The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-04-03
NUMBER ao.
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

was the diplomatic reception at the
White House Tuesday evening. Of
course 10 was grand i'm its appointments
and al that, but there was an indeiins-
BILE air Of snobbishuess about 70 unusual
upon any occasion i'm this country. IN
the first place. the special tender Of q re-
cepuon 10 the d plomatic Corps is an
innovation hitherto unknown here,
while mawkish attempt at aping the
ways and manners Of imperial courts
was certainly very striking departure
from American practices. Invitations
were sent TO the cabinet officers, mem
oo-s Of both houses of Congress, the
most prominent army and navy Of
icers, and the heads of the various bu-
reaus; and the line Of vehicles without,
as we'll as the throng Of guests within,
proved how generally the invitations
were accepted. The decorations were
elaborate aud profuse From the mas
sive chandeliers, smilax, and other
hanging greens were suspended, while
the mautel-pieces, on which the i'm
meuse mirrors rested, were covered q
foot deep with flowers with a back
ground Of ferns aud palms. In the al
coves between the windows stood mag
uiicent specimens Of blooming exotics,
whose fragrant flowers perfumed the
spacious paTl0rs. When the reception
was az its height, the brilliaucy was
never eXcelled by any fetc given by any
administration. The Diplomatic Corps,
i'm full court dress, including representa-
tives of nearly all the foreign nations,
the army aud navy officers, re~pleudeut
in gold braid and brass buttons, and the
unusually handsome toilets Of the ladies
made up a picture that harmonized well
with the briliianuy-lit and. decorated
rooms The wide corridor leading from
the east room 90 the conservatory, and
upon which the red, blue and green par
lors open, preseHted an equally fine APP
pearauce. Flags and conservatory
plants lined the passage, while food
af light siTeamed from the numerous
chandeliers. Dinner was served in both
state and private diniug-room-, and the
tables were maryels of culinary art. In
/ the center Of the table, in the former
room, was the large mirror used so often
during the eGrant administration. The
floral display on this was magnificent.
The most prominent feature was a large
flower balloon, formed Of alternate rows
of white and pink azalias. There was
no regular bill Of fare. but i'm the edfbIes.
as i'm the decorations. there was the ut
most profusion, and although nearly
I two thousand persons rarfook of dinner.
/ there was noapuaraut dimiuutian of The
viauds. No vine was served. and the
/ thirsty guests were forced 10 clc9ss he-
tween lemonade aud coffee.
The most striking exbfbition Of suob-
berry was the gratuitous insult TO repre-
seuta'ives of the press. Instead Of ex-
tending them Invitations, the same as
the other guests they were provided
with cards of admission 20 the vestibule.
/ lfthey bad been omitted altogether there
would have bee" no complaint, though
the rishtto Invite whom you please does
ho' apply us much 10 oHieiai receptions
al rno'.i expense as 10 does to private
enter '-.' ',.ne'''s' but "neh men IKE
"sn''a. % 'y n,o'' OF lne C'nclulA'l ga
--'.,' IL 10 ".'''e' % '"e We" l'i IL
- ''''.'' '''.. ~ - A.l',''7' o' lue g''t"'
%. ''.e .''''-' pun '"i.s'
'"' '' '''''''7 -'''' N''i'e' """
are '''' i',''' 'H every 7e.'-e Dc any man
oo"he''eu WIN ais ADMINISTRATION ana
WED are '"""''e'J '"e 7uper'''s lh
'''' ''''''l '1'''le anu '"le''ee'ua' ca
pae''y' H ''a 'li''7 'i our congress
men-".eH Suih m are invited to
stand iu the 'FesubUie' among colored
iackeys and the marine band horn blow
er-, 70 iooE 20 a White House reception
the thing assumes an appearance o.
groiesque iuso'euce unprecedented ia
this country Mr. Hayes says that {,
the way such things are done iu Europe
Night sessions of both houses of Con
gre,s are the rule now. For The frs
time IN the memory Of The oldest iuhab
+ itant, the Senate undertook the othe
night to secure quorum by compelling
the attendance of Senators. The ser
geaut-at arms dispatched hi- deputies
} at three o'clock I'm the morning, to hun
, up the abseutees Some got out Of bed O
: report. some refused 10 admit the rll,-en
] -. .,,,..-. -, .,,,., ,,t,,- 1..,.t,,
So,
Conhlng- theul To go 10 t'e "e''