Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1880-02-18
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
A White House ReceptiOn-Splen.
did TOilettes of the Gentlemen
Savages and Other Distinguished
PersOnages Present.
From Our Regular correspondent.l


PersOnages Present.
from Our Regular Correspondent
Last Friday was held the next to
last Presidential reception of the sea
son, and thinking you might care to
hear it described, l betook myself
thither at half-past eight o'clock.
The gas-lit carriage way semi-circle
in front of the White House was
full of vehicles of various sizes,
STYLES, and heraldic inscription. but
all confined to one or two horse
power. There WINS less display of
livery than you would see on half that
number of carriages in Europe, but
still there was enough. Some OF the
drivers made no further ostentation
than a close buttoned overcoat and II
silk hat. A majority of the callers,
male and female, came a-toot. In
the brilliantly lighted ante chamber
the relocated Marine Band were
playing such enchanting dance music
that some impressionable iadics
seemed unable to walk straight, and
entered the cloak-room in half
waltz. In the cloak-room we re-
moved our hats and overcoats, which
were placed in large numbered
pigeon liole ,sand a cheek bearing the
corresponding number handed us.
After carefully admiring a large
mirror, we were ready to swarm up
and be presented Through aiarge
open door we could ser the President
and Mrs. yHayesindustrinusly smiling
and shaking hands. Pronouncing
our names to Mr.. Webb Hayes, who
stands on the left Of his father and
nearest the door, he conveys the sound
to the President, who shakes hands
in an urbane, business-like way, calli
ing the name Of each visitor. The
presentations to Mrs, Hayes, who
was standing two steps to the right,
were made by Colonel Casey in the
same manner. The next step was 10
move on and join the great throng
that had already shaken and passed
into the east room. Here everybody
was promenaeing, talking with ac-
quaintances, flirting in a dignified
way, or admiring the dresses or the
dressy, the styles of the stylish and
the airs of the airisi. ~, .....,s
On this occasion group of Indian
Chiefs who had come to the recep.
ton in their moccssins, beads, and
many colored blankets were the
chief attraction, and their immobile,
smileless, melancholy faces presented
a strange contrast with the gay and
brilliant throng that surrounded
them. The General of the army
was present in uniform; as usual, at
tentive to the ladies, some Of whom
he introduced to the Indians. Among
the distinguished persons present
were the Chief Justice of the SUI
preme Court. the Speaker of the
House, and Senator Edmunds. OF
the undistinguished persons present
were members of Congress. foreign
ministers, reporters. army and navy
officers, government clerks, ready
made clothes merchants, and United
States Senators. | will not attempt
to tell what all the gentlemen had on;
there were too many of them and
too great variety of costume. |
observed that tailor from Seventh
street wore an elegant frock coat,
cut demi-traiu with extensively pad
ded shoulders, pantaloons Jared at
the bottom, and dark dollar-kid
gloves. Mr.. a tall, elegant
beau from the Post Office Depart
ment, salary $1,000 year, was much
admired in short greyish habit,
straight in tergum, pantaloons fitting
closely over the hips, and couture
arranged la Heenan. The Judge
of the Police Court, pronounced
blonde, appeared in white gloves and
cravat, black swallow tail coat, and
pantaloons to match, with metallic
ornaments mention these, not
that they were more elegantly dressed
than most members of Congress and
attaches OF legation, but because
their costumes may be taken as types
of styles, and furnish guide to the
brother of Miss Flora McFlimsey.w who
may come to Washington not quite
knowing what to wear when he pre-
sents himself at the American Court.
While the white neck-tie and swal-
low-tail coat, with black trowsers, is
the costume de rigueur for receptions,
no gentleman need feel conspicuously
out of place in a frock coat.