Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-02-26
Ific Grand Entertainment at the
White House,

Idi &C diiu IiIuSIflOUS aSSeMDlage at the White
House last evening as regarded the idea of
giving so novel an entertainment and that was
cordial delight. The scene surpassed ANYTHING
ever witnessed within the timehonorad walls
OF the home Of the President within the mem-
ory OF this generation at least IL is rarely that
so many or social and political distinction have
assembled there On IL e same evening and on no
occasion hitler have the decorations equaled
these OF last evening. All the rooms on both
floors were thrown open, thus giving the enter
taiDment the character Of one on grand scale
In private mouse, with the advantage of being
given In one where there was ample space The
republican court was seen at its very best
The Invited guests were shown up the publc
staircase ON the east, where in the offices was
perfectly arranged system of cloak rooms for
gentlemen. All the bed chambers in the prI-
vate part Of the house were used for ladies'
cloak rooms, and many attentive maid servants
were in attendance The long central hall up
stairs locked scarcely less attractive than that
below. Flags and flowers were used In adorn-
Ing 1t, and tea tables set with the finest egg
she'll cups and Saucers were telnptingly placed.
The visitors descended by the grand staircase
on the west In the private part of the house.
Thus all confusion was prevented. Indeed there
was no confusion anywhere, even among the
carriages, which were in line from the northern
entrance for several squares outside the enclo-
sure. A special entrance was arranged for the
diplomatic corps On the southern side through
window in The Red Parlor opening on the
southern pOrticO.
The decorations exceeded in beauty any at
Ire largest hOt-hOuse plants and eyOticS in
pioom were grouped In ell the pariOrS. the Elst
Room, corridor and dining rooms. In the hall.
where the portraits OF several Presidents hang
HagS were draped above the brStS, in the inches,
and over the glass screen, which separates this
from the vestibule without. The mirrors were
trimmed with SmijaX, and SO We're most or the
chandeliers. The mantelS were converted into
mosaics of choice blossoms. imbedded in moss
Hanging baskets were suspended between the
dOorWayS. The large central windoW in the
6rdnp1 = A
including that woven OF one piece Of silk and
presented by the WeaVerS OF Lyons in memory
of Abraham lincoln, inscribed in letters OF gold
The Marine band was stationed in the outer
NeSt1DuIe; and played very beautiful selections
Throughout the reception
The President and Mrs. Hayes. Colonel Casey
and Mr.. Nebb Hayes stood together. in front OF
the central window. in the East Room. with the
hdgS and trees from the cOnSerVatOreS, forming
a back ground.
The President and his wife always seem to
enjoy society, and looked especially beaaling
last evening. She wore a rich white cream
tinted silk, trimmed with a shaWl-shaped over
dress OF GauZe, embroidered in pearls The
sleeves were OF white chenille caught together
with pearls. The neck which was open and
ililed IN with tulle, was edged with lace, en-
broideTed with pearls. After the wives OF the
foreign ministers arrived they stood for some
time in a line with Mrs. IIayeS-Mme. Borges
Who taxes precedence in the absence Of Lady
Jhornt0n, being first the others were Baroness
Blahc, Countess Lewenhaupt Madame Outrey,
and Nine. &c Hegermann. 1t was such group
as 1cr charm OF appearance possessed by the
ladies, gorgeous toilets and reSplendeOt levels
could not be surpassed. Lady Thornton and
her daughters are IN New York, but Sir Edward
Ihornton was present with Mrs. Boyle. Among
others OF the foreign legations present were
Mr. ard MIS- Henry Howard; MR. Carrie OF the
Argentine republic; the Brazilian minister. Mr..
Franklin de BauoS; Mr. Van den BoSSche AriS-
tarchf Eey, Mr. RuStem; Mr. Dalla Costa, OF
OF the Japanese legation; Baron Blanc: Count
Iitta: Count LeWenhaupt; Mr.. de Bildt; the
French minister, Mr.. Outrey; the Mexican min
ister and his handsome wife and daughters: the
secretaries OF the Chinese legation: the P0rtu-
guese minister; the minister from the Neither
lands; the miniSterfrom Denmark; the charge de
secretaries. All were in court dress, with gilt
tering orders and medals. They wore these
uniforms, as did the officers of the
special request. Madame Borges wore a
rich corded silk, OF the dead god Shade
diamond rosettes were in her hair, so1taires in
her ears and superb pendant was attached 10
pearl necklace. Baroness Blanc was regaily
attired In white satin, the entire front embroic-
cred In small white bugles and steel beads: the
sleeves and dTaperies were OF point lace pur-
chased at the Centennial she Wole clusters OF
diamonds in her hair, a bouquet OF diamonds on
the left shoulder. necklace. pendants and other
ornaments OF dazzling SplendOr. Madame de
Hegermann wore salmon pink satin covered
with point lace; diamonds OF great magnificence
adorned her head neck and arms. Madame
Outrey was resplendent In white satin and
point lace. A crimson velvet bow was fastened
on the left shoulder with a spray of diamonds,
velvet ribbon OF the same shade around her
throat was studded with diamonds, and in her
hair was a velvet bow of the same color sprin-
kled with diamonds. Countess Lewenhaupt
wore white satin richly embroidered and GAR
flowers.
As ex-ministers to foreign lands were invited.
MI Bancroft was present and stood for some
e e He
formal opening OF the supper rooms, but they
were ready all the evening. One table, the
most beautifully. decorated imaginable, far
SURPRISING any at entertainments elsewhere
because longer and wider, was spread in the
state dining room, the other was In the family
dining room. Both were literally supplied with
every dainty article Of food suitable on such an
occasion. Coffee and lemonade were provided
in abundance but no wine, nor did any one
seem to miss it.
one of the most magnIficently dressed ladies'
was Judge Wylie'S wife, who, with her Silvery
hair, looked like a handsome French marquise
She seemed to have stepped from picture
with her appearance. The dress had a petit
coat OF white satin and court train and waist of
turquoise blue velvet trimmed with point lace
ornaments superb diamonds. Pretty Miss La
throp, her niece accompanied her, and also
Judge Wylie. Mrs acArthur, who was with
colored brocade silk, trimmed with satin and
crimson velvet and very fine point lace. The
sleeves were made of the same lace. Diamonds
in the hair and forming the pendant, and brace
dress was that Of Mrs. Temple, whose husband
Commodore Temple. accompanied her. 1t was
OF garnet velvet fbrOcade and trimmed with
point lace and clasped on the breast with da-
mondS. Other magnificent ornaments Of these
Jewels were worn. Representative Carlisle was
with his wife, Miss Farran and Miss Bruce.
Mrs. Carlisle wore an exquisite Worth dress OF
dead leaf brown velvet combined with old gold
cOlOred satin. Mrs. Hartranft wore black velvet
and point lace. Mrs. Davis, of Cincinnati, black
velvet, point lace and diamonds. Miss Dlcker-
son, white satin draped with tulle and looped
with crushed roses. Miss Cook wore ivory
tinted damassee draped with gauze, with lovely
flowers. All these ladies are guests at the
White House: Miss Waite's toilette was regal:
1t was OF white satin, with vest and sleeves of
rOSe-cOlOred satin embroidered in fine needle
work. The robe was princeSSe shape, with a
delicate vine OF pink embroidery on every seam
She wore 1t when presented to Queen Victoria
Mrs. Strong wore dead gold satin brOcade, COM
bined with black satin edged with gold color
Mrs. Albert Myer wore white brocade, with
cherry satin vest embroidered and trimmed
with point lace; her ornaments were magnifi-
cent diamonds and other jewels. Miss Myer
wore white silk and gauZe. Mrs. Albert willis
wore white satin brocade, lace and diamonds.
Among the other distinguished guests wer,
Secretary EvartS, Misses EvaTtS Secretary
the Treasury, Mis-. Sherman, Miss MOulton an
Miss Parsons, Secretary of War, Mrs and Mis-
McCrary, Secretary of the Navy, Mrs. and
Misses Thompson, Postmaster General, Mrs
and Miss Key, Secretary OF the Interior and
Miss Schurz, Attorney General Devens, Miss
JuSffoa