The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-05-07
MARTHA WASHINGTON TEA PARTY
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ST. VINCENT INFANT
ORPHAN ASYLUM.

: House Tueday evening, April 25th, has secured
permanent position in the annals of society
r Itmarks long interval at the other end Of whicl
shines its nearest and chief rival for brilliapcy
and refinement, in the great Bazaar of 1862
{ Indeed, it is seldom that SO varied and lasting
an impression lie produced by transient q
pleasure, and more seldom that public expecta
tion, kindled to fever heat, has been SO genu
inely and thoroughly satisfied. Whether we
consider the foodtide of charity-loving hu
manity that surged into the old Temple OF
Music and filed it from dome to pit, or stud
the brilliant scenes that fed and fascinated the
gaze of that splendid, eager audience, OF recall
in our reveries the soul-stirring strains dis
coursed by the renowned German Band, we
must confess that to the noble women of New
Orleans, who planned and executed this Chef
doeurre of entertainments Is, society owes q debt
of gratitude to be measured only by the lofty
elevation of tone, delioacy of taste and perfect
harmony of design, realization and decoration
that signalized the whole affair. OF course,
| the breath of charity enfamed the shrinking
| courage of the ladies who managed 30 well, and
| it enabled them to arouse and direct the public
| attention to their work. Aud we can believe
tnat the prayers of the heroic Sisters of Charity
prevailed largely also when they petitioned
Heaven to favor this appeal to the public for
sucoor for their destitute charge, and clasped
the tiny hands of two hundred orphan babes
in mute supplication to God to confirm and
support their plea. Bat whatever contributed
to produce this remarkable event. its success
was spontaneously acknowledged at all hands
to be delightful, refreshing, grand.
We have never seen an audience evince q
deeper interest in drama, or spring forward
more enthusiastically to greet performance
The selection of the style and subject matter
for the entertainment was most happy. 1t was
not hackneyed, yet it was Ineligible to all
it was not sensational, yet it provoked the
keenest attention it was fully expected and
discussed, and yet it was surprise. Every
body had asked, weeks before it occurred,
What is Martha Washington Tea Party 7
Some had solved their doubt by suggesting q
gigantic tea urn with Lady Washington pre-
siding at the spigot. Others had conjured up
in fancy solemn array of animated dummies
like Madam Tousseaud's exhibition of wax
fgnres, their counteuances wreathed with the
fumes of Hyson and Oolong, and all the ener-
gies of their nature bent on the immediate de-
struction of waters, sandwiches and tea cake.
Heaven bless the mark! When the last
strains of the overture of William Tell had died
that astonished and sent thrill of patriotic
pleasure through every watching heart.
WASHINGTON CROSSING THE DELEwARE.
The sgony of dou bit, the stern resolve, the des-
perate daring Of critical period of the Revolu
ton. were all before us. The angry stream, the
running fields of ice, the frail boats that carry
Washington and Freedom seem to live at our
feet though century divide them from Us. |
The effect was intensely realistic and SO
striking as to require q reproduction of the |
tableau to crafty the delighted spectators.
The Continental Guards, Capt. Montgomery,
suggested and alone executed this addition to !
the programme, which was not " down on the |
bills" and are entitled to all the credit. They
were exceedingly generous in other respects
also, and contributed greatly by their magui6 |
cent physique and splendid uniforms to the !
full success of the subsequent events of the |
evening
There was q peculiar fttingness about this |
scene as prelude to the next tableau. 1t was |
toll earning success, war preceding peace, |
danger and absence preparing for the calm re- |
pose of home.
THE REPUBLICAN COURT. |
After brief interval, the music began again |
to breathe, and with that power prominently |
it's own, it lifted the curtain of the past, and |
all about us "shone the light Of other days."
We were with our great grandsires, not in long |
galleries of staring canvass, but face to face |
with living personages whose eyes were full of
speculation, their lips dewy as the morn, their |
spirits overlooking with silent power, and |
grandeur ineffAble, as they turned to their fair |
companions glittering in sheen of satin, and |
web of lace and flash of gems-the incarnation |
of that beauty and grace that frightened the |
" days that are no more" We almost felt " the |
touch of the vanished hand and the sound of |
the voice that is STILL" Time and distance |
were swept into oblivion. The earth for mo- |
ment slipped her girdle, and weary with the
chain of years, counted back hundred links. |
There beneath the gas lights of 1876 shone
the beauty and the chivalry of the dawn of
our National Day. The Republican Court
was in full view, disposed in graceful groups