Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-03-17
Mrs. Belknap.
INTERESTING PERSONAL SKETCH OF

BR1LLIANI WOMAN.
[''Washington Correspondence Chicago "Inter-
Ocean."]
The Philistines in the Scripture story
were not more startled at the fall OF their
idol Dagon than were the citizens OF
Washington at the fall of Belknap. NO
person in OF out Of the official place was
more respected than he; no family was
more admired OF less caviled at than his.
The Secretary was the ideal Of dignity and
honor; his wife
THE IDEAL OF A SOCIAL QUEEN.
They were just enough exclusive to be
sought; just enough cosmopolitan to be
popular. Their presence at a social gath
ering gave it eclat and tone; an invitation
to their house was an honor too infrequent
to be declined, and too marked not to be
recognized. The Belknaps observed
golden mean between eXclusiveness and
companionableness that won respect and
prohibited familiarity and were mentioned
as leaders ofsociety, not because they went
everywhere, but because they set the styles.
IF Mrs. Belknap served refreshments at
her receptions in the parlOr OH dainty little
chalices, the idea was initiated by every
body else; if she declined to return miscel-
laneous calls, it Immediately became gen.
teel for Mrs. Smith, whose father was q
banker, to snub Mrs. Brown, whose hus
band was in the drug business. One day
Mrs. Belknap brought into the reception
room her baby-a bright, blue-eyed morsel
of life-tn be kissed and fondled by every
body who called. Forthwith every woman
who had baby had it washed and decked
with gaudy ribbons and rich laces and put
on dress-parade. Cradles became as much
a part of reception-room equipment as
chairs and flowers, and the society lady
who had no baby felt she was in danger
of being neglected. Mrs. Bell1nap intro
duced these innovations with delicacy and
dignity; it was recognized as her privilege,
and the world was only too glad to follow
in her lead. This season there were so
many new Congressman, with so many
| wives and daughters whose acquaintance
had to be made, and so many new followers
of these congressman who were anxious to
get into Cabinet society, that Mrs Beiklap
was actually unable to return her calls.
On her reception days she would see people
by the hundreds, and she very properly
placed on her visiting list only those whose
| position entitled them to attention. At
once it became allowable for any lady to
make distinctions as she chose. 1t any
other woman had done this she would have
called naughty and exclusive, but no one
ever charged Mrs. Belknap with hauteur
! Of exclusiveness. Such was her position
| IN society here-a genial queen. Mrs.
| Fish was the DoWager Mrs. Belknap the
Eugene CT the American court. Her
| handsome face, with perfect features, tall,
slender, yet eNquisitely moulded figure,
| clear. fair complexion, dark, lustrous hair,
| very black and very bright eyes, and quite
as much as anything her graceful, dignified
carriage and polished manners gave ner
the prestige Of appearance wherever she
went. If you were in a ballroom your
partner would nudge you and say: ''There
| is Mrs. Belknap." If you were promena-
ding a parlor your escort would propose to
go into the next room to see it Mrs. Belknap
was there. Not only her appearance, her
carriage, and her manners made her adj
mired, but her active, reflective mind, ex-
cellently schooled to reason quickly and
perceive instantly and accurately, and
adapt itself to circumstances, her ready
wit and her habit OF saying pleasant things
in a pleasant way to everybody, big OF
little, white or black, famous or obscure,
! it made no difference. She paid her con-
versational debts in rich coin. No one
spoke to her without receiving an answer
that made them wish to speak to her again.
Her style of dress, too, made her famous.
Hers is a complexion and contour that can
wear all shades of all colors. She is one of
those women whom modlstes like to adorn;
no matter what she wore or how it fitted,
it was always dist5nyte and effective. have
seen her in rose-colored silk, with soft,
creamy lace, lying in rich folds around her,
and in a turquoise blue that would dim
any others woman's face; but hers was as
bright as the garlands of flowers that slept
upon her train; and | have seen her in vel
vets of almost every hue. Her wardrobe
was said to be the richest in the city, and
every dress made by Worth in Paris She
had hats and boots and jewels to match
every toilet. Her feet are her pride, and
the envy of her lady friends. Although of
more than ordinary height of woman-be-
ing five feet six inches tall-she wore one
and-a-half. Every boot and slipper she
wore came from Paris.
Washington Letter to the Boston ''Herald."]
This season Mrs. Belknap determined to
establish q precedent, and declined return
ing visits unless those made by the wives
and daughters of officers of the army and
navy, the diplomatic corps, and a few
others. She gave 10 evening entertain
ment but her dinners, and she has had
three or four each week since New Years,
which were of the most refined and elegant
description. There were usually covers
for fourteen, and the 1penu embraced every
delicacy in and out Of season, served on
table glittering with costly silver and fine
glass, ItliQ NY u pIOluSlOl OIL
rare flowers. These dinners have been the
talk Of the town, and it has been consider
ed as great an honor to receive a card for
one of Mrs. Belknap's dinners as for
dinner served at the White House. The
toilets have been Of the most elaborate and
expensive materials. At the last german,
which she received for the "Bachelor
Club'' who gave it, the dress worn by her
was said to have cost six hundred dollars.
and came from Pingat at Paris, and this
was one of the most modest of her cos
envy Of the ladies of the diplomatic corps,
and that speaks volumes for their worth |
and magnificence.
Her last appearance in public was on !
Monday last, when she attended three en-
tertainments, the first an elegant dinner |
party given by Madame Bergmont at her
superb house on Ell street. Here she seemed |
not to be very bright, and remarked to a
lady near her: Il am not well; [ am SO
nervous, and I ought not to be here"
What wonder that she was nervous, with |
her husband. Later, she went to the last |
reception given by Mr.. Riggs, the promi-
nent banker, and his daughters; and still
later to leap-year party, given by Ad-
miral and Mrs. Porter. Her costume of |
shimmering silk was half hidden under the |
drapery of foamy, costly lace, worth, they |
say, a princes ransom. Her ornaments, |
as [ heard the next day, were q costly
parture of diamonds, which glittered and
flashed forth a thousand colors, worn for
the first time. She was surrounded all the
evening by friends, and was acknowledged
the most elegantly dressed lady of the !
evening.
MARROW PASSAGE INCIDENTs.-The |
coroner's inquest in the.matter of the Mar
row Passage disaster ON the Valley Rail
road has returned a verdict that it. was