The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-01-10
THE REPUBLICAN, COURT.
The Great Official Reception Day of
Washington Society.
Disnitaries, Diplomats and Toilets nj
the Presidents New Year
ReceDtfOu.

II was a Wlutry scene, and trying to coach
man and horses. The storm interfered with
other receptions, but not in the least with
the official part of the white house. The
representatives OF foreign governments who
reside out OF Washington assembled here on
Saturday prepared with court dress and gilt
tering orders for this august reception.
All OF the state departments of the execu-
tive mansion were thrown open and adorned
with flowers. The 81 musicians who com
pose the marine band were in bright scarlet
and blue, and with their shining brass mu-
steal instruments added to the gorgeous spec
tacle The president and Ms Grant have
all their children with them at this time
and Mr.. and Miss. Pau, of Philadelphia. and
Miss Drexel, of the same city have for the past
week been guests at the white house These
ladies, Mrs. and Miss Carpenter. Miss
Barnes, the Misses Porter, and others were
the first TO assemble in the blue parlor. They
were soon joined by the president, when he
and Mrs. Grant their daughter Mrs Sar-
toris, md the wife OF Colonel Grant took
their positions. This was the signal for the
entre OF the cabinet ministers and their wives.
save the secretary of state and Mrs. Fish.
who remained in the red parlor to receive
the diplomatic corps. When all had ar
rived, which was IL q. M. sharp. the
secretary of state and Lady Thornton
proceeded to pay their respects TO
the president and his family. Sir Edward
Thornton and Mr.. Fish were the next 10
enter; then followed the ladies and gentle
men who belong to the British embassy.
The next minister 10 Sir Edward Thornton
in seniority OF the date of commission is
senior Garcia, minister of the Argentine Re
public. His family are absent, and he was
accompanied by the secretaries of legation.
Precedence as to the length of time the min
lister has represented his government
in our country is always strictly ob
served. On this account Colonel Manuel
Freyre, minister from Peru, and his wife,
with the secretaries of the Peruvian legation.
were the last to enter Had il not been tha
one year ago, during financial crisis. Peru
abolished lis legation to this country, Col
onel Freyre would have been third in the
corps. but he has recently been reappointed,
so that he is no longer invited to the first
state dinners nor 70 march near the head OF
the column.
AttHs juncture the blue parlor presented
most brilliant and animated appear
every part OF the world, including
exclusive China, for there was present
native Chinaman, OF high rank
and wealth in native costume. and wearing
the royal color of yellow. He stood amid
the tbrOng, silent. grave and digniied He
is the most manly looking specimen OF his
race that have ever seen. His beardless
contrast with the dark boards and swarthy
compilations Of the South Americans His
garments were as rich and picturesque as
those we see on the finest specimens of tea
caddies. The Japanese minister has so far
conformed TO our dress. manners and Gus
TOMS that we now regard him as one OF our
own most polished and elegant gentlemen
A tall, straight young man, with fair but
pale complexion, and nigh bred look, is
of m
Norway. The uniforms of the ministers so
far eclipsed the dresses of the ladies that for
once the latter were thrown in the shade
While etiquette demands that the diplomat
lists should appear in all their glory, il is
equally imperative that the toilets of the
ladies shall be confined to visiting dress and
hats. These may be magnificent of their
kind, but are not 50 striking as those OF the
gentlemen.
The ladies OF the cabinet are allowed
greater latitude, and do not wear hats with
their reception dresses. But one young lady
was sufficiently daring 70 wear decalIettc
dress, and she must have had a naked sense
OF her sleeveless bodice and exposed shout
ders. Mrs. Grant and the other ladies con-
sidered that high neck and long sleeves was
the appropriate toilet for early evening. Mrs
Grant wore black velvet sparkling with jet
embroidery. She wore her hair In finger puffs
and without flowers or feathers, Her orna-
ments consisted of magnificent cross OF
large diamonds, and earrings of the same
precious stones Mrs Sartoris wore a very
long train of claret colored silk velvet. 1t
was superb in style, having very little trim
ming of any kind. except rich fringe as a
bordering for the drapery. She wore point
lace at the wrists and throat, and diamond
cross, which was the twin of one worn by
her mother. She, too, wore solitaires
in her ears, and no ornament or dec
Grafton about her head. Mrs. Fred
Grant wore blue silk, entirely covered
with point lace; even the basque and
sleeves were covered with the web-like
fabric. Her ornaments were a necklace of
pearls and solitaire diamond ear rirgs Mrs
Fred's baby was present at this early recep-
cion, and behaved with commendable pro-
priety. She was dressed in short slip of
white linen cambria, with lace and en-
broidery over blue silk. Her slippers were
of blue kid, and she wore miniature sized
diamond ring and another of tur
quoise. Her bracelets were also of
turquoise. with tiny hearts pendant
She is lovely. chubby baby, not quite seven
months old, and is named Julia Dent for her
grandmamma. Many of the toilets worn on
this occasion were as magnificent as It is pos
sible for dress to be. Mrs Chambers was
among the number. She wore royal purple
velvet. The skirt was lavishly trimmed with
black Brussels lace. The basque, which was
open in front, was bordered with hand en-
brodery in delicate flowers. The neck and
half-long sleeves were garnished with lace,
while necklace and pendents of diamonds
flashed amid the rich hue of the velvet and
the soft, delicate lace. Her bracelets and
other ornaments were in keeping with this
regal costume. The rarest and most costly
article of iewelry was the collar worn by
Madame Mantilia, the wife of the Spanish
minister. This collar was purchased by her
husband from the italian department at
our Centennial 1t is of gold, studded with
rubies, large pearls and diamonds. The gems
in this collar were once part OF the collec-
ton owned by the king OF Italy. There is
not another collar in the world like it. The
beautiful Andalusian who wore it was ele-
CANT in myrtle green silk, the skirt of plain
silk, and the basque and everdress satin