The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-10-09

ing the sessions Of Congress, under the
supervision of managers who issued cards
of invitation only to such as were within
the exclusive circle. Gentlemen were
admitted only in full evening dress, with
pumps and silk stockings, unless they
belonged to the Army, the Navy, or the
Marine Corps, and appeared in full uni
form. The dancing was commenced at
eight o'clock, with a grand promenade,
led by the manager who had been Sc
lected to act as master of ceremonies,
with the reigning belle of the evening.
Waiting was never INDUCED in, but
there was a succession of cotillons and
dances, until eleven o'clock. when the
music would strike up u Virginia reel,
and the oldest spectators would take
their places with the more youthful, go
ing down the outside, up the middle, bal
ancing to distant persons on the other
side, and indulging in hands around with
a joyous abandon. When all were tired,
goodnight was said, and before mid
night the hall was deserted. During the
evening, ice cream. lemonade, and port
wine negus, with small cakes, were hand
ed around to the ladies, and the gentle
men had rum punch or apple toddy i'll
their dressing-room.
Prominent among the ladies who were
in society were Mrs. Madison and Mrs.
Hamilton. The widow of the ex-Presi-
dent resided in house facing on Lafay-
cite Square, where on public days she
received all visitors who chose to call,
wearing dark velvet dress and a white
muslin turban. Her conversational pow
ers were unimpaired by years, and her
"reminiscences, extending back to the adj
ministration of Washington, were always
interesting. Mrs. Hamilton, who also
kept house. led more reserved life, but
was equally gifted and equally interest
ing in conversation. She was devoted
to the memory of her husband, and ex-
pended considerable sums of money in
quietly buying up, whenever an oppor-
tunity presented itself, copies of cele-
brated pamphlet in which he confessed
his intidelity to her, to relief himself OF
charges of official misconduct while Sec
rotary of the Treasury. She used to say
that General Hamilton wrote the outline
of his contributions to The Fsderolist Oh
board one of the North River packet
sloops, on which he used to visit Albany,
the voyage from New York usually tax
ing eight or ten days.
One of the most agreeable houses in
Washington was that of Col. Benton, a
Senator from Missouri, whose accom-
plished and graceful daughters had been
thoroughly educated under his own super
vision. He was not willing, however,
that one of them-Miss Jessie-should
receive the attentions of a young second
lieutenant in the Corps of Typographical
engineers-Mr. Fremont, and the young
couple eloped and were married clandes-
timely. The Colonel, although angry at
first, acquiesced in the result, and his
powerful support i'll Congress enabled
Mr.. Fremont to explore. under the pat
ronage Of the general government, the
vast central regions beyond the Rocky
Mountains, and to plant tile national flag
on Wind River Peak, upwards of thir-
teen thousand feet above the Gulf OF
Mexico. The young Pathfinder = had
as his friends and advisers at Washing
ton Monsieur Nicollet, an accomplished
French engineer, the venerable Hassler,
father of the Coast Survey, and Colonel
Albert, chief of the Typographical Blu
reau.
A very different wedding was that OF
the Baron de Rodisco, Russian Minister,
and Miss Harriet Williams, a daughter
Of the chief clerk in the office of the Ad-
iutant- General. The Baron was nearly
fifty years of age, and she 4 blonde school
girl of ''sweet SIXTEEN" celebrated fol
her clear complexion and her robust
beauty. The ceremony was performed
at her fathers house on Georgetown
Heights, and was a regular May and
December affair throughout. There were
eight groomsmen, six of whom were well
advanced in life, and as many brides
maids, all of them young girls from four
teen to sixteen years of age, wearing long
dresses Of white satin damask, donated
by the bridegroom. The question Of
precedence gave the Baron much trou.
BILE, as he could not determine whether
Mr.. Fox, then the British Minister and
Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, or Sena
tor Buchanan, who had been Minister to
Russia, should be the first groomsman
This important question was settled by
having the groomsmen and bridesmaids
stand in couples, four on either side OF
the bridegroom and bride. The cere
mony was witnessed at the brides resi-
dence, by distinguished company, anC
the bridal party then went in carriage.
to the Russian Legation, where an elc
CANT entertainment awaited them, ant
where some of the many guests got glori
ously drunk in drinking the health O
the happy couple.
A children's fancy ball was given a
the White House by President Tyler. il
honor of the birthday of his eldest grand
daughter. She received her guests dressed
as fairy, with gossamer wings, dia
| mond star on her forehead, and a silve
wand. Prominent among the young PEG
| pie was the daughter of General Almonte
the Mexican Minister, arrayed as an Ate,
princess. Master Schermerhern, of New
York, was beautifully dressed as an Alba
MAN boy, and Ada Cults, as flower girl
gave promise of the Intelligence and beau
ty which, in later years. led captive TIL
"Little Giant" of the West. The boy
and girls of Henry \. Wise were present
the youngest in the arms ot its mother
formerly Miss Sargent, Of Philadelphia
and every State in the Union had it
Juvenile representative. The most nc
ticeable feature of the evening was tn
supper table, where, opposite the littl
hostess of three years SAT the venerabl
Mrs Madison, the only invited guest o
adult years honored with seat, Will
the other grown people waited upon tn
children. and aided in the distribution q
| riffs from tha Christmas free