The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-02-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent

WASHINGTON, ID. o., req. :, looo'
Last Friday was held the next to last Presl.
dental reception of the season, and, thinking
YOU might care to hear 1t described, betook
myselfthlther at halfpast eight o'clock. The
gas-llt carriage way semicircle in front of the
White House was full of vehicles of various
sizes STYLES and heraldric inscription, but all
confined to one or two horsepower. There
was less display of livery than you would see
on half that number of carriages IN Europe,
but still there was enough. Some OF the driv-
ers made no further ostentatlon than close
buttoned overcoat and u silk hat A majority
of the callers, male and female, came atoot
In the brilliantly-ightcd ante chamber the red
coated Marine Band were playing such en-
chanting dance music that some impression
able ladies seemed unable to walk straight,
and entered the cloak-r0om in a half waltz.
In the cloak-roo we removed our hats and
overcoats, which wcre'placed in large, num-
bered pigeonhole, and check bearing the
corresponding number handed US.
After carefully admiring large mirror, we
were ready to swarm up and be presented.
Through a large open door we could see the
President and Mrs. Hayes Industriously smil'
ing and shaking hands. Pronouncing our
name to Mr.. Webb Hayes, who stands on the
left of his father and nearest the door, he con.
veys the sound to the President who shakes
hands IN an urbane, business-like way, calling
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 to move on
and JON the great throng that had already
shaken and passed into the East Room. Here
Everybody was promenading talking gally
with her acquaintances flirting in a dlgnified
way, or admiring the dresses of the dressyithe
styles Of the Stylish and the airs of the airish.
On this occasion group of Ute Indian
chiefs, who had come to the reception IN their
moccasins, beads and many -colored blankets,
were the chief attraction, and their immobile,
smlleless melancholy faces presented strange
contrast with the gay and brilliant throng that
surrounded them. The General Of the army
was present in uniform; as usual, attentive to
the ladies' some of whom he introduced to the
Indians Among the distinguished persons
present were the Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court, the Speaker of the House, and Senator
Edmunds. OF the undistnguishcd persons
present were members OF Congress- foreign
ministers, reporters, army and navy officers,
government clerks, ready-made clothes mer-
chants, 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. l observed that tailor
from eth street wore an elegant frock coat cut
demi-traln with extensively padded shoulders,
pantalOons hared at the bottom, and dark, dol
lar kid gloves. Mr.. -, a tall, elegant beau
from the p. O. Department, salary $1,000 a
year. was much admired in short, greyish
habit, cut straight IN tergum, pantaloons fitting
closely over the hips, and couture arranged
la Heenan. The Judge of the police court, a
pronounced blonde, appeared In white gloves
and cravat, black swalow-tall coat, and panta-
looms to match, with metallic ornaments. /
mention these, not that they were more ele-
gantly dressed than most members Of congress
ana attacnees OF legations, but pecause tneh
costumes may be taken as types OF styles, and
furnish a guide to the brothers of Miss Flora
McFlimsy, who may come to Washington not
quite knowing what to wear when he presents
himself at the American court. While the
white neck-tie and swallOwtail coat, with
black trousers is the costume zee rlgeur' for
receptions, no gentleman need feel conspicn-
ously out of place in frock coat.