The Evening critic., 1883-01-25
SOCIETY,
what is Going on I'm the Social World.


The Cabinet receptions yesterday werc
more limited in number than we over re-
member. Mrs. Lincoln and Mrs. Brewster
did not receive, and Secretary Folger, hav-
ing none of his family with him, of course
does not keep open house. This reduced the
list to Mrs. Frelinghuysen, Mrs. Teller, Mrs.
Chandler and Mrs Totten, who receives for
her father, the Postmaster. General. At the
home of the Secretary of State the callers
were received by the Misses Frelinghuysen
assisted by Miss Slack; the
Secretary's sickness prevented Mrs
Frelinghusen from making her
appearance, and her absence was much
regretted In the front parlor Miss Lucy
Frelinghuysen and Miss Slack welcomed
the guests, while Miss Frelinghuysen dis
pensed her famous tea in the next room.
The fair tea maker was exquisite in hello
trope Ottoman, with panels and revers of
heliotrope brocaded in silver. Her sister
was like Jacqueminot in garnet velvet,
richly finished with pointe de Venise.
Miss Slack's black satin toilet contrasted
effectively with the glow of the warm
velvet.
Mrs. Tottens reception was very crowded,
for the gentle lady is great favorte. She
was assisted by several friends, among
them Mrs. Goodman, of Chicago, and Mrs.
Richard Elmer, both of whom wore elegant
toilets. The first-white crepe and surah,
with paniers and revers of crimson drapcd
with Spanish lace the second, ruby satin
corsagc and train over a iupon
| of ruby brocaded with gold.
Mrs. Totten's toilet of black satin, frosted
here and there with pointe, accented both
| of those just described. Miss Totten, who
| is winning golden opinions, was charming
| in Nile green, the white tablier Of which
| bloomed in rich colors; and pretty dark
| eyed Miss Bestor wore black satin spark
| ling with iridesccnt passementrie.
Mrs. Teller was also the recipient of a
| large number of calls, and she and her
assistants, Mrs Belford, Mrs. Ashley and
Miss Teller, were kept busy from to ..
The three matrons wore rich black toilets
Of velvet and satin and superb lace, and the
young girl glowed like u carnation in
combination crimson silk and velvet.
Mrs Chandler was overwhelmed with
the ardu0us but pleasant task of receiving
her friends and her friends friends to the
latest hour etiquette would permit. She was
assisted by Mrs Kinsley and Miss McCauley,
and the ladies made an effective group as
they stood together. Mrs Chandler wore
crimson brocado, with what seemed to be an
entire overdress of jetted lace; Mrs.
Kinsley corsage and tablier of myrtle
green velvet with paniers and train of pale
mauve ottoman and Mrs McCawley was
radiant In white surah and Spanish lace.
All the fashionable society of the city was
visiting in full force and the sunshine and
crisp air gave sparkle to the quietest
faces every one knew every one, and the
greatest gaiety prevailed.
Mrs. Keifer's receptions have become as
distinctive feature of Wednesday as the
Cabinet receptions. She gathers around her
an exceptionally agreeable circle of ladies,
and her parlors are crowded to the last
point. 1t is notably reception Of elegant
toilets, and the mass of color, lighted with
the sheen Of satins, brocades and jewels and
glowing with the warm tints of velvet and
Kensington embroideries make it a pleasing
thing to merely look at Among
teU terday spepsM Were Mrs nGa Ksfers-a sapphire %
blue silk and brocade, with handsome
pointe. Mrs. Geddes'-a-lees-of-wine satin
with superb pointe. Mrs. Willis'-garnet
terra. Gotta Ottoman, combined with shrimp
pink brocaded in roses. Mrs. McKinneys--
with passementerie to match. Mrs
Lacy's--an exquisite combination of white
brocade and heliotrope satin. Mrs. Bow
man's-a combination of tOrquOise blue
! silk and blue and silver brocade. Mrs
Walker's-cOrsage and train O.
lees-of.Burgundy velvet, with jupon Of
strawberry and gold brocade. Mrs. General
|
trimmings, and Mrs. Musgrave Nile-greer
silk, trimmed with valenciennes. Mrs
: Atherton wore the only all.white toilet il
the room-a white brocade, with pointt
trimmings, and Mrs. Plumbs pale canar,
, samite contrasted effectively with the ricl
blues and crimsons and the fainter tints o
, pink and pearl that trailed after their fai
, wearers, making kaleidoscope patterns
4 wherever they went
l.,,1n 20 sy;u Oh irtto n
O the White House, and Madame Laughton'
s reception, were among the leading socia
o events of the evening. At the White Hous
| the State apartments were all thrown open
f and the floral decorations seemed ofunusua
d beauty to those who came in from the fros
and snow. The East Room was filled wit
G their perfume, and was brilliant with tn
Y toilets, court dresses jewels, and order
X of the guests who assembled thor
@ and were welcomed by the Presi
h dent and and his sister previou
d to the formal ceremony of the occasion
: The table was exquisitely decorated tn
Q somewhat hackneyed style of centr
il "piece" was replaced by canoe of carna
Y tions nearly four feet long. The flower
o were packed so closely as to look not Ut
S like painted work; the thwarts were
fire burning in relief against the sprays
/. leaves cut with them. The cushions tbs
Q fanked this pretty device were
o moss, from which sprung Gala
d their white cups overfowing wit
IS sweetness, and the epergnes wei
It running over with long-stemme
o roses-Mareohal Seils and Jacqueminot
% Pillows of white carnations bore horst
shoes in red "for luck" and the wa
# lights, shaded with tiny tinted caps an
d the fine cut.glass gave the sparkle nece
If sary to so much color. There were thirt
IS covers and the only Americans preseI
d were the President, his sister, Miss Frelini
linghuysen and Mr.. John Davis, the latt,
& in the stead of the Secretary of State wi
4 was prevented by sickness from beir
A, present. The most striking toilets we
> worn by Madame Godoy, the Counte
le Lewenhaupt, Miss Frelinghuysen and Mi
IS West
2; The ice palace built at Montreal for t
$, Carnival ball is eighty feet high, anl
IS clear as crystal. The floor of the ballroo
is a solid sheet of ice, and the dancing W
l. all be done on skates. The costumes to
rs worn arc many of them original and {
al pretty, particularly those that have go
IS up with our New York and Philadclph
l. bellies. The city authorities have given
D. two Of the best streets for two days to t
r "Toboggan Club" and vehicles of all sol
are kept out "under penalty of the law
IN SO the toboggans and their occupants C
S. coast without danger.
of The resignation of Master Slack, U. S. !
he is a matter of regret to his friends in t