Don Mariscal (Nlexico) i also a
blonde; tall, graceful, beautllui. Madam
Borges (BraziD is an amiabe, winning
brunette. Sonora Dardon, (Gustsmala) l.
amiable and handsome. Madam Preston
(Hayti) i a devoted vile. and mother OF a
numerous family. to whose culture she de-
votes most of her time. Sonora Mantila
(Spaiu) Is noted for remarkable beauty
has brilliant. wonderfully clear. trans
parent skin, dark, lustrous. speaking eyes
and delicate regular features. Baroness
SAINT Anna Is a very handsome. cultivated
winning brunette (PUrtugal) Countess
Hovos (Austria) i youthful looAlng,
graceful blonde with Il very sweet dispose
lion. She is remarkably handsome. anu
possesses rare intelligence, high culture
and wonderful talent tor languages Mao
am Barbc Chichkine RUSSIA cares LITTLE
for society, but with her husband has gwen
some elegant dinners.
Madam de Iledgtrman Lindencro cen
mark has for many years enjoyed beauty
accomplishments and celebrity Her Won
d.rful voice, u whose cultivation she has
devoted much Of her time. l. truly iaselna-
ting.
Six of the foreign ministers are unmar-
ried and three have not brought their families
here. These all mingle IN society. some
are very fond of dancing, and are usually
seen at the Germans. A Washington So
ciety j. made up of the families oil govern
ment off cials. senators, members ana Inc
! foreign legation, 1t Is emInentiy intellect
nal and refined. True merit l., perhaps
NE cordially recognized than in any 9th
er city in the world. Money VIII NOT give
a nsssnort TO respectability, and dress Is
~ a Criterion of position, bat each indi-
yidnal stands very surely upon his or hei
nersonaI merits. and true worth. The en-
lire population Is largely made up OF en-
nloves of the govern-nent-hne looking
,nen and women, whose beauty Is not OF the
| face and feature alone, but combined with
that exc uisite beauty of mind, that gives
tone, expression, irradiates the counte-
nance, and seems to be the reflection OF that
intrinsic worth that elevates and purlheS
the soul. The more We know of Washing
ton society, not the glddy festive throng
no. the ladies who expose their naked arm
and busts to the licentious gaze. not those
who vhiri in the sensual msZes oil the ger
man. but the true men and women who
compose society, the more people we hnd
uniting Intelligence, beauty and worth.
WHITE.