Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-03-21
Mrs. Hayes Reception.

Mrs. Hayes held her first drawing-room
reception this afternoon. It was brilliant
affair, if the success of the reception may be
measured by the size of the crowd and the
variety and elaborateness of the toilettes. 1t
is possible-for everybody says so-that two
thousand persons jammed in and out of the
White House to pay respect to its new mis-
tress. Such a concourse of brains and
beauty and, looking at the surface of things.
beauty was nppermost in the count. What
a dull, passionless world this would be, if
we were all alike. ! mean, all as homely a.
some were there. As is the case at all pub
lie receptions, there were lot of old wall
flowers sitting around, who came TO gaze
and criticise, and learn of all this lovely
scene-absolutely nothing in opinions, dress
or manners. They are the cast of people
who dote on burials and would walk ten
miles, rather than miss funeral or recep-
ton. Said one old lady, with contemptu-
Gus sniff: "What shadows we are, and
what shadows we pursue oh, my, just look
at them girls, out there !" The mansion
was redolent with blossoming azaleas and
other rare flowers. The large east room be-
came oppressively crowded before the red,
blue and state-dining rooms were thrown
open then everybody wanted to see Mrs.
Hayes at once. Several hundred or less
persons were wedged within the doorway
leading to the blue room, where the Presi.
dent and Mrs. Hayes were stationed. OF
course, they did not get through, but the
usher singled out several crushed costumes.
and, as this relieved the pressure, the elegant
remainder suddenly popped into the presence
of the chief magistrate, like unto the shin
ing effervescence of champagne. We were
in no hurry, and, as our position commanded
view of the situation, we studied the
limited endurance of feminine fabrics with
infinite sympathy, and learned rare lesson
of patience and politeness for really not a
word of annoyance or discomfort was uttered.
Gentemen's beavers suffered the most, aud
many were elevated upon canes, above the
pressure. like signals of distress or want OF
brains. They afforded a humorous parlor
entertainment. The President was in the
best of spirits, and made each and every one
feel that he or she was the special guest Of
the occasion. So also did Mrs. Hayes, whose
comely face, gentle smile and winning man
ners should compel the most obdurate bach
elor to forsake his ways at once. She wore
princesse dress of black silk, made very
plain, but elegant, with loops and folds
faced with blue silk (This is for those
who are querying How was she dressed ?")
The sleeves and throat finished with point
lace, and bunch of geranium leaves and
violets was worn instead of brooch. Her
abundant black hair, glossy and fine was
smoothly brushed over the temples, coiled be-
hind, and fastened with tortose-shell comb
All of the ladies who aided her were notice.
able for their simple and rich toilets. Not
an exception could be taken, fashionable
frppery being entirely absent, and black
silk end velvet was the favorite material
with the greater portion of all the ladies
present. Is there to be a revolution in dress
as in democracy Little Fanny Hayes, a
pleasant, wnsome child of ten or twelve
summers, assumed her part in the reception
with childlike grace. Her dress of white
muslin was simple, with sash of pale pink
ribbon and pink boots, and her short hail
was brushed back from an intelligent, bright
face. After the President and Mrs. Haye,
had ended the reception, she sat at the
Grand piano in the red room and taking of
her tiny white gloves, sang to small au
dience funny little rhyme, which was tC
remember for my little girl at home" A
my little girl is the worlds, | told her she
should learn it. And this is the nursery
ditty which the little pet of the White lious,
sang and jotted down for my little pets o.
other homes
Once there little kitty,
Whittier than snow;
| In the barn she used to frolic
long time ago.
| And there was a nousey
Running To and fro;
| And the kitty sped that mousey,
| long time ago.
| Two soft paws had little kitty,
| softer than dough-
And they caught that little mousey.
| long Time ago.
Nine sharp teeth had little kitty.
And they bit the little mousey.
| long time ago.
when the teeth bit little mousey.
The little mOusey said on
But she got away from kitty,
| long time ago.
Now, you remember it," she said, and thel
we kissed her goodnight and strolled GU
through the corridor into the conservatorie
| where
| "Many a flower Is born to blush unseen
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.
What a dreary, inconvenient great barn i
the White House for home Dirty paint
cracked, worn tiling, old, cumbersome ful
niture, worn, patched carpets and curtain
faded aud shabby. Even the lace curtain
of the East room are shreds patched upol
lace. | would not exchange my own parlo
shades for the curtains of the whole mar
sion. The various paintings, bronzes an
articles of riru belonged to Mrs. Grant, an
their removal takes away the home-like az
pearance. But Mrs. Hayes is too genial an
artistic to let her private rooms suffer, what
ever may be the condition of the rooms ope
to the daily stare of the public Evidentl
does she understand the science OF maxim