The Evening critic., 1883-02-05
SOCIETY,
what is Goips on IN the socinI world.


day afternoon was pleasant affair in spite
of the heat that rolled like u memory of
July over the city. Mrs. McElroy was as
sisted by Mrs. Brewster, Miss Frelinghuy-
sen and Mrs Chandler, and her daughters
aides were Miss Frelinghuysen, her friends,
| Miss Knevals and Miss Philips. The
| toilets Of the three matrons were somewhat
| sonbre, although so eegant-black satin,
| black lace over satin and black velvet, but
| Mrs. McElroy lighted hers with facings of
| white satin and q iupon of white velvet,
| brocaded in black Mrs. Chandler
| had a tablier of jet embroidery and the
lace was heavily ietted and Mrs. Brew
| ster's velvet glittercd at every movement
| with the broad. passementeries and fringes
| of jet. The young ladies were brighter in
| their attire Miss Frelinghuysen's gown
being one of great elcgance--a sapphire
| blue satin with rovers and touches of car
| dinal satin; an apron front of blue and
silver, and handsome trimmings of Vaen-
ciennes completed the toilet. Miss Philips
wore an effective dress of white
samito trimmed with black tips"
and knots Of black satin
ribbons. Miss McElroy wore heliotropo
crepe clouded with white lace, and Miss
| Knevals a dark-blue velvet made en- traine
and caught at the square corsage with q
| knot of gorgeous roses. These ladies were
l
as it has almost become, and Colonel Rock
well made the presentations. 1t resembled
| more n private reception than one at the
house of the Nations head, and the infu-
sion of the diplomatic element was marked.
The diplomatic dinner at the japanese
Minister'S was very elegant party, and
the embarrassments OF the evening were
| turned, by the courtesy of the host and
| guests, into some of its pleasantest features.
These "ombaTassmcnts' arose from the
fact that many of the company spoke but
| two, or at most three, languages, and the
ministers and charges, representing all
countries as they did, were necessarily de-
barred from general conversation.
The Chinese Minister, for in
stance, being unaccompanied by
his interpreter, was reduced to silence
his host does not speak Chinese, but reads
it quite well and all their courtesies and
opinions had to be exchanged in writing.
French was a safe neutral ground, but our
officials who were present were unable to
do moIe than respond amiably to the
Spanish and South American guests, with
the exception of Mr.. Adee whose long resi-
dence at the Court of Madrid had given
him the true Castilian accent and facility
of speech But liquid greetings in crystal
form mean the same thing all the world
over, and the fine wines that punctuated
the dinners length carried goodwill and
wishes around the board. The evening was
far spent before the pleasure was ended and
have proved, beyond doubt, that the
Oriental taste is unimpeachable, for each
was circled with the little band that to the
initiated means so much, and gave out u
fragrance sweeter than flowers to the en-
thusiastic smokers.
Mrs. Page gave charming tea" on
Saturday afternoon to her guests, Mrs and
Miss Lea, of Boston.
Superb as the toilets have been this win
ter, those worn at Mrs Cameron's on Friday
evening were unapprOachable. All that is
best of society gathered under her roof
tree, and until midnight enjoyed one of the
most delightful evenings of the season.
Colonel Ochiltrees matinee party was
one of Saturdays features. 1t was an in
novatiOn, and was SO agreeable that it COM
mends itself to the giver of theatre
parties" Mrs. New and Mrs Hooker were
the chaperones, and received the young
guests at Willard's, where a dejeuner la
fourchette was served about midday. The
damozels were all Southern bellies, and in
cluded among Others bonnie Miss Single
ton, Miss Blackburn, Miss Armstrong and
Miss Figgott. There were eleven covers,
and the menu was worthy of the bon vi
want who arranged it. There were long
stemmed roses, tied with ribbons, placed at
| .
were showered on Salvini before the after
noon was over.
Last evening Mr.. and Mrs. Blaine enter
tanned number of friends in their new
homo on Twentieth street. 1t was, in a
measure, a farewell party to their daugh-
ter, although Mrs. Blaine laughingly said it
was given to break the spell, which ill-lucll
casts ON home, whose housewarming is q
wedding party.
Mrs. Chandlers reception Saturday even
ing was as brilliant as its predecessors. She
will receive during February also, her en-
tertainments ceasing only with Passion
Week.
The Literary Society met the same even
ing at Mrs. Burnett's pretty home on |
street, and a fair exchange Of guests was
made by Mrs. Chandler and herself, num-
ber spending half the evening in each place.
The guests were received by Doctor and
Mrs. Burnett, and their young guest, Mrs.
Bissell. The two ladies wore quaint toi-
lets of blue surah made with infant waists
and Venetian necks, the lace of Mrs. Bur-
nett's tucker being caught with diamond
flies The papers of the evening were
"The Knickerbocker Ghost. by Miss Dor
sey, which was read by Mr.. Cannon, and
charming paper by Doctor Hoffman, "The
Condolences of History" Then followed
the usual criticisms, and the literary half
of the evening was over. The supper was
served Immediately, and the table trans
gressed all the laws and statutes of the
J society. To be sure there were sand
wiches and Coffee" but there
were also oysters, salads, candied
fruits, confections, du naturel, ices,
creams, chocolate and many other good
things of life. The parlors are as quaint as
: an artists studio, and the camels hair
. hangings, the old brass ornaments, the pic
| lures, panels and statuets the queer old
, harpsichord, and the savage relics in the
, hall, all borrowed new charm from the
many wax lights and the soft rose color Of
r the chandeliers. Among the handsomest
5 toilets in the room were Miss Johnston's
Mrs Lea's, Miss Waite's, Miss Foote'S and
Miss Williamson's The first was of pale
| blue surah, trimmed with lace. The next
a magnificent brocade with point trim
| mngs. Miss Waite's, black satin, hand
embroidered in roses. Miss Foote'S, n pale
pink satin brocaded in plush, and Miss
, Williamson's, a quaint old Venetian gown
of gold-colored satin slashed and pointed
with crimson plush. The neck
, was covered with putfings O
. silk mule, and peacock fan and tabert:
, of mother-of-pearl hung at her side. Th'
! flowers about the rooms were exquisite
and many were sought and given as souve
= Mrs of the evening. The music was a.
lovely as the flowers as one might have
= known it would be when Mrs. Knox ant
= | Mr. Paris were the chief artists The mex