River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-02-26
WASHINGTON SOCIAL LIFE.
A brilliant Marriage. --Eyarts' Hes.
pitality. ..Mexican Minister'S Tr0ub-
les. Sw apr Scandal.
les. ISM ann Scahunl
Special Correspondence Feb. IA.
BRoWN-PHELPs WEDDING.

the chief clerk of the state department,
who has heen a "catch" for the last two
years-one of the handsomest and most
accomplished gentlemen in society
surrendered to Miss Phelps, the daugh-
ter of Capt. Phelps, an ex-navy officer
who assisted Gen. Grant in the capture
OF Fort Donelson. and Island Number
Ten, during the war. When the need
of his services was passed, the Captain
went to Japan as the agent of the Pacific
Mail Steamship company, and became
very rich. He returned to Washington
few years ago to enjoy life and spend
his income, and Gen. Grant made him
commissioner of the District of
Columbia, an office he held until re.
Gently. Capt. Phelps lives in hand
some house, and has just completed an
other across the way, which was the
fathers gift to the bride.
OF course the wedding was very fine.
Mr.. Browns relations with official
people here for the last fifteen years
have made him very popular, and he is
great favorite with the diplomatic
corps, with whom he has had officially
a great deal to do. When William H.
Seward came into the State department
in 1861, he appointed Brown whose
family were neighbors of the Stewards
at Auburn, to petty clerkship. Abili-
ty and fidelity secured his promotion
until he was made chief clerk of the
department several years ago by Secre-
Fish. He is as high as he can get now,
and some two years since he wanted
foreign appointment, but at Mr.
Evarts' request he declined it, as he
is almost an indispensable fixture at the
department. The ceremony took place
at Epiphany church, with three clergy
men and bushels of flowers. All the
noted people were there and the we'd
ding was perfect in all its appointments.
EvARTs' DINNERS.
On Friday Mr.. Evarts was sixty-two
years old, and he celebrated the event
by giving dinner. Although Mr..
Evarts is exceedingly unpopular Off
cially, he is socially one of the most
agreeable men that Washington society
ever knew. He and his family are
hospitabIe beyond all comparison, and
their entertainments exceed in number
and in elegance any that are enjoyed
here. This birthday dinner was in all
its appointments the most exquisite
that could be fancied. 1t wasn't q
"meal of victuals," but a perfect work
of art; from the cards that marked the
seats of the guests the bon-bons that
followed the coffee, every feature was a
surprise. One of the guests who had
dined at royal tables and has tasted the
viands of every climate, asked Mr..
Evarts afterward if the resources of his
own house and the Washington markets
were capable of producing such
feast.
ooh, no p replied the secretary. Part
of that dinner came from Paris, the
most oft came from New York"
One ofthe pleasant features was tie
presence of an old fashioned birthday
cake" of which Mr.. Evarts was very
proud, as it was made for him by his
youngest daughter.
Among the guests were Mr.. and Mrs.
John Jacob Astor of New York, Sir Ed
ward and Lady Thornton, Secretary and
Mrs. Ramsey, Mr.. and Mrs. George
Bancroft, Secretary and Gen. Sherman,
Mr.. and Mrs. Levi P. Morton, Senator
and Mrs. Bayard and Senator-elect and
Mrs. Gibson of Louisiana. Mrs. Astor's
toilet is described as being the most
elegant seen here this winter. Her
dress was satin OF the ''old gold' color,
trimmed with lace that cost 800 yard.
Her diamonds were as large as hickory
nuts, hung from her ears and from
strands of pearls that encircled her
neck. The value of the jewels worn by
Mrs. Aston that evening IS estimated at
several hundred thousand dollars.
ZAMcoNA's DRINKS.
If Senior Zamacona, the NJ oxican min
lister, does not succeed in maintaining
friendly relations with the United States,
it will not be because OF any lack of
hospitality. Last winter he gave ball
that cost him over $4,000 $4,000 of
which was required to pay his wine
bill; and this year-to-night-he gives
another of the same sort, on a similar
scale of grandeur, but has not been
quite SO free with his invitations. Last
year his house was filed with a drove
of human swine. who swallowed In
the supper that Delmonico had sent
over from New York, and drank his wine
until several were beastly drunk. 1t
was scandalous affair, and the
thought American society was queer
lot. Zamacona has erected a large
ball room in his yard, which will be
handsomely decorated and used for
dancing; and he has consulted some
American friends with reference to the
distribution of his invitations. The
supper is coming yer from New York
again, and the wine will flow like wa'er.
The Mexican government is supposed
to foot the bill, but it will be money
wasted.
THE SWAMI SCANDAL.
Last winter ex-senator, ex Governor,
ex Congressman Swami of Maryland,
very wealthy man OF seventy-fve
years, who resides in Washington
winters, and in New York summers,
was married to dashing New Jersey
widow, the relict of the late lamented
ex Senator Thompson, and the sister OF
Mrs. Speaker Randall. Mrs. Thompson
had spent her winters here, and mar
ried the old man, after long and
bri ant campaign, in which she showed
extraordinary tact in circumventing
the SAann family, and preventing re-
petition Of the Hicks Lord affair i'll New
York. The wedding was celebrated in
sly lie, and Speaker Randall gave the
blushing bride to the arms of the
gallant Lothario. This was in Deem
Der. There was round of festivities
at the Swami mansion, which had been
enlarged to meet the requirements of
the increase of family, and in the
spring the bride and groom moved to
their Newport house, where they spent
the summer.
But when "Uncle Tommy" as the
venerable Mr.. Swami is Familiarity
known, came back to Washington in
October, his bride was not with him,
nor has she yet made her appearance.
AT once a great many questions were
asked, and Mr.. Swann's sons and
daughters explained that as the Wash
ington climate did not agree with the
brides health she would remain in
New Jersey for the winter. As she
had spent the last seven winters in
Washington this was regarded as some
thing strange, and soon gossip began to
Giro ulate the statement that there had
been a separation and a divorce was
probable. But the Swans have acted
very discreetly, as has the former Mrs.
Thompson, and even now the best IN
formed gossip in town cannot tell you
what is the matter.
But last Thursday, much to the
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