National Republican., 1883-11-29
THE SOCIAL SEASON.
The Metropolitan Club Has a House Warming
and Ball.
A Gorgeous AfrNir.-The Guests Present
What They Wore and What They Did.


tho first social event of the season, whose
gayotics could not have been more delight
fully inauguratod. For, given beautiful
house, multitude Of hosts whose rivalry ran
TO courtcsies and amiabiitos. an asscmblago
of all tho fashion in town, what else could
result other than perfect cvoning2
Tho house Is planned on u scale as generous
as it's hospitality wide hall divides it, and
Queen Ammo staircase leads M by easy stagcs
to tho threo stories Tho floors are of hard
wood, planed and waxcd To the snoothncss
of tho old Virginia days before the war;"
when It was tho duty of Quo set of
sorvants to keep them wnxod and polished.
The hnnCings and tapestries arc Of rich
eastern stuiis, and tho furniture is up
holstered in stamped leather, plush, and vel
vet. The rods and rings harmonized with
the other settings, and the chandeliers ore OF
hammered bronze, with silver repoussc. Tho
designs on these last are all japanese,
and, indeed, tho lusters arc reproduce
tions of some of tho exhibits at tho Cen
tcnnial dragons, butterflies, beetles, and
nondescript insects fly gayly about
AMONG apple sprays, cherry blossoms "a fay.
orite design in Japanese art), aud usters, and
the lights are made to flow from their stems.
Open froplnces grace every room, and tiles
of various lues further ornament them.
Bevolcd mirrors are set over several of the
mantels, aud these last night reproduced and
prolonged yet further the vistas filed with
fair faces, rich toilcttcs, and celebrities.
Tho staircase, though, was the special point
Of attraction, for over its polished oaken sur
face strcamod incessantly tide of silk, vel
vet, and lace, and the sparkle of the tide was
the light of diamonds. The much-rovilcd
dress suit served its turn too for its sOmber
hues werca n good foil for the rich 'lors. Then
. at the top of each flight row of
feathery plants wainscoted the landing,
the mellow tint OF the oak throwing them
into relief This staircase, by the way, was
designed by Capt. Davis, who has proved him
self as good an architect as he is q soldier.
The ladies' cloak room at first excited the
greatest curiosity among its temporary occu-
pants, for the brick walls peeped through the
hangings and draperies, and the rafters
are still uncovered. But there were two
such handy Phillises," cheval glass, and
such an abundance of hairpins, pins, needles,
thread, and other indispensabes for ladies'
use, that they forgot to remember" tho
rooms as unfinished, until the announcement
Of their coming glories as guest chambers
and Kitchens quite satisfied the interest.
Last evening the entertainment was great
house warming, q sort of family gathering,
for the invitations were oil vested In indi-
viduals, the club as a body having none. Each
member had three cards to dispose of, and the
result was that above named.
The guests were received by Admiral
Raymond Rogers, U. S. N, and no one could
have done it with more charming courtesy
than he displayed. Each person, friend or ac-
quaintance, was especially welcome, and he
disposed as speedily of dozen arrivals as an
accomplished society belle could have done.
He was seconded in his effects by Mai.
Archibald Hopkins, and the governors wives
dispensed tea at four separate tables. Mrs.
John Davis, Mrs. HaZen, Mrs. Bailey and
Mrs. McKeever held these responsible places,
and the tea tables were the center of large
groups all evening. Mrs. Davis wore pale blue
satin, an audacious experiment for brunette,
but very successful one in this
instance. Mrs. Hazen was as pretty as q
pansy in lilac silk, draped with clouds of
black thread lace. Mrs. Bailey-'a swoeter
woman ne'er drew breath" cream color,
accented with white jet, and Mrs. McLeever
made herself so attractive that the color and
fabric of her gown were unnoticcd.
Ices and cake, together with bouillon, were
served in two of tho rooms, but there was no
formal set supper, as the hour of coupre fen
was IL o'clock. To tell who was there might
be summed up In one word-everybody But
it was throng composed of so many distin-
guished entities that such summing would
be stupid.
First, Gen. Sheridan was there, CHEEKY
hearty, genuine, as always; but to the regret
of every one Mrs. Sheridan did not accompany
him, having been too much fatigued by her
western trip and her hanging of the crane in
the new home. Gen. Van Vliet's ruddy face
was also welcome; his wife (who can
not learn how to look old enough
to be the mother of grown up
children) was also present. Judge and Mrs.
Hilyer, the latter pleased to be at home in
America again, even after her happy resi-
dence abroad, were accompanied by Mrs.
Ramsdell, Mr.. and Mrs. Merrick, Mr.. Morris,
Mr.. Bancroft, Dr. Maulsby and his attractive
niece, Miss Carson, the chief justice and his
dat11 TCl Rnnt aftntn nd 20
Matthews and his Bonnie Jean,"
Gen. Hazen, the President, Judge
Mccullough Miss Edith May. Dir.
and Mrs. Yardon Gen. and Mrs. Ayres, Mr..
and Mrs. David r. Mckee, Mrs. Ricketts, with
her bevy of girls, Miss Paul, the Misses
Brown, Miss Eastman Mr.; pavidge and his
pretty Maud, Lieut.. and Mrs. Schroeder,
Lieut.. and Mrs. Wainwright, Mrs. McKen-
ney, Mrs Boggs, Lieut.. and Mrs. Emory,
Gen. and Miss Sturgs, Maj. and Mrs.
Goodloe, Commander Hoh, U. S. NJ,
Lieat. Darlington, U. s. A., Gen.
Robertson, Mr.. Walker Blaine, DR.. and Mrs.
Magruder, Lieut.. Sargent, U 8. N; DIR. Nor
gan 1.-THE youngest member of the Cosmos),
Miss Magruder Miss Edes, Miss Myers like
q lily). Lieut. Winslow and Miss Patterson,
Mrs. Craig, Mrs. Coffee and her daughter, DIR.
and Mrs Lincoln, Capt and Mrs. Bartlett.
Mr. Harry Coffee, Lieut.. Payne, U. 9. NJ. Miss
Knowlton, Lieut.. Rice Gen. Sackett, Lieut.
Lemly, Mrs. Emory and her daughter Miss
Vicky, n large representation of the diplo-
matte corps, including attaches of the Chinese
and Japanese legations, and nearly nine hun
dred others.
Toilets? They were elegant. the favor
ite colors being cream, white, pale blue shot
with gold or silver, black velvet enriched
with lace Of rare patterns and richness, also
gold, silver, jet, clair de lune, and iridescent
passementerie; and hero and thero was a
superb wine color, topaz, or cardiual-velvet
or satin-which gave as much "tone" to
the general effect OF the gathering as
the stained glass Of the windows gives to the
club house.
Noticeable among these toilets wero Mrs
McKee's, n deep maroon velvet with superb
pass 2menterie; ornaments, emeralds and dia-
monds.
Miss Paups, shrimp pink, combined with
garnet velvet, and lightoned with white
passemontcries.
Miss Mays, n pale ashes of rose, with o
sheen Of gold playing over it from the tiny
flowers brocaded on it; rich velvet rcvers,
and sleeves Of nettcd pearls.
Mrs, lIilyor's, yellow cream, with trim
mings of black thread lace.
Miss Edes's a black velvet, with point
and diamonds.
Miss Knowlton's black satin, with sprays
of ofKensiugton embroidery.
Mrs. Benjamin's, superb cardinal satin,
combined with russet tints, suggestive of u
northern autumn.
Mrs. Lieut.. Emory's, pale blue satin (bear-
ing tho impress of Partisan taSte), trimmed
with lace and roses.
Mrs. Boggs's, white satin, with white jet
fringe and passementeries, which were hardly