The Portland daily press., 1884-02-14
Notes from Washington.
brilliant and busy Week i'm siciety
Circles at the Cnpital-sOmc of the Dis
tinguished Parties, Dinners and Recep-
tisns.
Special Correspondents Of the Pross.)

Especial Correspond ence Of the Press)
WARRINGTON Feb. II.
The society world is making the best of its
time now. Only couple OF weeks remain un-
I'll Lsnt and the result is that every moment is
being made use Of. The bad weathar Of the
past ten days has somewhat interfered with
pleasures of this nature bat as the space this
side of Lent narrows the necessity of action in-
creases The social events of the present week
mag be counted By scores and not few OF
them of such general importance as to demand
special sttention. A few Of the ladies who
have found the duties of the season vory labor
ious have closed their doors, bat they are
greatly in the minority. At the White House
and in Congressional and Diplomatic circles
everybody is busy. Secretary Frelinghuysen's
second diplomatic dinner on Monday evening
was largely attended and greatly enjoyed
Last evening the principal event was the re-
ception to the Diplomatic Corps, to which the
Army and Navy officers and members of Con-
gress were admitted. The scene was very
brilliant one, and one only to be seen in Wash
iDgton and at the White House. The Army
and Navy officers were requested to appear In
full uniform and the Diplomats were present
in their most brilliant court costumes. As for
the ladies, it is beyond the limits OF even the
newspapers Of to-day to enter upon the details
OF their elegant toilettes. Some OF the hand
soonest dressing witnessed during this mot
brilliant season was that at the Whits Houss
last evening. Wives OF wealthy Senators and
Representatives vie with those Of we'll paid
army officers, in their attempts to outshine the
ladies of rank and fortune. who with their
husbands voice the language and indicate he
costumes of every civilized nation of the earth.
On this evening also Senator and Mrs. Sher-
man gave their usual card reception always
nunerously attended, and at the Epiphany
church at 6 30 occurred the marriage of Mr..
Frank l.. McElfresh of this city and Miss NJ.
Jennie Caappili OF Norwich, New York, the
sister of Mrs. ID. @. Allen of Washington
To-day there are the usual Cabinet recep-
tions and in view of the early date at which
these must close they are very largely attend
ed Carriages are whirling In every direction
and the ladies, forgetting the fatigue of the
evening at the White House, will be busy as
bees, Mrs. Carlisle, happily recovered
from her attack of rheumatism is also
able to receive her friends, at her elegant
parlors at the Riggs House. She receives many
congratulations upon her return to health. OF
course she is grateful, but il is suspected that
she is secretly congratulsting herself that this
season OF hand-shaking, so troublesome to one
troubled with rheumatic shoulder, is nearly
at an end. This evening also, Justice Field
gives dinner party at his elegant residence,
opposite the Capital, in honor of his brother,
David Dudley Field, the occasion being his
brothers birthday. The President is to be
amoug the guests, as are also number of other
distinguished gentlemen and public officials.
The event will be interesting when the charsc-
ter OF the gentlemen attending is considered
but especially so because of the history OF the
building in which it takes place. Justice
Fields residence is part of the Capital Pris-
ON, famous for 80 many years. The building
was erected for temporary use by Congress- af-
ter the destruction of the Capitol by the Brit
ish in 1914. AT the beginning OF the war of
the rebellion it was used As prison, and with
in its walls many noted Confederates and rebel
sympathizers were detained. At the same ta-
BILE where the President and other distinguish
cd gentlemen are to sit, Judge Field recently
entertained at dinner thrse gentlemen who
we're, during the war, prisoners within the
walls OF that same buildiDg. OF course the
building has been reconst. ucted TO a great ex-
tent, and no one, unless familiar with its histo-
ry, would recognize in the elegant modern resi-
cence OF today, the "Old Capitol prison, with
us many Interesting "reminiscences, yet Justice
Field Will point out to his visitors the spot
where Henry Clay sat as Speaker of the
House, the room which was the Senate Cham
Der, the apartment in which distinguished
men were confined during the war of the re-
Wiriz, the keeper of Andersonviils, met
death on the gallows.
Tomorrow evening Representative Wash
burn OF Minnesota enteriainf large and
distinguished company at the mansion on the
Scott Circle. bull by Don Cameron, which is
now Mr.. Washourn's home Mr. Washburn,
beside being one of the wealthiest members 81
the House, is one of Lhe most popular, though
quiet in his manner both in and out of Con-
gress. AT the White House the President
gives dinner to the Justices OF the Supreme
Court TO which limited number of others
have also been invited, the table being suffic-
lently large to accommodate over thirty peo-
ple In the afternoon Mrs. McElroy will be
entertained at lunch by Mrs. Litter OF Chi
cago, whose home is the Blaine mansion on
Dupont Circle number of prominent ladies
being invited to meet her on that occasion.
street will bs busy as usual with calls aud
receptions the center OF attraction, being Sec
retary Frelng huy ysen's where the usual Thurs
day evening ception will be largely attend
| ed The walls of the old Capitol prison will
sgain resound with social pleasures though
this time even more strongly il contrast with
the events of years ago. for tomorrow even
| ing's party is to be exclusively to ladies who
| are invited 10 meet Mrs. Dudley Field.
Friday Mrs. Redford gives a breakfast to
Mrs. Nc Elroy to which number of society
| ladies have heen invited. La the evening there
will be the usual Friday evening hon at viii
lard's very popular event with the families
of members of Congress and Others and at the
Russian legation, the usual Friday reception
so popular in diplomatic society circles.
On Saturday There is to be diplomatic din
ner at the residence of Attorney General