National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-12-27
WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
Interesting Gossip as TO tho Move
ments OF Persons Prominent I'm so-

Tho President passed quiet Christmas
and his little daughter and her cousin
have enjoyed several Of tho Juvenile par
ties that have enlivenod this week. Mrs.
and Miss McElroy arc expected at tho
whito house on the day before New
Years and many of the details of the
Presidents reception on New Years day
will not BIO decided until her arrival.
Society has come to complete stand
still during the holidays, and children's
parties arc about tho only social events
of tho week. Visiting was entirely sus-
pended on Tuesday and Wednesday, and
everything gave away before the stress
of Christmas shopping. The streets and
shops were crowded down town, and there
was little life on the uptown streets. The
preparations for New Years day indicate
that it will DO US generally observed here
as ever, and while the custom is dying
out in all other cities 1t survives at the
capital, and always will when so much
of official form and etiquette is connected
with IL. Unwritten law and the OBJ
servance Of the precedent Of all their pre-
decessors oblige the President and the
members of his cabinet to receive on
that day, and while they keep up the old
Knckerbocker customs Others easily
follow. The secretarytof state always
entertains the members of tho diplomatic
corps at q break fast after they have paid
their respects to the President at the
white house and congratulated him on
the opening of the New Year.
Mrs. John Mclean, jr., nee Miss Emily
Beale, returned to the city yesterday
after weeks visit in New York, and is
staying with her parents, Gen. and Mrs.
Beale. Mrs. Mclean, who has host of
friends among the little folks, has issued
invitations for childrens fancy dress
party on Saturday afternoon Mt Gen.
Beale's house. There is great excitement
in tho juvenile circle over the coming
fete, and costumers are busy with the
fancy dresses. There is a beautiful ball
room at Gen. Beales house, floored with
a mosaic of California woods, with the
coat of arms Of that state in the center,
and the small people will do the first
dancing on 1t since tho series of recep-
tions giyon by Mrs. Beale two years ago.
Secretary and Mrs. McCulloch have Is
sued cards for o reception on Saturday
evening, Jan. 3.
Mrs. Paschal's daughter, Miss Harper,
has returned to tho city from long visit
in Chicago.
Commissioner and Mrs. Loriug and
Gen. and Mrs. Nicholas Anderson give
dinner parties next week In honor of Mr..
and Mrs. John Mclean, jr.
Mrs. Linton and her children will leave
st. Paul next week, and spend the winter
at Mrs. Rines's house at Thirteenth and
G. streets.
The Wednesday club, having reorgan-
lied for tho winter, will give germans on
the evenings of Dec. 81, Jan. 13, Jan. %,
and Feb. IL. These balls will take place
at Marini's hall, which has been enlarged
and greatly improved since last season.
The Bachelors club will give a german
at Wormley's next week.
Miss Annie Irish. translator of several
of Auerbach's novels, and professor in the
Worster college, is the guest of Justice
Miller's family.
Gen. and Mos. Beale have invited Gen.
and Mrs Grant TO visit them here after
tho 1st of January, IA has been their
pleasant custom for several years. A
year ago Gen. Grant was prevented from
coming on account of the injuries he
sustained by falling on the ice on Christ.
mas ave, aud this year he has also been
| Obliged to decline on account of i'll
health. 1t is much regretted that Gen
| Grant cannot come here this winter, as II
was thought that the change of surround
ings and the society of his old friends
would have greatly cheered him after tn,
troubles that he seen during these last
months.
Mrs. Letter has issued cards for re-
ception on Tuesday evening, Jan. 80.
Mrs. Bancroft Davis gives q children't
party next week.
Representative Paige, of Ohio, is at the
Riggs house with his bride.
Mrs. Ricketts, will give tea on Friday
Jan. 9, to introduce her daughter to So
ciety.
As the end of the world is to come OF
the 4th of january, according to the Sec.
ond Adventists, society does we'll to mark
the three first days of the new year will
feastings and celebrations, in view of tn,
gaand finale sure TO come on that Sunday
afternoon.
The wedding of Senior Jose Coelho Go
mez, of tho Brazilian legation, and Mis-
Hatch, the niece of Mrs. r. X. Hit
takes place this week, instead of las
week, as formerly stated. Senior Come
and his bride will return to Washington
in time to be present at the reception d
the white house on New Years mornin {
Miss Florence Conger, who 10 visitin
her brother, Mr.. CHILEAN Conger, at SYRIA
cuse, n. Y, will come here during tn
winter to visit her other brother, Post
master Frank b. Conger.
The wife of Consul General Walker. o
Paris, is in the city, staying at Worm
ley's.
During this week of holiday leisure tn
members of the diplomatic corps and OFT
GERS of the army and navy will have tim
to take their court costumes and full DIRE,
uniforms out of their tarred, camphol
aued, and snuf-sprinkled wrappings, an
give them good airing before they do
them for the state ceremony at the whit
house on New Years day. On all sue
occasions at the white house it is I'll
smell Of camphor instead Of the smell I
gunpowder that is in the air when diplt
mates, warriors, and naval heroes file b.
Of the retired officers, it is said that the
have the buttons set forward and til
seams of their full-dress uniform coats Il
out for every New Years day that rOl
around.
Mrs. Brewster's daughter, Mrs. Robe
Rooms, came from Philadelphia G
Wednesday, and will remain at the a
torney generals residence until the So
ond week of January. Mrs. Brewst
will have large group Of young ladies
4 assist her On New Years Day, amor
1 them being those who were BRIDESMAID
+ at Mrs. Koons's wedding, two years ag
Mrs. Rooms will also receive with h
D mother on the first Wednesday of Il
o season.
Holiday parties for children are to
t given by Mrs, Bancroft Davis and at CO
> Blisss homo during the week.
0 Miss West gives small dancing part
II at the British legation tonight.
IS The death Of Mr.. William Blair Lo
A following so closely upon that of MI
J. Lord was a great shock to his frient
y Mr. Lord overtaxed himself by consta
,. attendance at the bedside Of his wife, al
d after her death was Frustrated by 81
II trio foyer that quickly took q fatal tur
n Mr.. and Mrs. Lord are sadly missed M
If that the winter sojourners are gatherir
- at tho Riggs house, and are most Fl
- nuantlv man tion ed 'bv their MANY frien