The Washington critic., 1886-08-28
SARATOGA S0J0URNERS
A Magnificent Garden Party to Come
Off This Afternoon.
JUDGE HILToN's RECEPTION.
Visitors who Have Left the Springs
for the Season.
JUDGE HILroNs RECEPTION.
MINOR PERSONAL GOSSIP.

SARATOGA, Aug. 81. - Although
many of those who have contributed by
their presence here to the pleasures of
life at Saratoga have left this week, o
number departing on Monday, there
has still been q crowd here and Of very
interesting people, too. The gaieties
have been kept up more vigorously
than ever, benefit balls being given at
several Of the hotels, and even more
receptions than usual occurring at pri-
yate houses. Tomorrow afternoon
and evening the magnificent garden
party in the spacious grounds Of the
Grand Union Hotel, will take place
unless rain should cause postponement.
There are over four acres in these
grounds, and they are shaded by su.
perb elm trees which form natural
Gothic archways the length of the gar
den, Zone full square, and there are
well kept lawns and flower beds
and two beautiful fountains in
the enclosure. Flags, shields, banners
and other devices have been literally
used in decorating the garden, and the
three sides of the hotel fronting upon
it, for this al JreSco .fete. Over 1000
Chinese and japanese lanterns have
been hung in the trees, which will be
lighted after night, and there will also
be hundreds of gas lamps and several
electric lights to illuminate the scene,
A dancing floor measuring 116 by 90
feet has been laid near the center
Of the grounds, and upon 1t the chill.
dren will dance from TO in the after
noon, and the grown folks from 0p.
m. to midnight. All who 90 upon It
must be in full ball dress. Above the
floor canopy is formed by scarri of
colored gauze, and from the center de-
pends an electric light in an opal Ian
tern.
PRIVATE RECEPTIONS
There have been several notablJ
private receptions this week, none
more so than that of Admiral Stevens
niece, Mrs. Barclay, on Tuesday, which
was attended by large company.
Mrs. Hamersley and her sons wife,
and her niece, Miss Wigg, and Miss
Amy Lathrop assisted Mrs. Barclay in
receiving. Mrs. Anna Randall Diehl
recited, and Miss Shepherd, Mrs. Bar
clay and Mr.. Wright sang. 1t was
Mrs. Barclays last reception for this
season, though she will be at Saratogl
until the 25th of September and her
mother, Mrs. Ruggles, will remain un-
til late in October.
AT Judge Hilton's reception last
Monday he returned to his first love
and sang all the verses of "Villikens
and His Dinah," and several gentle
men of his own age joined in the
chorus. He becomes more and more
extravagant in the prizes he gives
at his progressive euchre parties on
Thursday evenings. AT one of them,
where thirteen handsome prizes were
distributed, the first one, for q gentle
man, was gold scarf pin, in the form
of an angel with outspread wings, the
face being q carved moon stone. The
second prize for gentleman was also
scarf pima shamrock, on which
glstened a diamond dew drop While
the games of cards are being played
champagne punch, claret punch and
fine French candies are passed around.
After the games are over a supper OF
croquettes, salad, deviled crabs aud
champagne straight is handed to the
guests. Sometimes dance follows the
supper.
A GIDDY WIDOW.
The exclamation of girish (O
widow, who is plump, fair, and over
flftv, and has buried two husbands, has
been repeated with much amusement,
since it was made at one Of Judge Hi.
toms receptions this month, His house
at Woodlawn contains very fine col
lection of china and other bric-a brac,
and is magnilcently furnished, so
every room Is shown to visitors as u
great treat. The aforesaid widow was
being shown through by one of Judge
uilton's daughters, but was so cool in
saying of each room and its contents
"Very nice" or "Quite pretty" that
she seemed to be "damning all with
faint praise" until they entered Judge
Hiltons own bedchamber. Then the
giddy visitor suddenly enthused and
exclaimed: ooh, what delicious bed
How should love to jump right into
the centre of it and turn a somersault!'
Tablcau.
A NOTABLE TEA.
Mr.. and Mrs. Shepherd Of Troy arc
among those who have longest owned
cottages at Saratoga, and spent sum
mers here, but live elsewhere the re-
mainder of the year. There is quite q
colony from Troy occupying their
own houses in the same neighborhood
at Saratoga Mrs. Shepherd is sis
ter of Mrs. Gould of Troy, the mother
of DR.. N. S. Lincolns wife.
On Wednesday afternoon of this
week Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd S daugh,
ter and daughter in.law entertained in
vited guests at tea from 4 to 6. Mrs
Barclay poured the tea. This was the
largest daylight entertainment of the
season, and was just like one of the
most animated afternoon teas in Wash
ington in midwinter The house is {
very handsome one, and the whole
first floor was thrown open and every
room was filed with guests, Mr.
Shepherd assisted his daughter aut
daughter in law in receiving, and they
also had several ladies as assistants, nj
handsomely dressed. Marshal VIII
sons wife and Miss Mamie Wilson
his daughter, Mrs. Hamerslcy, Mrs
Macarthur aud Miss Dillon, who Wis
tied Mrs, Mcpherson in Washington
last Winter, were among those wei
known in our city who were present
Mrs. George Shepherd, the wife o
Mr.. Shepherd $ son, spends her win
ters on the Eastern Shore 0t Maryland
and occasionally visits Washington,
NEwPoRrERs At SARATOGA.
Several of those who usually, If il
this country Mt all, spend all Of thci
summers at Newport, have this yea
been attracted to Saratoga, among tn