Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-28
SOCIETY.

his place of residence, Mr. CorcoranS entire life
has been open to the gaze OF his fellow-ctiZenS,
who have increased their veneraton for him
with every year. No higher tribute TO his
integrity could be paid. The modeSty of the
man and his utter lack OF Ostentatlon is shown
in the manner in which he chooses % spend his
birthdays. Instead OF gathering the potentateS
OF the land in his ele CANT residence and sur
passing all others in the splendor of his enter
tainment, he always passes them at the Louise
Home. that beautiful memorial 10 his wife and
daughter, where he can enjoy seeing the hap
piness OF those to whom his thoughtfuines5 and
generosity have restored the luXureS they
knew earlier in life. He says he Is never so
happy as when at the Home. When il was
ready to be opened, in 1871, he took me through
it, and said il was the dearest wish of his heart
TO see it fairly in operation. just afterwards he
had an illness, which seriously threatened his
life, but from the effects of which he has
entirely recovered. One could not realize his
age when seeing him last evening, happy as
boy, moving about among his friends, who
filled the tasteful parlors OF the Home receiving
modeSt1y, yet with evident gratfcation, the
homage all showed him.
The invitations to the party at the Home were
very informal and included only q small part OF
Nj. COrcOran's friends. or acquaintanceS The
house was adorned with WTeathS OF evergreenS
and brilliantly lighted. The guests, by request.
assembled early, and were cordially greeted by
handsome Miss Hunter, who has presided 50
gracefully over the household since the Home
was opened. Many who rarely or never attend
evening parties made point OF showing their
veneration for Mr. C0rcoran'S nure life and good
IL.
guests included tie President and iIrS. Hayes,
Mrs. Ogle TaylOe and Miss Price. Justice and
MIS- Strong, Chief Justice and Mrs Drake, Mr..
George Riggs, Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Howard
Bishop Pinckney, Mrs. Montgomery, Governor
and Mrs. swami. Mrs. j. y. Carlisle hr. ana
Mrs Calder0n Carlisle Mr.. Hill (Air. CorcOranS
brOthcr-in-laW) and his sons with their wives.
Miss Randolph, the daughter OF Thomas Jeffer-
son Randolph; Mr.. C0rcOran'S grandSOns. Mr.
Reynolds. Miss Page, Mrs Middleton, OF South
Carolina; Miss Robinson, OF Virginia; Dr.. Hun
In :. ny and Ma- I Nm
DR.. and Mrs. Busey, Mr. Hyde, Judge, Mrs. and
the Misses LOring. Miss MChean; Prof, Mrs. and
Miss Baird, Mr. r, \. Merrick, Mrs. Kcnnon,
Miss James and Miss Mann, Colonel Beverly
Robinson. and others.
Mrs. Hayes had sent a large and beautifully
arranged basket OF flowers, which stood on the
table. and the ladies Of the Home presented
another, which was in the parIor. Mr.. An
drewS, the artist, sent Mr. CorcOran souvenir
which expressed more without words than a
column describing the gentleman's life could
have done. 1t Is small gilded panel not more
than eight inches wide and perhaps foot long.
In the center is an exquisitely designed mono
gram ". W. G. The first letter, apparently a
ribbon. interiaces the other two. At the top,
amid spring flowers, is the year OF his birth,
119S, and at the bottom, amid the SHOWS of WIN
ter. made cheerful by birds and a cottage home,
is 1878. Thus are typified youth and its fresh
ness succeeded by cheerful Old age crowned
with good works.
Mrs. Dahlgren, not being able to be present,
sent poem, which was read by Dir. Watson.
his brother-1n-law, Mr.. Corcoran, the text for
which was taken from Horace's second ode. In
which he'wtshes long life to Augustus Caesar.
Mrs Ogle Tayloe, who as president of the board
Of lady visitors, and one who in every relation
Of life is most highly esteemed, fairly divided
tie hOnorS OF the occasion With MIS-. Hayes.
She took all present by surprise by presenting
superb diamond ring to the Home. This is to
he the insignia OF Office Of the lady-preSidentS
who will succeed Mrs. Tayloe. Mr.. Corcoran,
who was too much touched to trust himself to
ance, which was courteous tribute to Mis-.
Tayloe, and expressed wish that she herself
might long continue TO wear the ring.
When supper was announced, Mr. COrcOran
escorted Mrs. Hayes to the table, Which was COW
cred with many SubStantialS, but. in keeping
With tie character OF the entertainment, was
destitute of elaborate ornamentation. Mr. Roes-
sic had sent twenty pound cake, and WOrmley
a beautifully dressed b0ned turkey.
Tie company broke up soon after ten. Mrs.
Hayes, who evidently greatly enjoyed the occa-
sion. was among the last to leave-the President
had been unable to remain long. ItwaS proof
OF the fact that he is President of the whole
country that the ladies of the Home, many of
whom were impoverished and lost their dearest
relatives in the war, greeted him with effusiOn.
Among those ladies are descendants of former
Presidents and renowned statesmen, who were
once leaders in society.
The preparations for the New Year receptions
are going blithely forward. The President and
Mrs. Hayes will probably make a flying trip to
New York, to attend the Bryant memorial,
Tuesday evening. They expect by that time to
have house full OF friends visiting them. All
their own family except the eldest son, Burch-
ard, have passed the holidays at The White
House. Mr.. and Mrs. Anderson and her sister,
Miss Heron, OF Cincinnati, arrived last night
MI. Anderson Is son OF the late Larz Anderson,
intimate friends Of the President and his wife
1t will be remembered that an infant daughter
OF Mr.. and Mrs. Heron was baptised Lucy Hayes
at the White House the 30th of December. last
attended 10 nf Mr.
and Mrs. Anderson In the spring.
The Misses Scott, Of Cincinnati, cousins of the
lady OF the same name who was here last WIN
Ter, and OF Mrs. Hayes are now at the White
House. Mr.. and Mrs. Jewett, Of Chicago, and
General and Mrs. Hastings, VIII all arrive be-
fore New Year, and Mrs. Austin will prolong
her visit until after atIate. All named will
assist at the reception.
Attorney General Devens, who has been spend
ing this week in Boston, expects to return here
on Monday, bringing with him his agreeable
niece, who visited MIS- Hayes last winter. She
win be the guest OF the wife Of Mr.. Payson, the
Third Assistant Secretary Of State, at their resi-
dence ON street. Mrs. Payson and Miss
DeyenS will receive with the Attorney General,
at his rooms, No. $50 18th street.
Secretary Thompson's family expect friends
from the West, to receive with them.
Many persons from the northern cities came
10 Washington to pass Christmas. The trail rs
between New York and this city were so much
crowded ON Tuesday that they came as far as
one of our largest hotels speaks OF having many
more in his house Christmas day than the pre-
yiouS year.
On Monday evening Lieut.. Commander Fred
Payne, OF the Alarm, gave delightful german
at Marini'S to the daughter of Admiral Howell.
Mrs. Howell received the guests, and her daugh-
ter led with Mr.. Payne in the german, in which
twenty-five couples took part.
The Washington Assembly Club have issued
invitations for three assemblies in January-the
first On Friday neXt-and On February 14th, and
german February 24th, which will no doubt
prove as delightful as their former entertain
mentS.
On Christmas day Governor and Mrs. Swami
entertained at dinner Speaker and Mrs Randall
and her sister, Mrs. Burnett, Representative
and Mrs. klmmel, Miss Page and Gen. Van Viet
private letter received from Nine. Freyre
speaks OF the safe arrival Of herself and family
in Paris. She was making purchases prepara-
tory to going to Florence, where she will place
her children at school. She spoke of the heart
felt gratitude she experienced that she was
spared the terrible scenes on the POmerania
which steamer, it will be remembered, she left
just before the disastrous wreck occurred She
said she felt very sad at the thought of the lost
many Of whom had been On friendly terms with
her during the voyage.
The marriage of the Belgian minister {Mr.
Delf0ssel and Miss DehOn, OF Boston, occurred
IN that city last Saturday. For some reason not
yet made public the marriage did not occur at
Trinity protestant EpiscopaD church, where
large number OF guests who had been invited to
attend the wedding were assembled. The
morning of the day on which their friends had
expected them to be united at Trinity church
The Boston Traveller says that decided social
sensation was created in BOSTON nv tho aItora