San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-01
A TEMPLE OF SPLENDOR.
THE DIGNOWITY HAMILTON
RECEPTION LAST EVE
An Exposition OF Grace, Art, and
Talent in Women.

The hosts of lady friends of the Dig
nowity- Hambleton families assembled at
the beautiful and spacious residence OF
Mr.. John T. Hambleton. at 707 Olive
| street, on Dignowity HILL one of the loVli-
est and most commanding spots in the city,
| for he ladies' reception rendered by Mrs
| A. C. Schryver, Mrs. Chas. w. Ogden,
assisted by Mrs. Amanda j. Dignowity,
Mrs. John T. Hambleton, Miss Helen
Hambleton and Master Halle DignOwity.
The beautiful mansion, known to all
lovers of art and fancy work, as a temple
of splendor, was most elegantly decorated
for the occasion. This. with the large
number of charming ladies in the finest
toilets, who were entertained from three
to six o'clock in the most graceful manner,
made the handsome home, for this short
time, a spot that thrilled with pride and
ecStacy the soul that could admire the
beautiful and the good.
The east side entrance to the interior of
the mansion throws the visitor into the
hallway leading into the reception room
of three beautiful parlJrs that apparent
ly had no partitions beyond the hand some
walls, literally covered with arts.
tic works, carving, painting and
needle work, with tropical ferns
and palms most artistically in
terspersed. A soft, sweet sounding
music box discourSed strains as clear and
mellow as the soothing rays of light
thrown from the handsome chandeliers
that hung about the rooms in rich pro-
fusion. The tables, carved of the hard
mesquite, red cherry, Texas and northern
walnut by the readily faShionng hands of
Mrs. Amanda j. DignOwity, whose skill
and talent in this direction has gained
for her an enviable distinction
abroad as well as at home, were every
where covered with flowers the beautiful
products of nature. and flowers OF wax as
deceptively natural, as the sweet scented
Easter lily and delicate fern, that helped
beautify these parlorS of art and SplpndOr
which presented to the visitors sight of
the collection of Such works as Mrs.
Dignowity was able to accumulate in the
past seventy years.
There is yet one thing to be seen, some
thing not from the brush, needle or chiSel,
and yet fine display Of artistic talent.
1t is the grotto leading from the reception
rooms into the dining hall. You walk
moss covers the sides about you as
though growing from out the walls, and
above you, hanging down as nature
places it on the forest oaks. it makes a
beautiful Ceiling. From this moss COW
cred surface hang number oflarge lights
which shed mystic glow over
the surroundings. Here were the stands,
presided over with admirable graceful
ness by the various ladies. Frippe. de-
liciOus drink. was in charge of Miss Lee
Epson. Miss Sullivan presided over the
chocolate stand, and Mrs. DR.. Trolinger
over the coffee. This grotto, with the in
cessant stream of charming groups
to and from the dining hall, present
ed lively little mart, where beauty,
fashion and dignity shone uppermoSt.
The dining hall. plain but neatly deco
rated, contained table gorgeouSly laden
and most artistically decorated. Here
| Mesdamas Chas. DignOwity. James V.
Dignowity, Henry l.. Dignowity and Mrs.
John BollOns saw that the ladies were
most bountifully served with rich pal
atable refreshments suppl ID for the occa =
sion.
Finally darkness enveloped the outside
world, and the Hambleton mansion
sparkled and g'istened with the bright.
clear lights within, and the large host OF
ladies who had come in attendance of
this, one of the finest ladies' receptions:
in point of Splendor, smOothneSs and
gracefulness. known in the annals OF San
Antonio society left. After the ladies
| had departed, the husbands of the ladies
receiving. entered the grOtto and par
took of the refreshments, drinking to
health and prosperity Of the hosts OF
| beautiful ladies, whose presence had cast
a beneticent, charm tover the handsome
Hambleton mansion and its surround
| ingS.