The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-03-02
rHs BIG STATE DINNER.
PrsAibitisn Did Net Prohibit Thsrest- Din
mr. u b RsmembefM.


Did Net Prohibit Th.rsst- Din
Mr. u b Rsnsmbefsd.
Last Thursday was field night for society /
at the capital, and, though the rain descend !
in no way deferred from its pursuits. The
chief events Of the evening were the dinner |
given BY President Arthur to the diplomatic
corps, the annual charity ball, and recep-
tons at the residences of Secretary Freling-
huysen and Commodore Earl English.
The first state dinner at the white house
was one that its fortunate guest will always
remember as the most beautiful entertain.
ment of the kind ever given there. Single
and unaided in his domestic arrangements,
the President has shown a genius for social
affairs far surprising his predecessors, and
to the las. fine detail Of the arrangements
there was nothing more for the most fastid-
ious taste to advise. Six wagon loads of the
handsomest Of the palms, ferns and trees
from the botanical gardens were massed in
the corners, recesses and fire places of the
east room, and other Conservatives were
drawn upon for the adornment Of the red
corridor and the three parlors. The hedges
and groves of palm trees about the walls les
sened the size of the vast apartments. and
with the amber plush furniture drawn out
from its stiff line against the walls the east
room was most attractive drawing room.
The mantle pieces were banked With cut
flowers, and festoons of smilax held the crys-
tai chandeliers in thick network. The green
parlor was converted into a dressing room
for the lady guests. An oval mirror on
center table was supported by branches Of
wax lights, and before it were placed pins
and powder and smelling salts, and dusky
Abigail in friled cap and apron presided
over the realm. The portrait of Mrs. Hayes
recently fitted into its carved oak frame
filed the west wall. and Hiawatha's silver
boat sailed ever its argent sea before the
central mirror. The blue and red parlors
were lighted and filled with plants and flow
ers, and in the ruby salon, VIII ch is essen-
tally the private parlor of the President and
his family, many oainty ornaments and rare
ceramics attested to the individual presence
and taste OF the master. The end OF the
long corridor at the foot Of the private stair.
by screens and plants, and around General
Jackson's marble tables were grouped lux
uriOus chairs and lounges to WOO the alter
dinner smokers to the delights of the Pre>I-
dents famous cigars.
The state dining-roOm was transformed
and half its shabbness hidden in the wall OF
palms. camelias and azalea trees that sur
rounded it. In one window recess was a
single pot of blooming sunflowers, whose tall
stalks bore upwards of five hundred of the
miraculous little images within their cano-
pies of petals. The mantel-pieees were
banked with flowers. rs were the sideboards,
and when the table was fully laid and lighted
the spectacle was the most brilliant ever be-
held in that apartment. A long mirror ran
down the center of the broad table, bOrdered
with roses, camelias and violets, and on the
center oil it was floral ship of state. The
masts were wound with smilax and white
acacia, aud the sid9s of the ship were of yiO-
lets and primroses sailing in a sea of hello
tropes. Bunches of bonsaline roses were
placed at intervals around the mirror, and at
either end were large crystal urns filed with
great jacquemnots and dropping Cornciia
Cook roses; candelbra and branches of wax
lights with tiny shades OF rose-colored silk
were placed at the ends, and crystal COM
potes ofsweets and gLace fruits were the only
dainiies set on the board.
Covers were laid for thirty-eight guests.
thirteen Of whom were ladies. Beside the
complement OF forks and spoons at each
plate, there were ranged six wine glasses,
| a goblet and carafe, and the large damask
napkins folded many times bore card indi-
eating the guest to occupy each seat. Boa-
tonieres were laid for each gentleman. and
for the ladies were large fiat corsage bou-
quets tied with long blue satin ribbons.
The silver service for the first time included
the oyster forks presented to the President
on Sunday last by party of New York gen.
tlemen, who, hearing that the executive
mansion was without these essentials. made
their donation the occasion of visit. Three
dozen of these forks, of antique hammered
silver, with golden prongs were made by
Tiffany, each one differing in the design of
the delicate handles, where tiny flies and
flowers in relief, nietl0 and oxides chung to
the edges, and the name Of each individual
giver was raised on them in quaint, running
italics. The costly little gold and silver tri-
dent at the Presidents own particular plate
bore the inscription ''irom George ii. Bliss,
and all were similarly marked with the
names of The several givers.
Ministers. or charges d'affaires, OF twenty
two legations were present, together with
Secretary and Mrs Frelinrhuysen Those
who have wives were accompanied by them,
and in the ease of the British end Hawaiian
ministers, their daughters did the honors as
ladies' of those legations. The President es-
corted Nine. Preston, wife of the Haytian
minister, and Mrs. Frelinghuysen sat on his
table. The dinner was served Ia RuSst.
and no menu cards were provided the guests.
Fifteen courses in all were served. accom-
panied by the proper wines and Roman
punches, and the inevitable terrapin and
canvas-back duck were included in the
put to their icy beds hours before the feast, |
while that royal fluid alone was warmed to |
a mellower tone. Within fifty feet of the |
temperance testimonial portrait of Mrs. |
Hayes, Chablis. sherry, Rudesheimer, Cha-
teau Latour, champagne, madeira and doz-
en- cordials were served in turn to these
selected guests, and all went WELL Dinner
was announced ut $50, and the guests rose a
little before II, adlourning soon afterwards
to the reception at the house of Secretary