The Evening critic., 1883-01-13
THE EVENING CRITIC.
EsTA BILsHED AUGUST 1868.
SOCIETY,".
what Is Going ON i'm the socinI world


ments that followed. AS usual, she was as
sisted in her duties by bevy OF the prettiest
girls In town, among thom being her guests,
the Misses Harwood, Miss Van Buren, and the
three debutantes, Miss Daisy Ricketts,, Miss
McKeever and Miss Brewster, tho latter of
whom is so'tiny In her proportions as to mako
one think of fairies. The afternoon was eX-
quisite, the blue overhead, the white under
foot, the sunshine nltering through an air as
bracing as champagne, and the fashionable
world turned out en- masse to enjoy the hos
tess crisp witticisms and the pleasure of
meeting In her parlors everybody they knew,
without the trouble OF turning around This
last sentence is literally true, for there was
such a throng, such a lovial wedging OF the
guests, that every one found himself or her
ncquaintances Mrs. Ricketts, stood at the en-
trance OF hor front parlcr, looking
very handsome In a toilet of black
own pleasant way. to make each guest
feel specially and personally welcome.
The table was spread with collation. of solids
and fancy CONNECTIONS, and looked as pretty
with its flowers, lights and we'll filled dishes
at the close OF the afternt on as II did at the
beginning. Sevcn O'Clock sounded before the
last reluctant good.bys were said, and the
hostess and her fair assistants had barely
time to change their toilets for the evening.
Mrs. Hornsby, who was first known to US as
the beautiful Mrs. Skunk. gathered a charm.
ing party about her yesterday afternoon at n
lunch. Her home on De Sales street and Con-
necticut avenue is as dainty and pretty as Its
mistress, and tho lunch was "of piece" II
was served In eight courses, and was as merry
as "dove parties" always are.
Athwart the gaiety of tho season sounds the
death.knell OF Clark Mills, whose long, busy
life is ended by heart disease. He leaves his
fame to his two sons, the younger OF whom
will carry the name TO o higher point than
even his father reached
Another piece OF bad news that has reached
us this morning is the serious sickness Of the
Hon. Montgomery Blair: Malarlal fever COM
plicates his malady still further, and leaves
his friends anxious and alarmed at his con-
dition.
"And the cry is still they comel''' The
pleasant people, l mean, whose ranks have
been augmented recently by the arrival Of
Mrs. Keith, of Boston. She is the niece OF
Mrs. Macarthur and the guest of that genial
lady.
Mrs Preston has also arrived, and has taken
possession Of her quarters, at the Arlington.
Two OF the most attractive young matrons
in the city this season are the Mesdames
Grant. Mrs. Grant, nee Honore, is too we'll and
too afrectlonatoly remembered here to need
mention or comment, and Mrs. Grant, nee
Flood is making many friends. They are
each reception day. General and Mrs. Grant
apropos to mention of their charming daugh-
tors-in'law-are now at Willard's, where they
will remain until tho end of their visit, pro-
vided they can resist the Invitations that
fairly overwhelm them.
Yesterday was essentially day OF dinners,
there being no less than eight elegant affairs
| OF the kind. Pre.eminent among them were
| the one given by Secretary and Mrs. Freling-
huysen to the President and the Cabinet, the
one TO General and Mrs. Grant by General and
Mrs. HaZen-both of which were announced q
| few days since-that given by Mr.. and Mrs.
| Anderson, Of Cincinnati, at their elegant home,
on La Fayette Place, and Ex-Governor Cnrtins,
given at his home, on II street.
| At Secretary Frelinghuysen's the only guests
outside OF the Cabinet were Senator and Mrs.
| Hale, Senator and Mrs. Logan, Mrs. Bigelow
Lawrence, and Judge MCGEE, Of New Jersey.
Mrs. Senator Hill gave a very pretty lunch
| yesterday afternoon. There were fourteen
| covers, and menu that would have made an
| epicure sigh with envy.
| The engagement of Miss Blaine and Colonel
| Coppfnger, y. s. A., is formally announced
! has q flne soldierly figure, iron-gray hair and
| beard, and soft Irish eyes. He belongs to u
| noble and ancient family of Ireland, and Is
said TO have won his spurs in the Papal army.
The Misses Barns, two charming Bostonians,
| are visiting their friend, Mrs Hosmer, whose
fair sister,, Miss Dlmond, is also spending the
winter with her. The lastnamed ladies are
the daughters of Ex-Governor Dimond, of
Rhode Island, and have but recently como
among us.
Mr.. and Mrs. Anthony Pollok have Issued
cards for the Monday evenings In January.
The most brilliant party OF the night was, as
announced, Mrs. Matthews "house' warming"
1t was one OF those parties whore every guest
| present is distinguished for something-the
sort of gathering peculiar to our National
Capital and the Old World. The house is
superhly, designed and finished. and is up
holstered in plushes, Eastern stufrs, and made
bright with stained glass throughout.
The guests numbered about, eight
Matthews were assisted in their ardaous duty
of making so many welcome by their three
sweet young daughters, their two fair New
England guests and Miss White, who looked
her best in white satin, abundantly, trimmed
with lace. Mrs. Matthews wore steel gray OF.
toman, embroidered In steel, and heavily
people people We're; We're in IN white % ygauzes, mus mus
Inns and silks, the toilets Of Miss
and blue underskirts. Tho rooms We're a
mass of brilliant color, relieved by white and
accented by black costumes, but 1T was hard
to distinguish more than the corsages OF the
greater number of the ladies' present
SO great was the throng. Among those
Where n0fia a Ss %ero e'pfsn
Mrs. Grants, rich white silk trimmed with
pointe and lighted by her fine diamonds; Miss
a shell pink silk, made with the simplicity
that SO enhances the attractions of a young
fresh face; Mrs. Miller's, cardinal plush
rouched here and there with crushed straw
berry plush; Mrs. McCreerys, black tulle oven
satin, and diamonds of unusual size
and beaSiy; Madame me-, N%oguiera's; % ,,, blacl
cleaning red satin, heavily embroidered II
steel; diamonds of tho purest water; Mrs
Walkers, n shell-pink satin timmed copiously
with pointe lace; Mrs. Loring's, n comblna
tion OF red satin and white crepe, stiff with
embroidery, The bellies Of tho evening
opposite as can we'll be Imagined. Miss Yulet
is regal, with dark, lustrous eyes, soft blaci
hair, and a cream-white compleSion-all en-
HANGED by her toilet of white satiu, trimmed
with feathers. The other damOzel was small,
had eyes like a dove, n pink blush rose II
each check, amber brown hair, and floated
along In her white gauze gown like summer
cloud. But, perhaps, I'm summing up the toi
let's l can safely say the most elegant ant
noticeable was Miss Schoheld's-a superl
white satin de Lyon, trimmed with row upoI
row OF twisted chenille fringe foot deep
Paris was stamped In every fold, and thu
young wearer's fine figure displayed 1t to grea
advantage. The guests included all that wa
best in the social world, but the only gentle
men who contributed q touch OF color TO th
assembly were those of tho Chimes
Legation, who were magnificent In silks, bro
cades, furs and jewels. The Army and Nav
officers, tho Diplomatic Corps, the Senator
and Members, all presented ono unbroke
front OF black and white, black and white, an
always black and white. The supper-roOu
was open all evening and superb collatio
was served, which included all the delicacie
Of the season. Flowers and lights robbed tn
solid viands OF their earthiness, and the Ices
fruits and CONNECTIONS added to the effect {
the flowers.
Special Cash BarGaIns.
Gbp. blapIk and cO1Ornd shmerasr now hDs