The Evening critic., 1883-01-10
SOCIETY.
what is Going on In the Social world

The three great social events OF this evening
viii be the Cabinet dinner at the White House,
the fret of General and Mrs. McClellan's
Wednesdays and the german AZ General Hun.
ters. The first 1t Is said, will be the hand.
soonest dinner given in the White House since
Mr.. Arthur's accession to the Presidential
chair, and the richness of last years feasts are
gauge OF the truth of the prediction. 1t seems
appropriate that tho entertainment OF ''the
great captain and once President should be on
ascale OF unusual elegance, and Mr.. Arthur has
proved himself appreciative OF the occasion.
Apropos to General Grant Is a story told mo
by General Sheridan a few weeks since. He
says ono OF our chaplains gave II to him "nrst
hand" He was standing on street corner
talking to several officers, when up stag
gered a drunken soldier, vociferatlng:
81 put my trust in ulysses 8. Grant" He
repeated this statement so often, and made
such PERSONAL matter of 1t that the chaplain
at last answered:
eyes, my man, so do 1 in military matters,
but you must put your best trust ip God"
The soldier balanced to and fro with
drunken gravity and blinking eyes, and said /:
EMO, put my trust In Ulysses s. Grant, and
when he falls fall back on God. You see, II
put my trust in the last one first wouldn't
have any reserve TO fall back on In case Of de-
feat. Amt that eo?"
The clergyman stood petrlned, and the man
lurched on connding TO tho echoes tho fact of
HE implicit trust in Ulysses s. Grant.
But TO return TO my social moutons.
The evening at General McClellan's will be
one OF the "wbite stone parties OF the season
for three reasons; He has charming wife,
who, In her girlish days, had beauty ana grace
enough to win the most popular ofYicer In tho
Army, and who, like. good wine and old
friends, has improved with years. Ho has
still the manner aud presence that won him
the hearts OF men and the admiration OF
women, u magnetism that made his soldiers
ready 10 die for him, and able to smile In tho
death.grip and he has daughter so fair and
gracious that she wins friends wherever she
goes.
Would 1t be too personal IL say of what she
reminds me If 1t is, ] beg her forgiveness
1t is picture of spring, typined by a tall,
nnely-molded maiden, who walks through a
forest Of birch trees. The silver bank shines
in the glad May sun, tiny Love clings to her
skirts, and the BIRDS fly round her swelling
their little throats and breasts with song. The
her virgin SOUL happy in the beauty of the
year new life and glad OF the love that haunts
her footsteps.
The debutante Of General Hunters party to.
night is his grandniece. She is well known In
the society In which she is destined to have 80
bright career. She is of medium size, but
with such u tlne head and shoulders that she
conveys the impression Of height. She has
black hair, which--with rare good taste-she
wears drawn close to her head and coiled low
In her neck, blue eyes, and n clear, but color
less complexion, nice nose and a good mouth
complete the hasty sketch. There has been
some report that she enters on the season
engaged, but this is purely rumor, or
perhaps only n reversal of the season, for she
Will scarcely reach Its close unappropriated
The party given on Capitol Hill last night
was an unusually pretty affair. 1t was given
at the residence Of Mrs. Peters, the wife of
Master Peters, U. s. N. The house is one OF the
most elegant in the city, and was Xmas gift
TO the young hostess from her uncle, Mr..
Stevens, OF Washington. Tho guests Included
the members of the club and q few friends
invited "by special permission" The pret
test ties gowns In the room were worn by Miss
Peterson and Miss Hamilton; and the supper,
| which was delightful, included many little
dellcacies In Its menu not usually found at
large gatherings.
| Secretary and Mrs. Frellnghuysen gave an
| elegant dinner last night, General and Mrs.
| Grant being the guests Of the occasion. There
were twenty-five covers and some eighteen
| courses were served, with wines appropriate
| TO each delicacy. The President, Mr.. Ban
croft. Mr.. Evarts, Judge and Mrs J. Davis, Gen.
and Mrs. Sherman, General and Mrs. McCle-
| Ian, Senator and Mrs. Cameron, General and
Mrs. Beale; Mr.. and Mrs. Story and Mrs. Hols-
man were invited TO meet General and Mrs.
Grant, and the twenty second place was filled
| by Miss Lucy Frelinghuysen. Tho flowers
were exquisite, and derived a new beauty from
| the wbirling snow that nlled the
at an early hour. The toilets worn by
| the ladies were of great richness, the three
| most striking and effective being those Of
| Mrs. Cameron, NIrs. Holsman and Mrs. Nc.
| Clellap. Mrs. Cameron's gowns are always
| secondary TO the sweet young face that
| blossoms like Hover out of the sheath of
| laces, velvets and satins, so never feel quite
sure that am fair to said dresses Mrs.
| Holsmans bore the stamp Of Worth In every
| fold, and Mrs. McClellan's was OF charming
design and finish. Mrs Grant wore q pecu-
liarly effective toiler and all her diamonds.
The sun peeped through the mist OF snow
for q few minutes this morning for the express
purpose apparently of shining on the bonnie
| bride that went from Admiral Sands house,
and Wishing her goodspeed on her wedding
journey. Only the friends and relatives OF
| the contracting parties were present, and as
the gentle lady, who has Just entered the
| Navy, shrinks go from newspaper comment, l
| Will content mysely with saying It was one of
| the prettiest home weddings have ever seen.
Mrs. Thackara's bright face has been very
welcome this season, and we hope she Will
spend the entire winter with us.
| "The Nelghbors" will not have another meet
| Ing until the ODD instant, source of much
| regret TO those who have enjoyed Its evenings.
| 1t is a literary club composed of tho residents
OF New Jersey avenue, and Is confined entirely
TO Capitol Hill, and not to East Washington, as
| one OF our journals mistakenly andounced.
TO the regret of her many friends Miss Rus
l. sell has not yet returned. The Illness of her
mother in Boston Is what, no doubt, prevents
the charming girl from taking her usual part
in the gafetles of the season.
The Baron Won Sachs and his friend, Mr..
| Cordes, awealthy young New Yorker, Will ar
rive in our city IN n few days to visit friends In
| the North End. The former Is we'll remem-
| bered here, as he spent part of last season In
| town and won golden opinions In our society
Perhaps the very pleasantest meeting that
| took place yesterday during visiting hours
was that betweeen General Grant and Colonel
Frey. The latter commanded n regiment In
| the formers brigade during the first year of
| the war, and the two officers had the respect
| and liking for each other on which bravo men
build friendships.