The Evening critic., 1882-04-03
SOCIETY,".
what IL Going on in the social
worId.

NotINs
The Literary Society met Saturday evening
at the residence Of Colonel Irish, at Lo Droit
Park. tho discussion OF tho evening being
"April Fools Day, Its origin and Observ-
ancos. The night was beautiful, and pass
ing from the moonlight into the quaint, pretty
house, with It's lovely flowers, was going from
good to better. There were flowers everywhere,
spikes OF white and pale-yellow hyacinths,
magnollos (grandi iiora), pansies, white
azaleas, fruit-bloom ana roses, maidcuha hair,
smilaX ana ferns composed tho green back
ground, and each room held some rare en-
craving, or book or print, so that 1t was pleas.
urc 10 wander about. Tho guests were received
by Col. and Mrs. Irish, assisted by their daugh-
ter, Miss Annie, and promptly at the appointed
hour the literary exercises were opened
by SENATOR Hawley, who, In u very agreeable
and entirely exhaustive way treated the sub
ject proposed for discussion He had a few
pages OF MSS, but brought dear old Brands
Book of Days" with him and read all the
curious and interesting facts collated therein,
commenting, as he went along and lnterpolat-
ing Incident and reelection. Miss Johnston
read a short paper, IN which the three sup
posed origins of the day-Jcwish, Pagan and
Chrisiian-were cited; the Christians dating
IL from tho Mockery OF Christ tho pagans,
from an astronomical feast, and the Jews,
from the fruitless crrnnd OF the dove, sent by
Noah from the ark on n day In Jewish annals
corresponding TO the modern 1st OF April.
Mr. Honmann cited several Incl.
dents, and DR.. GIL related the great April
hoax practlsed severnl years ago on the sclen
tiiic world by Mr.. Cowen, the son OF the OK
Senator, regarding a Scandinavian womans
death and burial on the shores of the Potomac
In the twelfth century. Tho Runes, which
were inscribed according 10 Mr.. Cowen) on
tho sandstone rocks, were photogra phei and
distributed widespread over tho country.
European scientists took 1t up, and TO this day
II is believed In many places that we actually
have Runic Inscriptions on our river shore
near the Great Falls. This last stroke OF genius
was accomplished by sanding board very
heavily around these characters and dustlng
the letters themselves lightly with
sand; photographed, 1t looked like u rocks
face with carven memorial. Dr.. Callau,
deite filled in the remaining minutes by re-
quest, and did 1t gracefully, after which Miss
Miller gave some music, and then the supper
room was thrown open. charming collation.
was served, and the guests made their adieux
toward midnight, hurrying away reluctantly
TO "catch a car" before Sunday morning had
cleared the tracks. Among the guests were OK
Governor Fairchild, Mr.. Gordon Ford, the bril-
liant young Journalistic Mr.. and Mrs Russell,
Mrs. and Miss Mlligan Of Chicago, the latter
as pretty as a Wild rose; Judge and Mrs. Law
Mason, General and Mrs. Birney, Mr.. Smith,
the well-known New York journalist; Mrs.
Lander ! ana her guest, Mrs, oliver, MI; kauf-
Judge and Miss Johnston, Mr.. and Mrs. Ken
non, Miss Williamson, Doctor Toner and many
others. The next meeting Will take place at
the home OF Justice and Mrs. Field on Capitol
Hill.
Colonel Tlagler U. s. A., is the guest Of Gen
eral and Mrs. Benet, at their home on street,
but, TO the regret of all his friends, he leaves
tomorrow for Rock Island, being limited to
tho shortest possible absences by the work he
has ia hand there.
Tho engagement of Miss Bracket, the niece
of Colonel Bracket, U. s. A., TO Lieutenant
Schwatka, U. S. A., Is announced. Miss Brack-
cit is sister of Mrs. Frank Eastman, of this
city, and the wedding, rumor says, Is set for
an early date.
Miss Frellnghuysen Is expected home this
week from New York, where she has been Wis
lting friends and relatives among them her
sister-ln-law, Mrs. George Frelinghuysen.
The wedding of Mr.. Howard Hickcox, whose
splendid basso is so well known in musical
circles, and Miss Hewitt Will take place on
Easter Tuesday at the residence OF the bride s
mother, on i street. Miss Hewitt is q charm
ing little Virginan and Is a niece of Colonel
Hewitt, OF the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
Miss Niles gives n musicale tonight; but
this is the only entertainment of the week
the Presidents reception, that of the Sccre-
tary of State, the Secretary of the Navy, and,
indeed, all the usual gaietles, being suspended
out of respect for Holy Week.
''bubble party Is announced as one OF the
post-Lenten gaieties. 1t is TO be given by a
prominent belle, and the prizes are going to
be really elegant.
Mrs. and Miss Mulligan, who are at the Eb-
bitt, are the widow and daughter of the gal
liant General, who held fort at Lexington for
seven days against overwhelming odds, and
finally died on the field of battle.
Mrs. Mason and her charming young friend,
Miss Withers leave for Philadelphia on Satur-
day. Their short stay Is a cause Of much re.
gret 10 all who have met them.