The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-01-08
our WASHINGTON LEUtP.

CuS HsSrImEtu9 lr|FE.
Washington New Years Day. Scenes and Incl
dents at the Executive Mansion-she A-nuA Re.
ception Of the Washed and Of the Unwashed-A
Strange Curious Spectacle
Rom OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, ID. O., Jan /, 1876.
There are three classes OF people. to
whom the advent Of New Years Day is a
perfect godsend These are the lady cor
respondents, the modistes and mllliners,
and our mice young men. Everybody
knows that the great forte of lady CORES
Pondent Is the description Of elegant toll
cites; there she is at home and completely
al her ease and in her element; and while
the poor male letter writer hopelessly
wrestles with such technical terms as tour
nure, peiiSses, ecru lace, crepe de chiIte, etc.
now and then stumbling over square cut
| and decOIlette corsages, the lady CORES
\ pondenJ describes all these things "a an
\ to those who understand their significance,
/ but is little short Of bewildering to Dache-
lors, who have never had the pleasure Cd
of paying a wife's daughters miliIners
bill
/ | suppose it was for tins reason that the
/ lady correspondents were Sc largely repre-
sented at the New Year ) reception AZ the
White House Mrs Grnndy was there;
50 was Fay" Glencoe, and host of
others. but missed the benevolent face
Of Grace Greenwood, F" who is now III Eu-
rope. As early as ten O'Clock the news
paper representatives and correspondents
began TO arrive, and were ushered into
the large ante room, awaiting the opening
Of ceremonies huge card basket, hold
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 overhoWing.
and cards were scattered all over the green
carpet Of the hall floor.
/ After wo had waited about half an hour.
| Secretary Fish, accompanied by Mrs. Fish.
arrived, and were ushered into the Red
\ Room few minutes later the Post
master 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 the big bugs;
and they had scarcely entered when the
I President made his appearance, with Mrs
Grant leaning on his arm, followed by Col.
and Mrs Fred Grant and General Bah
/ cock. The President was attired IN full
| evening dress, black necktie and straw
colored kids; Mrs. Grant wore very
handsome and becoming buff silk, with
/ black lace oyerdress. and carried very
\ beautiful bouquet in her left hand. Her
/ hair was arranged in puffs, and adorned
with diamond digrette Mrs. Fred.
Grant mad on pink gros grain sin Zone
Of my lady friends said il was
crushed strawberry" she had on, but
then she referred only to the color, looped
up with punches Of violets and moss roses
/ (real).
I The appearance Of the Presidential party
was the signal for the Marine Band to
strike up, which they did, opening With
the pverture to Tampa" The President
and Mrs Grant slowly marched into The
room, where they, as usual on these occa-
sions, took their station near the middle
/ of the ruy,n, which was handsomely deco
rated NTH large bouquets from the White
/ House cons, rvatory. Secretary Fish was
On the Pr, sdent's left, Mr.. Fred Grant on
his right. and General Babcock III the
background Meanwhile the diplomatic
corps had arrived, headed by Sir Edward
and Lady Thornton, and their gittering
uniforms aud quaint court costumes added
I largely 20 the briiliancy Of the scene.
Then the real hard work commenced.
/ The President, after shaking hands with
his cabinet uthcers, commenced with the
diulomatists, who were introduced, one
by one, ~ Secretary Fish Each one
took of his plumed hat and made deep
bow as he passed Mr. and Mrs. Grant.
The Japanese minister, who was accom-
panied by his wife, was attired IN gor-
geous oriental costume, and bowed 50 deep
that his two swords Zone at each slde)
we're near hitting the Presidential nose.
He speaks tolerably good Enk klish, and
pronounced the words ''Wish happy New
Year very plainly. Not two Of the uni
forms we're alike, but all were resplendent
with gold and silver embroidery, and dia-
mond stars and crosses, the insignia Of
various orders, glittered upon every breast.
Baron Blanc, the Italian minister, was lit
erally covered with orders, wearing the
broad, blue ribbon Of the golden fleece over
his shoulder, and the scarlet band Of the
Prussian black eagle round the neck, while
his heart was fairly studded with diamond
stars. crescents and crosses. | heard a AZ
tie boot black who, some how or anot rr
had gained admission, say to his compan-
ion as Baron Blanc passed Say, Jack,
that fellow ought to hire hisself as WIN
dow sign in jewelry store :"
After this glittering avalanche had pass
ed, the Judges Of the Supreme Court,
Judges Of the Court Of Claims, Senators,
Representatives, the Commissioners Of the