The Mineral argus., 1886-07-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
from our Regular Correspondent
WAsurSoroS, June 18th. lss


Brilliant hospitalities AT the White
II ouse: daily meetings 81 large conventions
of nursery men, seeGsmen and Borisis rom
all parts of the United States; a royal visi-
tor from Brazil. and congress talking about
staying until the last OF August. So far
the heat of summer has Jailed To put
auictu- To either gayety or business at
The horticultural convention now in SEES
sion here consists Of three hundred dele
gates. Its members have found the capital
c-cked in her vernal best. aud they pro-
nouncr that best very good. This city has |
become the convention rendezvous of the |,
United states, and most of the national
assemblies will be held here in the future,
that were formerly held in Boston.
The prnccly tourist. who has been here
,luring the week seeing the sights and re-
rciving attentions from diplomats and
other people of distinction. is grandson
pf Dom Pedro. lie is said to have more
strains OF royal blood ia his veins than
any other man living. lie has the blood of
theroyal houses of Germany, France. Eng
land, spain. Italy, Denmark and Brazil.
The late premier of Australia, Hon.
James Service, has also been studying
Washington during the week; and some
aisitin, engineers from France who are
making tour OF this country, have been
doing the same. The latter gentlemen
were particularly struck ly the simplicity
.,r their reception at the White House, and
greatly pleased by the cordial manner in
which the President met them. II never
expected to speak to the chief executive Of
:, great countr, like this in such an infor-
NAL way" said one of the party. "lIe
chatted with those Of us who speak Eng
!ish for about ten minutes in u perfectly
free manner, about the railroad interests
q France and the United States"
Doubtless you have been surfeited Of late
with Presidential and White House social
gossip, but still must tell you something
about how the Prcsident's bride bore her
first public reception, AMI how much admi-
ration she won. The test Of her qualities
was u trying one, and she emerged from it
in "a wav to prove that she is quite equal to
her position and worthy Of comparison in
dignity, stateliness and refinement of bear
ing with any Of her predecessors. In per-
son,l attractions, she surpasses all of them.
She stood by the Presidents side, receiving
the highest dignitaries Of the land with an
ease ond grace that pleased everybody, and
surprised those who saw her. only "a few
months since when she was fresh from
school. Members OF the diplomatic corps,
senators. judges Of the supreme court, re-
representatives. in congress-, officers Of the
army and navy, all rendered the same
verdict upon her, "a lovely woman, "a
beautiful woman" She is well proportional
and a trhe taller than the President. She
wore her bridal dress Of ivory satin. ell
train, low bodice and corsage boquet oil
white roses. Her husbands bridal gift. a
diamond necklace, encircled her long neck
white silk mits were tied above her elbows,
and an amber comb surmounted her dark
hair. But by unanimous consent her chief
ornament was her fresh, beautiful face.
sshe seemed pleased with everything, and
the pleasure was the sincere enjoyment o
youth and freshness and simplicity. 1t was
all new 10 ner, anu tne chTes oi ueT posi
ton had as yet laid no burden upon her
She saw no fawning sycophancy in smiles
no sinister purposes in fattery; no hypoc
risy in open admiration, and she got thu
full need Of enjoy ment out Of all her sur
roundings.
II was thought that the royal scion who
attended the reception would detract iron
Mrs. Geveland's triumph. but there was ne
division of honors. The blond haire'
South American prince was left to his for
eign guardians, the Brazilian legation
while the throng paid homage tn the Presi
dents wife, There WAS no attempt ii
precedent as at most official and card n
ccptions, and the people came in to be prt
scented just as they felt disposed. Som
amusing Incidents occurred, ~, for instanc,
when a policeman in citizens attire VIII
did not know Col. Lamont. requested hin
to stand aside aud let people pass from til
Blue room into the Green parlor; That
right" replied the private secretary, 'ther
are no privileged characters here