The Portland daily press., 1876-01-06
lFrom our Regular Correspondent

There are three classes of people. to whom
the advent of New Years Day is perfect god
send. These are the lady correspondents, the
nsodistes and milliners and our "nice" young
men. Everybody knows that the great forte of
a lady correspondent is the description of mag
nifcent toilettes; there she is at home and
completely at her ease and in her element; and
while the poor male letter-writer hopelessly
wrestles with such technical terms as tournures.
pelisses, ecru lace, crepe de chine, etc., now and
then stumbling over square-cut and decoNette
corsages the lady correspondent describes all
these things in an off-hand manner that must
be charming to those who understand their sig
nifcance, but is little short of bewildering to
bachelors, who have never had the pleasure (?)
Of paying wifes or daughters milliner's
bill
suppose it was for this reason that the lady
correspondents were so largely represented at
the New Years reception at the White House.
Mrs. esrundy was there; so-wss- Gag"
"Geaner," and host of others, but missed
the benevolent face of Grace Greenwood who
is now in Europe. As early as ten o'clock, the
newspaper representatives and correspondents
began to arrive, and were ushered into the
large ante-room, awaiting the opening of cere-
monies. huge card-basket, holding about
two or three bushels, was placed here; at eleven
o'clock it was empty, but by three o'clock in
the afternoon, when your correspondent left,
it was overfiowing and cards were scattered all
over the green carpet of the hall floor.
After we had waited about half an hour,
Secretary Fish, accompanied by Mrs. Fish, ar
rived, and were ushered into the Red Room.
A few minutes later the Postmaster Generals
carriage drove up, and Mr.. and Mrs Jewell,
accompanied by their daughter Sarah, Joined
Mr.. and Mrs. Fish in the Red Room, which
was set aside for the reception of tie "big
bugs" and they had scarcely entered, when
the President made his appearance, with Mrs.
Grant leaning on his arm, followed by Colonel
and Mrs. Fred Grant and General Babcock.
The President was attired in full evening dress,
black neck-tie and straw-colored kids. Mrs
Grant wore very handsome and becoming
buff silk, with black lace overdress, and car
ried very beautiful bouquet in her left hand.
Her hair was arranged in puffs, and adorned
with diamond digrette. Mrs. Fred Grant had
on pink gros-grain silk Zone of my lady
friends said it was Crushed strawberry she
udu tucu SUI r6ltTT6u Ouly 10 LQe cOlOrJ
looped up with punches of violets and moss
roses (reaD
The appearance of the Presidential party
was the signal for the Marine Band to ''strike
up" which they did. opening with the overture
of "Zampa." The President and Mrs. Grant
slowly walked into the room, where they, as
usual on these occasions, took their station
near the middle of the room. which was hand
somely decorated with large bouquets from the
White House conservatory. Secretary Fish
was on the Presidents left Mr. Fred Grant on
his right, and General Babcock in the back
ground. Meanwhile, the Diplomatic Corps
had arrived, headed by Sir Edward and Lady
Thornton, and their glittering uniforms and
quaint court costumes dded.argely to the brill
liancy of the scene.
.Then the real hard work commenced. The
President, after shaking hands with his Cabi-
ne. officers commenced with the diplomatis.s,
who were introduced, cue by one, by Secretary
Fish. Each one took off his plumed hat and
made deep bow as he passed Mr.. and Mrs
Grant. The Japanese minister, who was ac-
companied by his wife, was attired in a gor-
geous oriental costume, and bowed so deep that
his two swords Zone on each side) came near
hitting the Presidential nose. He speaks Gol-
eraby well English, and pronounced the words
"Wish 'appy New Year very plainly. Not
two of the uniforms were alike, but all were
resplendent with gold and silver embroidery,
and diamond stars and crosses, the insignia of
various orders, gittered upon every breast.
Baron Blanc, the Italian Minister, was literally
covered with orders, wearing the broad blue
ribbon of the Golden Fleece over his shoulder
and the scarlet band of the Prussan Black
Eagle round the neck, while his breast was
fairly studded with diamonds, stars. crescents
and crosses. L heard little boot-back, who
somehow or other, had gained admission, say
to his companion as Baron Blanc passed: "Say,
Jack, that fellow ought to exhibit hisself as a
window-sign in jewelry shopP'
After this glittering avalanche had passed,
the judges of the Supreme Court judges of the
Court of Claims, Senators, Representatives,
the Commissioners of the District of Columbia.
and other officials connected with our local
government we've ushered in, in the order
named, and were received by Mr.. and Mrs.
Grant. Pending the departure of the diplo-
mats, the officers of the army and navy had
arrived, all in regulation "full-dress uniform
for special OCCASIONS" with epaulets, swords
and cooked hats, complete The day was a
very warm one, and the closely buttoned and
padded uniforms must have been uncomforta-
BILE. As they were assembled there, to the
number of several hundred, in the vestibule
the effect was very fine one, and one that
can, in this country, only be witnessed in
Washington, and there only once year. The
uniforms especially those of the naval officers
though less dressy than those of the diplomats,
that had preceded them, looked well, and