The New York herald., 1878-02-23

hutter o conversation ana tho low tiukng OF womcns
laughter. Gradually II deepened In volume I'LL the
murmur Of tnat glitterng throng Was hushed Into ex
pectant silence, and then, as there swellcd out
glorious burst OF meloay The rising curtain exposed
10 view the tabeau OF Martina Washington's Rscep-
ton. There was q moment OF intense fnscin alton,
und then the murmur OF admiration swcllcd into
ripple OF applause which swept through boxes. gallery
and all. And, indeed, IT was brilliant spectacle.
The entire area Of the Academy stage had been pre-
pared for the presentation OF this picture
and Il Was laid out with eye to appro-
priaseness and an appreciation Of dramatic effect
that resulted in happy alliance OF BOTH In tho re-
mote background ia'r landscape smiled under SKY
as genial as the artisps brush could make it, and
spread out panorama Of lakes ana mountains which
lost itself In either wing bower Of svsrerseus and
foliage The genius OF the decorator manifested
itself here In hklfully grouping some Cupids and
Dryads and in constructing two floral temples,
half hidden from sight Dy gray moss and deep groom
ivy In front Of these either side two immense
paintings wcro raised. each Embedded Ia column OF
foliage and lighted by tall candelabrs. Ono repro.
seuted Christopher Columbus armed cap.a-pie, and
seemipRiy med tating schemes OF conquest and dis.
covery, and from the other looked the calm noble
face Of tho Father OF HIS Country.
A dais had been erected In the middle of the stage
and upon It gorgeous canopy, the inner side OF
white sattn the outer Of blue silk encrusted with
poid0
OF liberty. Here, garbed Us snatron Of the Revou.
tionary time appeared Mrs GeneS>l Thomas Francis
Mcagncr, the Martha Washington OF tbs OCCASION She
had assumed easy air OF welcome, and seemed dis
charging with infinite grace and aabty the hospabis
Offices with which she was invested. Mrs. Mcagtrr
too had dignity OF bearing that was becoming her
role Of the first lady of the Republic On either hand
the other characters Ia the tablcau posed young
ladies' radiant In silks and jewels and blessed with at
fractions beyond tho giving OF art and gallant look.
ing men-army and navy officers most OF then-n all
| the glory oil laced and god-bediaht uniforms.
n( Ayra Iuot. II.
| Martha washington's reception TO every one, and
aa effort was made last night TO place
tions corresp ponding with those in the picture.
| The OBJECT produced was happy one. To the Dyes OF
the oulookcrs the stage Of tho Academy seemed aa
illuminated, but II must be SAID, very modcru zsd,
| reproduction OF that old-,imc engraving which
| has stared them In tho face IRON count
| less shop windows, and has always a sig
| nAcance IN connection with Yesterdays cele-
| bralion True, the garsh magn icence winch
surrounded the animated group last night was not IN
accord with The sober OF the lam, ,1r pic
ture and the subdued uniforms OF our contemp porary
warriors were decidedly nniike those OF our Rcvou
tonary srcs but the grouping Of the characters and
their distribution Enthusiastically carried out the
tention 10 view.
THE GRAND PROCESSION.
There was short interval, relieved by occasional
orchestral hourisLos and then the again.
thus time on cleared space. Lake magic Martha WASH
ington, her guests ana most OF the tabIeau para.
phernalia had passed away, leaving spacious plat.
form tor the dance. The Interesting moment Tor tho
beginning OF the procession was now at hand,
and for space the house was instinct
with that Huttcr and bu.tle when always precedo
that event From boxes the occupant To vanished IN
emptied, while the corridors Into which they all
opened were thronged with tho silken aud bejowecd
train. At half past ten o'clock sudden burst OF
music hed the hall, and ~ the grand
march rolled from tho band gallery
sight-that long train 1t circled about the floor.
The sheen OF silk. tho glitter oil diamonds tho glare
sfrcsh the illumination. and the gliding, undulatng
crspcctve oi lovely forms and faces formed spec
tacle once picturesque and dazz,ins. First came
| a body OF the Old Guard in their white uniforms,
marching Two ana two; then about q dczen pairs Of
army and navy officers Tho regular procession o;
round OF the platform they passed into Nilsson
Hail. moved around tho floral temple there and
| returned to tho platform. On this the march was
continued The participants passing through all sorts
OF complicated evoutions and acqutting thcm selves
with credit many military body might envy.
THE cHfSKsE IRA GARDEN.
Those who composed the procession passed whom
the ceased Into Nilsson Hail through an arch
hand some everpreens and OF nowers Midway be-
tween the two halls and TO one sdc 0t the passage
way in question Was an artificial grotto, to which
gained by descending two or threo steps, at
tho bottom OF when the visitor found hnfelf in tho
presence OF the presiding deity ofhe SPOT 10 tho person
0 Miss Sarah A. Brock. Long mosscs depended from
the ceiling and walis trout lay an immense cake Of
clear sparkling ice with bouquets o flowers frozen
down deep In the crystal mass rhc groto. however
not entirely devoted to the beautiful and the
pootioal Tor from a magic spring IN the centre tho
presiding goddess dealt out Lemonade 70 the thirsty
glass; This iavori,e resort by the youna people
during the ght ana they sat the rustic benches
ana tho acidulaicd beverage. Passing on into
Nilsson Hall tho visitors had their ears
| split by tho discordant sounds produced by
tue Chinese musicians, who sat on dais At tho
further end OF the rooin In tho middle was circular
pasoda, from the pinnacle OF which depended circle
| OF var-coored paper lanterns -Four largo 1agstsns
| noated over tho structure as many pennants
VI red or yellow, be,r,0g the gigan,ic black
dragon OF the Celestial Empire. The pagoda was
al ~ A warn pQua nli oil
bevy Of handsome young ladies' engaged serving
out the cup that cheers, but not nebrascs IN real
Old China, TO chatting, laughing groups oil those who
had temporarily nbandoned the rites Of Terpschors
Around tho four walls OF tho hall wero other pagodas
| graceful task Cinnamon, aitired in coored
| tunics and with their turned up slippers,
waited =. every pagods to render service TO
beverage tho laiIes sold miniature Ghosts OF
gooay prices. over every pagoda nosted bannerets
Inscribed with cabalstc Chinese characters supposed
| TO procIaim-to those VINO could read them-lhe
| acter Of the goods dispensed within.
QUEENS or rAooDA.
The pagodas were presided over as follovs:-
Pagoda No. I-Mrs h. X Livernore, matron !;
Missss {. W. Brown, j. Mcdonald, 4. Livermors aud
| Paeoda No. 2-Mrs Kenneth Roid, matron; Misses
l.. do Wolfe, Carrie Motley, Pollock and Gillclic
Pagoda No: 3-ars J. \ Jenners. maIron; Misses
l.. Merritt, X. Peek, A. 1. Dunbar and J. A. fcase
Pagoda No. 4--Mrs. Bottner, matron; Misscs uern.
soy. secgur, Powell aud Walker.
Pagoia No 6-Mrs i. W. Washington, matron
Misses Brossie aud Dorncy, OF Brooklyn, and Mss
N. .Culoch,
| Pagoda No. 6-Mra II. c. Valentine. matron and
Misses g. Cook, "A. Brown, Hall ana Gertrude Brown
| Pagoaa No. 7--MrS o. II. Frothinghaln matron
Misses fro,npghsm, Gully, and Mrs. Runko.
| Pagoda No. b-Mrk Fame Burrow matron: Misses
Lumnis, Virginia johnson, Louise Hall ami Emma
Rising
ragoda NO. s--Mrs. NJ d. Landon, matron; Misses
| Voorhs, brewster, Aver und the Misses sh, dcr.
| Psgoda No. 10-Mrs G. G. Lude, matron: Misses
L'y Rcdes, Gertrude starks. Lillian Eero and Marie
| Osborne.
| Pagoea No. l1-Mrs. J. Lester wallack, matron
Misses Ross Cornwall ana Hobart ana Others
Psgcua No. 12-Mrs. II. Graham Bacon. matron
Misses Guidet, CIouse and others.