The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-01-05


New Years Receptions at the White House-Prex
e Contux, Legati, Lterat Patres Conseripti Ju-
dices. Mulieres, Mites ct NatuRe-Plels f.Profa-
mum Nulgus et eetera-
JANUARY I'd, 1878.
The first to arrive at a Presidential New
Years reception are the correspondents of
different papers and the Marine band. These
are all stationed in the large ante.room, the
band to furnish music and the correspondents
to tell who were there, what they had on, and
how they bowed and shook, and smirked and
smiled. Yesterday some lady
were present in full dress, and few male pen
drivers had on swallow tails, white neck ties,
white kid gloves, with boquets in their button
holes. The ladies in full dress had special
privileges accorded them. They were allowed
to penetrate the sdnctHsa sdRctor4fnl of the
Blue Room, and to make accurate notes of
the dresses of Mrs. Hayes and the ladies re-
celvIng with her. This made the rest of us
jealous. Were not our papers as respectable
and well connected as theirs? And had not
our readers also a right TO know about the
eoiffeures, and laces, and trains, and demi-
trains, and Observation-Disclosures we'll as the
readers of the papers of Jennie June or Mrs.
Grundy? IF this be treason make the most
OF 1t. The next to arrive was the Diplomat
&c corpse; (corps) for, let it not be forgotten
ages and of effete systems of polity, and that
It has no legitimate place in our day of print
ing presses, telegraphs, and ocean cables, when
Kings, and Cabinets, and Presidents, learn
what were formerly state or court secrets
from the newspapers, q week or a month be-
fore they are matured in their own councils.
1t is time advancing civilization should shake
itself clear of this fine old antique useless and
expensive heritage Some members of the
Diplomatic corps are rich and gaudy. They
came to the White House in coroneted car.
riages, bedighted with swords and sashes and
gold lace, while their manly padded chests
their stomachs need no padding) are covered
with stars, and crosses, and other insignia of
rank or office. Among the more notable for
elaborate decoration werethe English, French,
Spanish. Russian, and Japanese ministers.
Others we're poor in purse and salary, and
Democratic in their attire; among these were
some of the representatives of the South
American Republics, who appeared in the
customary dress of gentlemen at an evening
party, or walters at swell restaurant, or first
class hotel. They came on foot This made
1t little awkward for them, for, when France
or England entered the ante-room he had only
to turn his back TO his accompanying servants
who took the cloak from bis shoulders and
displayed him in all his splendor But some
impecnuious ambassadors, who had walked
TO the scene, were seen vainly searching for
a place to hang their hats and overcoats.
After the gilt edged foreigners had disposed
OF their outer covering they waited for few
minutes jabbering animatedly in many Ian
guages, mostly French, in a second smaller
gas lighted ante-room, until the band COM
menced to play, when they moved into the
Blue Room headed by Secretary Evarts, and
k.1 Il.
the President and Mrs. Hayes-then, TO use
military term, they debouched into the grand
East Room where they had more open field
for the display Of their ineffable brightness
The reception of our military and naval Off
GERS, the Supreme Court, and Senators and
members of the lower House, followed close
upon, and, the Diplomatic corps, remaining
IN the East Room, were soon reinforced by
these, and the scene was exceedingly gay,
animated, yarieagated, brilliant, picturesque,
statuesque, grotesque, etc. For once the gen.
tlemen-out dazzled the ladies in splendor of
attire. The most richly dressed woman was
Sonora Mantilla lin English Mrs. Cloak, / sup
pose) wife of the Spanish Minister She wore
a rich dress of green velvet trimmed with blue
satin and wrought round the phylacteries
with designs of heavy silk pink roses in re.
p0uSsee. She was not at all averse to show
A~A AAOcot anu frequently cuOb Ous lhG u
comet, from the dazzling constellation in the
South of the room, and promenaded its entire
length, first with one attachee and then with
another, of which Irritation or relief, her fat
and sleepy husband seemed unconscious or
grateful
To sum my observations Secretary Evarts
wore a rather short tailed frock coat button
ed close, and it looked q little like it had been
renovated and made to look as good as new
for two dollars. Postmaster General Kew
wore a full dress suit and had his couture ar
ranged la Heenan. Mrs. Key, who is
large and handsome lady was dressed in an
elegant black silk; she and the P. NJ. G. are
both of heroic size, and the handsomest cou-
pie in the cabinet. The SECRETARIES of the
Interior and of the Navy were both present
with their daughters The daughters of the
latter are rather pretty young ladies with per
haps slight excess of rural grace in their
air and manner. Miss Schurz mas face in
which is an almost pathetic combination of
intelligence and refinement, with rare home
illness; the outlines of her features are like
those of Maggie Mitchell. Mrs. McCreery
wore blue silk with a long train, and heard
lady say that she looked dowdy. There was
one lady present with bare arms, and such
arms Imagine Senator Judge Davis or
Congressman Gustav Schleicher, of Texas,
with their JHgt sleeves cut off at the armpits.
was pleased to see that she had been vacci-
mated and that, from the size of the scar. it
had taken. of course comment in this STYLE
is very brutal, but would it not be well to
make new departure in this sweet branch of
Journalism, and write what many say and all
think about these extravagant displays? /
do not refer to naked arms and necks espee-
tally, but il has become the fashion of the
tOral 70, clauar nth II, Al.
styles and natural or fictitious beauties of Ia
dies who appear at marriages. receptions,
hops, etc. We blame them for their vanity
and extravaganza that has brought on the
panic, and is making marriage burden, or
an impossibility. and yet We are continually
stimulating their vanity and extravaganza by
printing tattering lies. No woman ofintelii-
gence and refinement cares to have her phy-
steal points discussed, and those without in
telligenee and refinement, who solicitously
court this discussion, had better be encour-
aged TO stay at home by having the truth told
about them. 1t may not be realized, it may
seem innocent, so venerable is the custom,
but hattery is just as pernicious as any other
lie. Senator Edmunds was the only gentle
men present who did not have on the custom
airy black. he wore pepper and salt suit.
am unable to account for this breach unless
the Vermonter has turned iconoclast, or is
trying the dodge of singularity, or is adveriis-
ing some New England wooden mill. We
might have the Diplomatic corps take the
matter under consideration, since il has moth
ing else to do.
As receivers | must say that the present IN
cumbents are an improvement on General
and Mrs. Grant; they have hearty manliness
and womanliness ofmanner in shaking hands,
and pronouncing the name of the person pre-
scented, that is urbane, cheerful, and magnetic
From the Netc York Sun.