National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-22
A FESTAL LENT.
Tho Shadows Of tho Sackcloth Relieved by
the BrillianCy Of the Ball
A Round Of Gayetios and Festivities
for the Coming Week.
The Splendors Of the Micaromo Masquerade at the
British Minister'S
Mrs. MCEiroy's Reception Tonight
Other Social Mention.

The first real Mi.Carame or mid. Lent masked
ball which Washington society has enjoyed
for many years, if ever before, was given at
the British legation Thursday night Tho
Mi-Careme festivities are observed in Euro
pean and Catholic countries, and at Florence,
Venice, and Rome are often as brilliant as
tho great carnival fotes. The observance of
the custom dates back to period nearly as
remote as the carnival, aud to pleasure loving
races is most necessary relief to the con-
tinued rigors of Lent. Being sanctioned by tho
church all good Catholics are free to indulge
in this mid-Lent carnival, which always
concludes at tho midnight hour. For this
ball Miss Wost gave verbal invitations to her
young friends, and Mr. Howard, secretary of
the legation, gave tho invitations for her to
such gentlemen Us were to be favored on this
occasion. Tho company began to assemble
before 8 o'clock. all Of the ladies' with the
exception of the chaporOnes wearing masks
and dominos. and many gentlemen disguis-
ing themselves by the addition of false Boards
noses, wigs and dominos.
Mr. West received tho merry company ut
tho doorway of the blue drawing room, as
sisted by Mrs Henry Howard, and Miss
West, after greeting the greater number of
the ladies upstairs donned O pink domino
and mingled with hor guests. There wero
over 100 people present, more than two-thirds
of them wearing tho regulation mask and
domino. All of the mombers of the diplc-
matic corps were invited, aud they entered
with much spirit into tho affair and kept up
tho gaiety. Mrs. McElroy and Madame de
Strive came shortly before the gong sounded
for unmasking, but both wore conventional
evening dresses. Baroness Fava, wife of tho
Italian minister, wore blue domino in the
early part of the evening, and then
appeared in wonderfully becoming blonde
wig and ball dress of blue satin
and chene brocadc. Baron Fava wore a
bushy brown wig and long whiSkers that
completely transformed him. Countess
Lewenhaupt, of Sweden, wore richly en-
broidered domino of Japanese silk over her
white satin ball dress and Countess OAR
uchot, of Belgium. black satin domino.
Mime. Won Eisendecker wore first blue
domino and then q gray and white striped
domino over white satin ball dress. Nine.
Batres, of Guatemala. wore black and
red satin domino over white satin dress
and curled white wig. The Viscountess
Noguciras wore white wig without mask,
and her daughter pink domino. The Misses
Dominguez wore black domincs and masks,
and their mother sombcr black domino.
The Netherlands minister wore o false nose
and wig. and Mr. Alanst tombstone
a hermit. in coarse frock and
shaggy beard and Mrs. Charlton was in
pink domino and mask. Miss McElroy and
Miss Mitchell were twin mysteries, in pink
dominos and bonnets, black masks, and
green gloves Miss Wallach wore a blue
domino; Miss Loring, q blue domino; Miss
Matthews, a pink domino; Miss Meigs, -
white domino; Miss Biddle, black gown;
Miss Stnrgis, a blue domino; bliss Hill, a
blue domino. Other young ladies wrapped In
these mysterious garments were Miss
Blaine, Miss Berghmanns Miss Beach,
Miac lice
Emory, Miss Stewart, Miss Hubbard
Miss Yulee, Miss Freeman, Miss Riggs, Miss
Ida Miller, Miss McKeeyer Miss Mcclure
Miss Eddy, Miss Morgan, Nine. Bonaparte
Mrs. Sanford, Mrs Hill, Mrs. Laughton. and
Others of the chaperons enjoyed the first
hour in domino. There were six gentlemen
attired as harlequins; solemn Hamlet, who
posed by the doorways; a shadowy gentleman
in white, who presented q grinning skull for
mask an English fox hunter in his red
coat; a number of men in mysterious black
dominos, and two friends who exchanged a
pink cambria coat with one another in the
most bewilderng manner. Shortly after IL
o'clock Mr.. Howard struck the gong for I'M
masking, and the fair dominos fled in a
laughing crowd to their dressing rooms.
In consequence of their unmasking sepa-
arately half the mysteries are not cleared up
yet. The younger Misses West were present
with their governcss wearing simple evening
dresses of white Grape and lace. The Chinese
minister and his secretary were interested
spectators OF the gay scene, together with
Mr. Blaine, Col. Bonapalte, Mr.. Henry San
ford, Commissioner Loring. and others.
Punch. ices, tea, and coffee were passed
through the ball room by attendants during
the evening, and at IL the supper room was
thrown open. Salads, pate, jellies, ices and
an abundance of champagne and other wines
were served. The decorations of the supper
room included large Union Jack and an
American flag in flowers. BY IL o'clock all
the guests were leaving and tho merry mas
querade of the Mi'Carcme night was over
Mrs. McElroy will hold her customary re-
cepuon at the white house this afternoon
from to o'clock, aud TO assist her on this
occasion she has invited the following ladies,
anumber OF whom are residents Of this city
Mrs. Hayneswor,h and Mrs. Arthur II. Mas
ten, Of New York; Mrs. George b, Loring,
Mrs Nicholas l.. Anderson, Mrs. James q.
Blaine, Mrs William II, Emory, ST., Mrs.
Manchester Laughtou, Mrs. n. s. Lincoln. Mrs.
James b. Ricketts,, Mrs Henry S. Sanford,
Mrs. Craig Wadsworth, Miss McElroy and
her guest, Mis- Kitte Sharpe, of Kingston,
n. y; Miss Frelnghuysen, Miss Mellon, and
Miss Bell, Of Philadelphia, and Miss Morgan,
of Now York.
Mrs. Dolph received on Thursday after-
noon, assisted by Miss Odeneal and Miss
Church. of Salem, Greg. Miss Ferry, daugh-
W. VI ga ND'' % VI " aShlhEbuH tCITllOTy,
who has been visiting Mrs Dolph for several
weeks, left for New York early in the week.
Gen. and Mrs. Grant are settled at the
Arlington for Il months stay, and are daily
besieged by callers The general Is following
n strict regime, and hopes soon to be fully
restored. At present he is unable to make
any visits or accept any invitations out,
Mrs Warner Miller had many callers on
Thursday afternoon, aud was assisted in re-
ceiving by her mother aud sister, Mrs and
Miss Churchill Mrs. Churchill leaves in a
few days for her home, but Miss Churchill
will remain for several weeks yet.
Senator Hill gave dinner party on Thurs.
day evening, ut which there were present
Senators Blair, Bowen, Groome, Sawyer,
Maxey, Plumb, Wilson, Salisbury, Jackson.
Palmer. Dolph Gibson, Morgan, and Pugh,
and Judge Scholeld.
Miss Lucy Frelinghuysen, who has been in
New York for the past fortnight, returned
yesterday. Miss Tillie Frehnghuysen re-
ceived on Wednesday afternoon, presiding OF
the same time over low tea table in the
middle parlor.
Senator and Mrs Conger gave an informal
reception on Wednesday evening to the mem
beers of the Michigan delegation in congress
and the number Of visitors from that state
who have been in the city this week.
President Arthur's nephew, Mr.. Arthur II.
Mngtnu. of Nav Ynrl 10 nj n a yvh 20