, 1877-01-20
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

MOTcSSnOto--Net0 Years CnkS--SceneS az
the While House. The President and
Mrs. Grant Something for the Ladies'
Diplomatists and Army Officers What
'.,oeA dressed may stand for The lame,
the halt. and the blind.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 3. 1877.
Not since 1859 has WashinQton expe-
rienced anything like the furious snow
storm, which, commencing On New
Years eve, continued uninterruptedly
for upwards of thirty-six hours, covering
streets and areas with from eighteen
to Thirty inches depth of hat beautiful
snow" which it is pleasant enough to
read about and admire in the abstract.
sitting by a cosy fireside, but extremely
unpleasant to have to wade through
when making New Years calls. In other
cities. these annual calls a:e simply a
matter of choice or convenience. but
here they are matter of obligation and
necessity. The imperturbable'' Mrs. Gen.
eral, driving the"proprieties, four-in-
land. is nowhere more rigid or infexi-
BILE, than here, where Etiquette holds
The sway and ''pruues and prism" pay
so important part in everything that
pertains to social intercourse.
Naturally. the centre Of attraction on
New Years day was the White House,
where the President held bis last annu.
al levee preparatory to Withdrawing to
private ffe after the 4th OF March
next. As usual on such occasions, the
curtains of all the rooms were drawn
and The chandeliers lighted, and the air
was redolent with the perfume of nu-
merous bouquets. attractively disposed
in vases and Jardinieres. The Marine
Band, consisting of thirty six pieces,
was stationed in an alcove in the Hall.
outside the Blue Room. and discoursed
sweet music during tie reception. which
lasted from eleven clock till oae. The
President, attlred an rioJeur in black
broadclotb, white vest and white cravat,
and Mrs. Grant dressed in superb to,>
lette of black Lyons velvet, cut en-
tTdn and trimmed with jet and lace,
were stationed on the east side of the
Blue Room; on Mrs. Grants right was
her daughter, Mrs. Sarsoris, known in
former days as "Nelile." and next to
her was her sister in-law, Mrs. Fred
Grant. Ranged behind them. were the
wife and daughter of ex-senator Cars
pen.er V consin, Miss Drexel,
daughter of the we'll known Phi ladel-
phia banker, and Mrs and Miss Paul,
also of Philadelphia. These ladies forms
sd pretty and interesting group ot
which the little daughter of Mrs. FREQ
Grant. bright baby only six months
old, was the center-piece. But when
baby at the close of the reception COM
menced to cry and call for mamma"
she was promptly sent up stalls. For
the benefit of my lady readers I may
mention, that Mrs. Sartoris wore OIL
elegant clsret. colored velvet d.sss, with
Empress train, trimmed with lace Mrs.
Fred GRAFT, disf layed very handsome
toilette in ciel- blue silk i"ciep' blue IS
the fashionable term, believe; bat why
not say skye blue." which means the
same thing? Who would ever think of
calling ''sky terrier" a "ciel terrier, -
cove ed with rich white lace; and Miss
Carpenter Was attired in pale blue silk
effectively garnished, and worn beneath
white figured net. All these ladies wore
diamonds for ornaments.
The first TO present their compliments
were the mem bers Of the Cabinet, whc
were followed by the diplomatic corps
New Years receptions and State dinners
are about the Only occasions when the
members Of the foreign legations have
an opportunity of showing off thei,
gaudy uniforms; on all other days of
the year. they appear in citizens clothes
like other mortaIs. You cao, however,
always tell a member Of legation
from his distta9ue air and the fact that be
wears lavender>c >colored kid gloves, even
In snow storm. By far the handsom-
est uniform worn on this occasion was
DR.. Dium's, acting minister of Russia,
pro ten; but the Turkish, French, Aus.
trian. German, and brazilian ministers
were scarcely less conspicuous. The
fact OF no two uniforms being alike lent
enchantment to the scene; it was a mot
ley group of aristocrats and courtiers.
such as one may see any day in the
ante-rooms (provided he can set in) of
royalty in Europe, but only on ex-
tremely rare occasions in this free Re
public OF ours. suppose that was the
reason SO many visitors were present to
feast their eyes at the show, which was
gratis, with the music. gas-light and
flowers thrown in.
Not quite as glittering. yet sparkling,
withal. with gilt buttons and epaulettes.
was the reception Of the army and navy
officers stationed in Washington. These
were received after the Cabinet tho
Diplomatic Corps, the Supreme Court