The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-03-01


evening in the tea-room of willard's Hotel in
honor of Mrs. Potter Palmer, of the Columbian
Exposition, Chicago the officers of the
Woman's Council of Women, and the New
England Woman's Press Club. 1t proved to be
one of the most notable and enjoyable occa-
sions of the week, rounding up the days of
work that occupied the council with an air of
social festivity and good-fellowship that was
charming. Ten long tables the length of the
room, with cross board at the south end,
were laid for one hundred guests. Another
equally handsome table was set for twenty or
more guests in the upper hall. The beautiful
floral decoration was a mass of light tulips and
hyacinths set in large oval bed of smilax and
maiden-hair fern, and around it were grouped
the guests of honor. Pots of pink and white
azalias in gilt wicker baskets were set at inter
walls with very handsome fruit pieces, and
a bouquet of violets was at each plate.
At 10 2. M. Mrs. Potter Palmer arrived and
took her place beside Mrs. NJ. d. Lincoln, presi-
dent of the w. n. p. a. Mrs. Lincoln wore a
simple black silk with rich laces. Beside her
was one of Chicago's loveliest specimens of
womanhood. one whom they delighted to
honor, since to great beauty and grace of bear
ing is added the greater power of attraction, a
fine intellect Mrs. Palmer wore black lace
gown over satin and black ostrich feather trim
ming. A band of pearls an inch wide casped
with cluster brooch of diamonds encircled
her throat. Her hair is slightly gray and was
worn high. Her manners are easy and her
bearing gracious. If genial presence on the
Woman's Committee can make the Ex-
position "go," Mrs. Potter Palmer is the
woman to do it. Beside Mrs. ilmer was Mrs.
Estelle Merrill, president of the n. E. P. Club.
She wore green velvet gown with corsage
bouquet of beauty roses. Mrs. Edward Roby,
of Chicago, stood next in line. She wore q
Paris gown of gray corded silk and black err
mine trimmings, with a diamond brooch
Mrs. Kate Tannatt Woods, of Salem,
Mass, wel-known contributor to
the Philadelphia Home Journal and authoress
gown.of black lace. Mrs. Mary s. Lockwood. vice
president of the w. N. P. A, wore rich black
velvet dress, with light brocade front panel and
trimmings. Mrs. Lucy Stone Blackwell one of
the most notable of all these talented women,
wore simple gown of black and a cap and
stomacher of rich white lace. 1t had been the
intention to include all the members of the W.
N. z. A in the receiving party, but so many
notable women appeared that it was quite
necessary to break ranks each member consti-
tuting herself hostess in her own right. Miss
Frances Willard, Belva Lockwood Mary
Wright Sewall, Mrs. Ella Detz Clymer Mrs ii.
n. Ralston, Mrs. Mary Frost Ormsby, of New
York; Miss Murphy, of the Toledo l[ornina
Commercial; Mis-. Field, of the New Orleans
Ptcdylcpe; Miss Isabella Baily, of Boston: Miss
tlorette Vining, Dr. Blackwell, Gen. Rose
Grams, Mrs. Staples, and Mrs. Meredith, of the
Commission of the Columbian Exposition, with
scores of other eminent women, mingled in the
drawing-rooms, formed the most distinguished
social gathering of women ever convened in
this city.
At II O'Clock the supper-room was thrown
open. Mrs. M. d. Lincoln sat at the head of
the table, Mrs. Meredith on the right hand in
Ears. Palmer's place, that lady having to retire
to meet another engagement; Mrs. NJ. S. Lock
wood, Miss Frances Willard and Mrs. Carr, of
the Chicago Exposition, at the foot of the
table. On the left of Mrs. Lincoln sat Mrs.
Estele IL. Merrill, Gen. Rosecrans, Mrs Ed
ward Roby, of Chicago; Mrs. Emily L. Sher-
wood, Mrs. Charles Davis, of New York, secre-
tary of the Kings Daughters; Mrs Mary Lew
Dickinson, general secretary of the Kings
Daughters and professor in Denver University;
Mrs Ella Dietz Clymer, Miss Ransom, artist:
Mrs. Lucy A. Leggett, Mile. Decca, and Rev.
Amanda Day. On the opposite side were DR..
blackwell and Lucy Stone, Col. McCreery, (for
once dumb, it being, as he said, 'woman's
nlght.'D DR.. Heiberger, Mrs. Kate Tannatt
Woods, Miss Flora Vining, Mrs. N. S. Chaplin,
Mrs. William Ford Helmuth, of New York;
Mrs Gen. Pickett, Miss Alice Blackwell. Mrs
II. n. Ralston, Miss Helen Winslow, of Boston;
Mrs Huntley, Mrs. Field, OF the New Orleans
Ptcdyune; Mrs. Emily Thornton Charles, Mrs.
Gist, Mrs. Sperry, Miss Cynthia Cleveland Dr.
Ross, Coyne Flether, Mr.. Langman, Mrs Flora
ID. Sampson, Mrs. McCreery, and Others were
present.
An elegant supper, consisting of oysters,
salads, olives, ices creams, fruits, cakes, and
coffee, was served, after which the .'feast of
reason and the flow of soul" was commenced
by Mrs. Lincoln making few felcltous re-
marks before introducing the distinguished
speakers. Mrs. IL. N. Ralston then read an
original poem, written for the occasion, which
was received with applause. Mrs. Lincoln then
! introduced Mrs. Meredith as Mrs. Potter
Palmer's representative Mrs. Meredith dis
claimed her utter inability to represent that
( lady, but she could stand up for The Worlds
| Exposition to be held in Chicago in 1898 She
| proved to be good champion of that cause
and made many happy hits, but for all that
| she pined to get back to Indiana, where there
| was not such a scarcity of the masculine ele-
ment of society as here, although there were
| few specimens of noble manhood represented to
| leaVen this lump of loyeliness. She longed for
her farm of shorthorns. Then she sat down
| amid storm of applause.
Mrs M. s. Lockwood, Commissioner of the
| Columbian Exposition at large, said that this
hour was the pleasantest part of the weeks pro-
| ceedings, and she wittily alluded to Mrs Mere
| diths desire to get back to her shorthorns, with
| few remarks tending toward the evolution of
the woman's part in the great coming Fair
| Mrs. Lockwood was at her best, and she sub
| sided amid tumult of applause.
Mrs. Estelle Merrill rose with dignity and
| grace on Mrs. Lincoln's call. She said when
| told that speech was expected of her she felt
ike rebelling, and, like naughty child, saying,
81 will not do it," but on looking at the little
! presiding ofncer she concluded that there was