New-York tribune., 1878-04-03
FEATURES OF THE RECEPTION.

| THE ONLY DRAWBACK TIE OYERCR0wDING-MANY
PROMINENT PROPLE PREsENT-THE RECEPTION
INTENDED TO Crafty PUBLIC cURiosITY-NoT
AN AFFAIR OF DRESS OR DISPLAY.
The first public examination OF the interior OF
the Womens Home which for many was favorito
project OF the late Alexander Stewart and which MS
widow has completed according TO his wishes was had
last evening under circumstances which would have been
highly favorable indeed TO the public but for the pubic
itself. The guests at the reception were III lle
unhappy predcament Of the country lad, VINO, on MS
frat visit TO the city, complained that he could not see
the town for the confounded houses' for they were
mainly debarred tho pleasure, last evening, OF exanih
ing the building by reason Of their immense numbers
II had been announced In some way, whether
official or otherwise Is not known, that .ne
| admission was to be had by ticket ohy'
| and that only 1000 tickets, admitting eaeh
gentleman and lady were TO be issued lnls huinoer
would have comfortably crowded the building II the
number OF tickets thus limited thousands OF persons
obtained admission without cards. and such was evi'
IDENTIFY the fact for the rush began, about O'CLOCK
the police and doorman made no attempt TO
or restrain admttance by any OF the many entrances LUG
managers Of the hotel had evidently anticipated the
rush for the hour originally fixed upon for throwing
opcn the doors was changed from o'clock TO o'clock
| IN the evening Those who sought admission at the
| earlier time named were able TO move about
| with some comfort for an hour but wheh
attempting 10 leave the building encountered the great
masses coming In by every entrance, and soon rccos
nized that the Women's Hotel very mach easier OF
entrance than exit The crowd continued TO push It's
way u for two hours after the hour first named as the
one fixed upon for the reception and there was con
tnua struggle til late hour 10 get either In or out
The reception by Mrs. sewart-the invitations took
this for-was evidently not intended 20 be In any sense
social reunion. II purely Of business character
free show TO the public OF curiosity which had
long excited comment. Mrs Stewart herself pres
cnt in the main parlor only in the early part OF
the evening for hour or less, and then
she retired, either 10 private parlor which she
has reserved for her when visiting the hotel or
else her residenco-inQuiry could not settle which.
Judge Hilton and family present until about 8
o'clock. There ceremonies Of any sort-whether
OF presentation OF guests 10 the hostess
and happily hand.shaking, speech-making
or lunching. There were no regulations
10 dress gentlemen appeared In business suits with
and hats IN hand. and all ladies wore their
bonnets 1t would have been impossible TO carry out
any ceremony, formaty, IA to dress, had any
been required II was reception evidently designed To
be general and for the public pleasure rather than for
the qualification OF the owner and managers.
Very few ladies gentlemen OF purely
social prominence were present Many Of the promi-
nent professional business and political men OF the city
looked time another OF the evening. but In
such crowd IL would have been impossible TO
gather the names Of onetenh OF those present worthy
OF mention and IL would be inyidous TO name
the few who were recognized Many leading ministers.
Judges journalists and city officials and hun
dreds OF leading bankers ana merchants. The crowd
was representative Of the best and most
active part OF metropolitan society. Few ladies np-
peared other than ordinary street costumes and there
was attempt display OF hne dresses The utmost
good humor prevailed even during the hours when the
crowding most uncomfortable; ana numerous
groups OF acquantances gathered not only In the main
parors also In Of the bedrooms interchang-
fp, eufs on ne interest
crowd could not have numbered less than twenty
1--WE thousand persons An estimate Of the capacity Of
the main halls showed that they wond hold twenty
thousand persons, and the nye floors were at one
time crowded with struggling masses. The recep-
tion was not over until about IL o'clock at night.