The Evening critic., 1882-03-29
SOCIETY,".
what is Going ON i'm the Social
WnrIn.

NOrIu.
Tho crowd Mt the Presidents levoe last night
has not been cqualled since tho days when
Abraham Lincoln added to his other fatigues
and harrnssments the serious one OF shaking
hands with and greeting kindly the thousands
that thronged the White House. Last night
the double causes-a now President and Gen
oral Grant-produced such a crush thnt, being
little late, IL became serious question
whether admittance was possible, but patience
accomplishcs wonders, and finally we stood In
the presence chamber. The President was
assisted by General and Mrs. Grant, Mrs.
Frelinghuysen, Mrs. Hunt, Mrs Mcpherson,
Mrs. Cameron, Mrs. wadsworth, Mrs. Eugene
Hale, Mrs. John Davis and Mrs. Nc
keeyer. The introductions were made
by Colonel Rockwell, and the enthusiasm
reused by General Grants presence made 1t a
difficult duty, for every ono wanted a word
with him, and fingered hoping for it until a
permanent block was imminent The two
gentlemen OF the nation wore the regulation
dress suits, and the ladies' toilottes were OF
great elegance and good contrasting colors;
noticeable feature was the revival of feather.
head dresses, and tho beauty OF the diamonds
worn. Mrs. Grants toilet was of white satin,
made with n low corsage and short sleeves her
fair, fine neck and shoulders being yelled
with pointe, and her arms covered TO the el-
bow with long gants de Suede. The tablier of
the dress was trimmed with magnificent ponte
and she wore n band and stars Of diamonds I'm
her hair, solitaires in her ears, a brooch
In the lace knot of her corsage, and hand
some pendant at her throat. Mrs. Freling-
huysen were a black satin brocade her hair
was plainly coiffed, and covered with n barbe
Canton crepe, made with a simplicity that was
lis best ornament. Mrs. Cameron, cream
gros grain; her fair young throat was bound
with pearls, and her flower-face looked at its
best and sweetest Mrs Mcpherson wore al ex-
guisite combination OF Indian crepe and satin,
mat looked like snow and frest in the moon
light. Mrs. Wadsworth' s toilet looked like a bed
OF heliotrope and pansies, so artstically were
the colors combined, and her coiffure was I'm
lshed with white ostrich plume. Mrs. John
Davis wore white satin brocade, trimmed
heavily with lustre lace and passementerie.
white ostrich plume was placed against her
coirure, bringing out effectively the Spanish
coloring OF hor hair and eyes. Mrs. Hale
wore black satin, lighted with pearl satin, and
Mrs. Mckeever black brocade, which brought
into vivid contrast the magnificent Algerine
scarf she had draped about her shoulders.
The toilets worn by the guests varied from
the the ordinary walking dress to the
richest visiting costumes and the most
elaborate evening wear, and amidst
the morning suits, frock and dresscoats, the
foreign ministers glittered In their gold lace,
orders and court dresses. Among those last,
Baron Won Schaefrer attracted much attention,
both by the fineness of his person and the ex-
cellence OF his English. Among those preseNt
were General and Mrs. Drum, Lieutenant and
Mrs. Emory cher toilet elegant), General
Babcock, General Beale, Major and Mrs. Slack,
Judge and Mrs. Macarthur, the Cabinet OH.
GERS, Colonel Fred Grant, Justice Matthews,
Miss Matthews, Miss Porter, Commissioner
and Mrs. Loring, Senator and Miss Dawes,
Mr.. and Mrs. Robeson (her toilet also ele-
ganD, Admiral and Mrs. Rogers, nearly all Of
tho members of the Diplomatic Corps, the
ladies' OF the Legations except, of course, Of the
Chinese; General Holabird, General and Mrs.
BelKnap, Mr.. and Mrs. Van Voorhees,, Major
and Mrs. Goodloe, Senator and Mrs. Conger,
Mr.. and Miss kilbourn, Senator and Miss
Dawes, Mr.. Hattson, General and Mrs. Parks,
Mr.. and Mrs. ID. II. Mckee, Mr.. and Miss Far
well, Senator and Mrs Hill, Admiral Almy ana
his, pretty daughter, Mr.. Black, Miss slay-
maker, Mr.. Creswell, Senator Ferry, Colonel
Murphy, of New York; the Hon. Montgomery
and Mrs. Blair, the Hon. Horatio and Mrs.
King, Justice and Mrs. Bundy, Chief Justice
and Mrs. Drake, and, literally, thousands of
others. The order preserved was quite Won
derful, and In spite of the crowd the reception
was extended only an hour over the appointed
time. The decorations were OF the usual
beautiful floral description, but like tie lower
half OF the toilets were invisible on account
OF the crowd. Only those who stood immedi-
ately next them discovered the full leveliness
OF bud and blossom and foliage.
General Babcock has been spending some
days with his family at his pretty home on
street.
General and Mrs. Belknap, who have been at
the Arlington for the past week, leave to- NOR
row or next day for their home.
The orders which carry Lieutenant Sam Mer.
Ger. U. s. NJ O., from the barracks here to those
at Brooklyn, are a source OF regret to all who
know the genial young Officer. .Ho possesses the
faculty OF making friends wherever he goes,
and has all the qualities necessary to retain
them when won.
lieve he left a friend in every member of his
congregau )n-will pe grieved to learn OF his
Illness with congestive chills at his residence
in New York. The physicians pronounce him
better, but there is still a great dread of thai
fatal third chill, which merges into death.
General and Mrs. Grant, with Colonel Fred
Grant, left for New York this morning ON the
limited express.
Trial of Charles Shaw for Murder
Me- tx.f, Ttr.-