The Evening critic., 1883-02-01
SOCIETY.


Cabinet receptions brought society out en-
masse to visit. Mrs. Totton and Mrs. Lin
coin did not receive, but the homes of the
other Cabinet ladies and Mrs. Keifer's re-
ception were crowded from . o'clock until
after 5.
Mrs. Keifers cat home" was unusually
brilliant, and special decorations were made
in honor of the occasion. Flowering
shrubs lined the passageway leading to the
rcd parlor aud cut flowers were massed in
baskets and bouquets on the mantels
and tables. All the ladies carried knots of
roses--Mrs. Keifer's greeting to them as
they arrived to assist her in her duties
There were thirty or forty of these fair as
sistants, and the elegance of their toilets and
the harmonious blending of colors was %
matter of general comment. If / could dis
criminate whore all the gowns were hand
some, would say that Mrs. Page, of Cali
fornia; Mrs. Hazclton, of Wisconsin; Mrs.
Aldrich, of Illinois; Mrs. Doxie, of In
diana, and Mrs. Hardenbergh, of New
jersey, wore the most striking.
The first was fawn and silver satin bro
caded with heliotrope velvet; pointe lace
and diamonds accented its richness. Tho
second was black satin with hand en-
broiderics of roses and tulips in colored silk,
and trimmings of antique lace. The third
was combination of pearl gray satin bro
caded in silver, and still further ethereal
lied by fine lace. The fourth was silver
blue satin brocadcd in velvet. The
fifth corsagc and train of lecs-of-
silver brocaded in colors. Mrs. Dwight's
dress was also noticeably elegant, as well
as those of Miss Van Buren,, Mrs. Dezon-
dorf and Miss Schofeld. Pointe lace was
the favoritc trimming, and the glitter of
diamonds was universal. Mrs, Kcifcr's
gown was rich black velvet, frosted about
the neck and shoulders with pointo lace
caught ut the opening of the corsage with
several pale heliotrope ostrich tips.
From the midst of this agreeable gathering
we turned our steps to the Attorney len
erals home, where Mrs Brewster was re-
ceiying, assisted by Miss Koons, Miss
Emory, Miss Miller Miss Robertson and
Miss McKeever. Tho fair hostess wore the
handsomest toilet of the day-a rich gar
net velvet, slashed over plaitings of pale
rose moirc the trimmings were magnif-
cent pointe lace-rose pattern-and
she wore fine diamonds. OF her young
assistants, Miss Koons' toilet was much
admired-an ice-green silk, with tablier
embroidered in daisies and trimmings of
duchess lace. Mrs. Chandler, Mrs. Kinsley
and Mrs. McCawley were busy all after
noon, their reception being very large
one. The first and last-named ladies wore
rich black toilets, between which Mrs.
Kinsley's gown of claret velvet and silk
burned like flame. The reception at the
home of the Secretary of State filed
street with carriages. Mrs. Frelinghuysen
received for a portion of the afternoon with
her daughters, but excused herself finally
| to be with the Secretary. The Misses
| Frelinghuysen divided their labors in the
| usual way, Miss Lucy being ON duty in the
| drawing-room and her sister at the other
| end of the suite of rooms presiding at the
| tea-urn. They both wore handsome gowns,
| one claret velvet the other hello
trope satin surah and silver brocade, and
made their reception such q delightful af.
fair that their guests fingered far beyond
the limits of call"
BILE feature of the day, and it was late before
the doors were closed. She was assisted by
| Mrs. Stevenson, Mrs. Holabird, Mrs. Bel
ford and Mrs. Wickersham, Miss Teller moi
appearing at her pretty tea table unit
about A o'clock. The toilets of the ladie
were well chosen with regard to eact
other and the garnet, Nile green, cream
samite, black velvet, and black Ottoman
and jet harmonzed as well as the wearers
At $3.50 the guests began to pour into tn,
Chief Justices parlors, and from that time
| uulll U U ClUCh u CUUlphuy CDUtt
and flowed through the new home. Mrs
Waite, Miss Waite, Miss Moore, Miss
Stevens and Mrs. Turner received, and, ex.
cept that each was host in herself, they
would have found their duties too onerous
Their gowns were charmiug-Mrs. Waite
being rich bronze satin, trimmed will
bronze and gold passomenterie Mrs
Waite's black surrah, with lac
sleeves and abundant trimming
of gold passementerie. Etruscal
gold set with turquoise were her orna
ments. Miss Moore was bonnie in som
soft white texture clouded with lace
Miss Stevens and Mrs. Turner wore re
spectively Nile green and pointe and pal
blue brocade and valenciennes. The puncl
bowlsswere distributed discreetly in tn
midst Of the throng where the heat wa
greatest, and the dining-room was file
all afternoon. The collation. was compose
of solids as well as sweetened Syllabus
and the menu ran through an attractiv
scale. The table was prettily tricked out wit
candles and flowers and tastefully garnishe
dishes, and among the familiar face
gathered about the festive board | saw Mrs
and Miss Mccullough Count Lippe, Gen. an
Mrs Hazen, Mrs Ricketts, Mrs. Frey, Mint
and Miss Nogueiras, Miss Sherman, NJ. d
Struve, the Chinese and Japanese Minis
ters, Baron Won Schaetfer, Mrs. Howar
White, Mrs. Stanley Matthews, the Misse
Matthews, and, indeed, all the Justices c
the Supreme Court and the ladies of the
families; General Van Buren,, the Misst
Williamson, Mrs. Senator Sherman, Mr.
Crapo, Mrs. Dahlgren, Mrs. Hoxie, Liet
tenant and Mrs Rodgers, M. de Willamo
Senior Dominguez and his daughters, Mr.
Mckee, Professor Hilgarde, Mrs. and Mi
Bryan, Miss Page, Miss Emory, Mrs. En-;
lish, and, in word, all the gay world
our city
Madame Laughton held the last of HI
receptions last night, and divided the q
tention ofsociety with Mrs. McKeever III
last-named lady gave very elegant bal
to which so many guests were bidden tn;
not even Wormley's spacious suite of room
was large enough to comfortably accom-
date them. The throng was something in
mense and the toilets were in keeping wit
the seasons reputation for elegant drcssin
Miss McKeever and Miss Lena Porte
among the young ladies, wore the mo
effective toilets, and the number of han
some diamonds displayed on the occasit
was striking. The rooms were profuse
decorated with flowers, and the supp
was scarcely even excepting that at MI
Fleming's ball--the most temptil
of the season. Terrapin and char
payne were the chief features, and salat
croquets, charlottes, Babas, nougat, candi
fruits, spun sugar, and ices and crear
were served sans jim. The german began
/ o'clock, and was led by Ensign Babcoc
U. S. n. The favOrs were handsome, al
: among the guests were many distinguish