National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-01-03
WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
Interesting Gossip ms 20 the Move
ments OF Persons Prominent I'm so-
cIal Circles.


Contributions for he social column ioiR be receired
up 10 Friday afternoon Of each Ccek.
The Presidents reception on New
Years day was a most brilliant spectacle,
aud tho ceremonies of each year of his
residence in tho white house have sur
passed those of the preceding year. The
number of his assistants has increased in
the same proportion, and from the ten,
twenty eight, and forty two aids of other
New Years days the list ran up to sixty
this time. Nearly all of the senators and
representatives. wives remaining in the
city during tho holidays were there. and
1t was more like the card receptions Of
the winter than the stately and formal
review Of official bodies that used to take
place.
Mrs. McElroy, who arrived at the white
house last Saturday. has been quite in
disposed during her stay, and was hardly
able to endure the fatigue of the official
reception of Thursday. She will not be-
gin her Saturday afternoon receptions
until she has regained her health. Her
daughter, Miss May McElroy, is not ex-
pected until the last of January.
Everything this week has been crowded
out and forced to give way to the great
annual festival Of New Years day. The
season opens promptly from this week,
aud the number of largo and handsome
entertainments for which cards are al
ready issued is greater than for the first
week for many years.
Mr. and Mrs. George Frelinghuysen, of
Newark, N. j., who came to make q
Christmas visit to the family of the
secretary of state, still remain with them,
and Mrs. Frelinghuysen was an able as
sistant at the entertainments of New
Years day.
From all sides there come pleas for
earlier hours at social gatherings and
hostesses are heard to wish that those to
whom they send their invitations would
have the courtesy to notice the hours
mentioned on the cards. and come at the
time that their entertainers ask them to.
Those who have lived near foreign courts
expressed the greatest surprise two years
ago when the guests invited by Minister
West to meet tho Marquis of Lorne came
struggling into the legation hours after
the time mentioned in the invitations.
The Marquis and Miss West opened tho
bali at the time decided upon by them
beforehand, and yot scores of guests, who
DrOiessod themselves honored by the in
vitations, entered after the hostess and
the guest ofhonor had left their posts In
the drawing room and Joined the dancers.
Punctuality is virtue of monarchs and
courts, and early hours used to be con-
sidered synonymous with the simplicity
Of republican life.
Ladies who have tried to make many of
their first calls Of ceremony upon sena-
tors wives during the December weeks
of tho session have had the greatest Diff
Guilty in accomplishing the task on &C.
count of tho errors in the lists and direc-
tories SO far published. Many of tho
senators marked as being accompanied by
their wives did not have them here in
December, and many have changed their
residences without correcting their ad-
dresses in the published lists. The wives
of the cabinet officers, who are Obliged to
make these senatorial calls the first
thing during the winter, have especially
suffered from tho carelessness Of these
people. If any ladies Of the senate circle
have failed to receive the cards of the
cabinet families, the blame must BIO laid
at their own doorway, as the ladies have
gone through their calling lists faithfully
during the weeks of the early season.
Mrs. Walter ID. Wyvil had large re-
ception on Now Years day, and will give
party next week to introduce her
daughter to society.
Mrs. Comings. of New York, who Wis
tied Mrs. Blatchford last winter, IL with
her again. and accompanied Justice
Blatchford to the white house on New
Years day.
Representative Thomas and his wife are
keeping house on Vermont avenue, near
Iowa circle. Mrs. Thomas was among
the Presidents assistants on New Years
morning, aud wore her wedding dress of
white silk and velvet.
Senator Beck paid pleasant compli-
n.ent to the President on New Years
morning by hoping that he might meet him
at the white house on q similar occasion
q year later and take his hand, with the
salutation of - happy Now Year, Mr..
Senator"
Mrs. McMichael will receive on Mon
days after 5 o'clock at her residence, No.
9lS Farragut square.
Mrs. Il. j. w. Rooms, of Philadelphia,
will remain with Mrs. Brewster for
week or two longer and assist her on her
Wednesday receptions.
Secretary Frelinghuysen's two younger
sons, who were here for a Christmas visit
to their family, returned some days ago.
The wedding of Lieut.. Mann, of the
9TH cavalry, and Miss Leila Ray, at st.
Johns church next Wednesday at
o'clock, will BIO one of the events Of the
week.
Mrs. Van Rensselaer, Berry, of II street,
gave a dancing party last night.
Senator Jones, of Nevada, IL expected
to arrive next week, aud will be at
Welcker's during the session.
Mrs. Ricketts, had large and crowded
reception last night in honor of the debut
of her daughter, Miss Daisy Ricketts,.
Mr.. and Mrs. Magee. Of Pittsburg, are
the guests of Postmaster and Mrs. L. b.
Conger. Mrs. Magee accompanied Mr..
Conger to the white house on Thursday
evening.
Mrs. Warner Miller returned from New
York on Wednesday accompanied by her
sister, Miss Churchill, who will spend the
season with her.
Miss Rachel Sherman, who is visiting
Senator and Mrs. Cameron, accompanied
them to the white house on Thursday
and received during the afternoon with
Mrs. George b. Loring.
Mrs Letter has her neice, Mrs. William
Pretyman, with her now in addition to
her widowed sister, Mrs. Remington, who
has been here for some weeks. They had
charming reception on New Years day,
the gentlemen who enjoyed Mrs Letters
Inequalities on Tuesday evening assem-
bling again in her parlors on Thursday,
in addition to many others. Mrs. Letter
and her niece were richly attired and
Mrs. Remington wore a simple mourning
toilet.
Mrs. and Miss Fitzgerald, who have
spent several winters at tho Ebbitt House,