Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-02-17
SOCIETY.
Mrs. Kiefer's RecitaliOns-What
Ladies' Meah and Say.

Mrs. Kiefer's RecitatiOns-WhaI
Ladies' Meah and Say.
WASHINGTON, February o. The
Red Parlor of the Ebbitt House was
again thronged yesterday by the null
titude who came to pay respects to
Mrs. Keifer and the corps of agreeable
ladies assisting her. The new Speak
er's wife has already acquired the
reputation of a most gracious hostess,
full OF tact and good feeling, and her
custom of inviting a different circle to
assist her on each receiving day is
considered a charming one. Yesterday
she wore a very handsome reception
dress of black Lyons velvet, en- train
and untrimmed, with jabot and cuffs
of Duchesse lace. She carried a huge
bouquet of pink roses, sent her by one
of her husbands colleagues from Ohio,
and each lady of the receiving party
bore q similar one presented by MI.
Willard, the proprietor of the hotel.
Many handsome baskets and other
floral offerings, from various friends,
ornamented the parlor. Among
those who divided the honors of the
day with Mrs. Kiefer, we're Mrs.
Anterior, wife of the Ohio mem
Der, in a rich bottle-green satin,
garnished with thread lace {;
Mrs. Geddes, of Ohio, in black
brocaded satin; Mrs. Mcclure, of Gin
cinnati, in black satin, with 6chu cape
of point lace; Mrs. Morey, of the same
city, in black satin, with Spanish lace
and Jacqueminot roses; Miss Hattie
Taylor, of Warren, Ohio, daughter
of Garield's successor in the House,,
in a gorgeous reception dress of car
dinsl brocade, with front Of white
satin, brocaded with cardinal; Miss
Moulton, of Cincinnati, in white gros
grain, with overdress Of chenille lace;
Miss Nora White, Of Springfield,
Ohio, in pale blue crepe, combined
with satin; Mrs. Bedford, of Colorado,
in dregs of wine satin, with point lace
and roses; Mrs. Burrows, of Michi-
gan, in black velvet and point d'Alen-
con; Mrs. Houk, of Tennessee, in an
elegant white brocaded satin; Mrs.
Proctor Knott, in black satin, elabo-
rately beaded with jet; Mrs. Wash
burn, of Minnesota, in ceil-blue
brocade and cream tinted Spanish
lace; Mrs. Ames, of st. Louis, in ruby
satin, combined with white, and Miss
Ames, her daughter, in white satin,
the basque covered with cut crystals.
After the reception Mrs. Keifer en-
tertainsd at dinner her old friend,
Mrs. Black, Of Cincinnati.
All the Cabinet ladies entertained
greater numbers than on any previous
reception day. The time being so near
at hand when Lent will put a fiuis to
this sort of thing, everybody is bound
to improve the few remaining days to
the utmost.
Mrs. Lincoln'a p%arlors, as usual,
were crowded, and the street in front
of her residence was crowded with
carriages during the entire afternoon.
She has fallen in with the revival of
an ancient custom that delights the
young people, and now has
MUSIC AND DANCING
in a spacious apartment at the rear of
the parlors. She wore a handsome
costume of black velvet, with corsage
and band, bouquet Of lilies Of the
valley. The ladies assisting her were
Mrs. Saunders, wife Of the Senator
from Nebraska, in black satin; her
daughter, Miss Mamie Saunders, a
beautiful blonde, in white satin and
tulle; Mrs. Frank Hatten, in white
MORE antique, and several other ladies.
An elegant COLLATION. was served, at
which chocolate and punch were the
favorite beverages. The Secretary of
War was present a portion of the
afternoon. He does not look in the
least like his illustrious father, having
a full face and figure, Of a rather Jolly
aspect, and a good deal of lurking
mirth in his eyes. When addressed
he has a habit of bowling his head a
moment in thoughtful attention, and
then lifting it suddenly, and replying
with almost startling ab%ruptness.
When Senior Barca and his lady en-
tered, he conversed with them fuently
in French.
Said Mrs. Lincoln to a friend, DO
not wait for me to return your call,
but come every Wednesday. 1t is a
physical impossibility for me to return
all my calls in person. l have paid
more than FIVE hundred visits thus far
this season, and have a thousand more
staring me r~elentlessly in the face.
The spirit is willing to do all that is
expected OF it, but the flesh is too
mortal to bear the strain"
Think Of getting in and out of a
carriage so many thousands of times
within a single short season Think
Of the weary feet that must climb the
strangers stairs and thigh Stops I'
Think OF the
MILLIONS OF AIRY NoTHINGs
that must be said to all manner Of
people in whom no common interest
centers Verify, things are pretty
evenly distributed after all, Those
who through sequestered wales of life
pursue the noiseless tenor Of their
way unsung escape the onerous bur-
dens which high position brings.