Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-02-14
Social and PerSOUal.

Inc White House reception. The East room
and the vestihules were filled with people
even before tie hour arriy- for opening the
doors OF the private suite. AS the afternoon
wore on the throng increased, until all the
large apartments open on the first floor, and
the Conservatives as well were full of gentle
men and gayly dressed ladies. The Plesi-
cent came down earlier than usual and took
his accustomed place on Mrs. Grants left.
On Der right stood Mrs. Fred. Grant, and next
IN me sister OF the latter, Mrs. Potter Palmer,
OF Chicago. The beauty of these two ladies'
was generally the theme of discussion by
all who saw them. They greatly resemble
each other, and there is vast difference of
opinion SIS to which OF the two ladies is the
most beautiful. Both have the additional
cnarm or easy, graceful manners and facil-
lty in conversation. The three ladies' re-
ceiving were very richly dressed. Mrs.
Palmer's toilet was pronouncei one OF the
most strikingly elegant observed this win
ter. 1t was OF two shades of Uer1 dedr 0ros
+TGtn, tastefully combined. The corsage,
cut ca coet1, was embroidered in wreaths of
leaves formed by white bugles intermingled
with steel beads. The trained skirt was SIM
tlarly trimmed. Point lace was also used
on the basque. A necklace OF solitaire dia-
monds encircled the fair throat. The ear
rings were quite long-solitaire diamonds
OF unusual size and purity, with studded
pendants of gold. Mrs. Fred. Grant wore
iaVendar gTOS grain drapcd with a prOfuSiOn
OF rare point lace A majority OF the ladies
and gentlemen who usually attend Mrs.
GISnts reception were observed on this &C.
casion.
Advantage was taken of the enchanting
wea Their by many who desire to visit Brent
wood and the attractive ladies who preside
over that beautiful country seat. Mrs. and
MS! Mss patterson made the afternoon pass
hospitality, but despite the attractions
within doors, not few were tempted 10 en-
JOY the delicious atmosphere in a stroll
through the grounds, and rome who fingered
on the brow OF the hill to drink In the beau
tles OF the magnificent landscape mapped
out before them can soon forget the view.
The national capital, WI tn its superb ediices,
the capitol, of course, most conspicuous
among them, was seen in its entirety, set
in the midst OF purple tinted hills, aud iliu-
minated by the level rays of the declining
sun, shining in q clOudleSs sky.
IN the evening some cf the loveliest young
girls and most agreeable heaux Of society
accepted the invitation of Mrs. Chit tenden
10 ENJOY q dance III her pleasant parlOrS at
the late residence OF Mr.. Sumner. AS this
tasteful dwelling is not spacious, compare
lively speaking, the hostess had wisely linn
tied her invitations. With but two or three
exceptions, unmarried ladies and gentlemen
only were included. The young people,
Therefore. had abundant space for dancing,
ard made the most Of It, There we're some
very tasteful toilets Worn. That OF Mrs.
Chlttenden OF Ue7t deGU gtOS grain, relieved
WIN lilac chen6 borderIngS and costly lace,
was very dtstLaJue; ornaments diamonds.
Her daughter, Mrs. Cotton, wore one of tie
most exquisite white silk toilets o; tho sea-
son. The high cOrsa ge was garrished with
English Open-work embroidery, anu the
trained skirt was covered " tn a succession
OF fcunceS OF the material Gu. in deep
POINTS and embroidered in open-work. These
n0unces were nearly half a yard in depth,
ana embroidered as thickly as II, instead of
costly SIX, the groundwork had been cam
brio. Among other handsome orna.ueats,
Mrs. Cotton wore large pendant composed
OF cluster OF diamonds about rudy OF
rare size and COloring. Mrs. Thomas, the
sister OF the hostess, was very handsomely
dressed IN mauVe SILK, relieved with bands
OF black and white. Miss StorTS, the daughter
OF the Rev. DR.. Storrs of Brooklyn, is, as are
also the two ladies last named, the gnest OF
MS. Chlttenden. Tue party was given IN her
hOnCr. Her toilet Of nea- green fJiIe tripme.
with crepe iisse Of the ianie hue, wis very
handsome and becoming, Miss Florence
Jewell wore an aprlcot si!k, very handsome
coming 10 her ptqudDte style. Miss Steven
SOD, OF Kentucky, the daughter Of the Scna-
tor, over rose silk over the same shaie OF
gauze; charming toilet. Miss Ke,aau
wore very elegant turquoise blue gTOs-gTIIn
tastefully designed. Miss Gouveaeur wore
Paris muslin and Valencienues lace, relieved
with blue ribbons. Mrs. Lyman X. Bass.
Miss Waite, Mrs. NOrdhofT, Miss Eames and
Miss Wolf, of N. Y, were very tastelglly at
tired. Flowers, beautifully Arranged, aior.-
ed the parlOrs and supper table. the refresh
mentS were OF mos su bstanttal orier, bonn
tifully provided, and included choice wine. A
bouquet OF rase flowers was provided for each
Mr.. Peter Cooper, who is VISITING our city,
celebrated his S5th birthday by attending
Grants reception, with his daughter, the
vie OF Representative Hewitt, OF New
The ladies at Fort Whipple are at home
on Fridays, and have dancing at their re-
Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Swayne ana Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank Swayne, accompanied Mrs. Ed
win Parsons to New York on Friday. Hrs.
Parsons will entertain them and return in a
few days.
Miss Maggie Delashmutts, one OF the beau
lies OF Frederick, Md, is visiting Mrs. Dr.
Bremerman, OF No. 2O2l street.
THE RIGHT OF DOVER IN THIS DISTRICT
The bill introduced in the House to day to
improve the law in relation to dover in the
District OF Columbia, and referred To the Ju-
dietary Committee, provides that the widow
OF any person dying shall be endowed OF one
full and equal third part of all the lands aud
tenements Of which her husband was seized
as an estate Of Inheritance at any time dur
ing the coverture; and she shall in like man
ner be endowed of One-third part OF all the
right, title, or interest, legal or equitable
that her husband at The time of his decease
had in any lands and tenements; said dover
may be assigned specifically by metes and
bounds, or as If a third part of the net annual
value OF Inc rents, issues and PROFITS OF the
which the dover right exists.
On PROBATION An interesting question to
many people has arisen in the Treasury de-
partment. 1t has been customary to place
tiaSs CiSt Mo DIN
before permanent appointment. An act of
the last Congress, ii Will be remembered di-
rected appointments to be made from the
several states in the proportion To the popu-
lation. Now there was a man from Mary
land put In Office on the usual six months
probation for clerkship in the Internal
Revenue, before the allotment for the states
had been calculated. His six months proba-
tion have expired, but the number OF clerks
from his state Is in excess of Maryland's
Prop rtion, and the question is raised wheth-
er his appointment is q continuous one,
which under Secretary Brisiow's previous
ruling would keep him In office, or an en-
urely new one, and bis case is to be made
test. The Assistant Secretary and the chief
clerk are both OF the opinion that the ap-
poinfment IL q new, and should be ruled out
under the law, and the case is now before the
Solicitor for his opinion.
REPORT ON THE OUrRAGES IN MIsSIS-
sIPPI-The Memphis, Avalanche and Jack
son, Miss, specials say: The DEMONSTRATING
committee on the alleged Outrages 10 Pike