Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-01-07
THEIR FIRST NEW YEARS
GREETING PRESIDENT WASHINGTON
AND Ills WIFE.


Guests-Toa and Cake, but No Music.
The first presidential New Years rccep-
ton was held by General Washington in
me executive mansion in the then aristn-
,ratic purlcu Of Cherry street. The house
itself was one of the finest mansions in New
York. 1t stood Gu the corner of Cherry
street and Franklin square, near where
Harper's publishing house now stands. 1t
was u handsome, substantial structure of
brick and stone, with hospitable looking
door in the center and broad light rooms
stretching far back Oh both sides of a lofty
hall Tothe right were the drawing rooms,
and here in stately elegance the first lady
in the land received her New Years guests
for the first time.
General Washington himself, always the
central figure, no matter what the sur
rounding, stood beside his wife. His
superb physique and his noble face,
crowned with light brown hair, scarce
threaded with silver and llumined by his
mild yet brilliant blue eyes, gained added
charms from his rich coat and breeches OF
black velvel, his silver knee and shoe
buckles STUDDED with gems, his white
satin vest enriched with silver lace and
buttons and hi, hair, powdered, gathered
into Il six bnk and further oruaniented
with 4 r,bron bow.
NO les. in rnsiut was Lady Washington,
who, III gorgeous attire, received each
guest with di;uilied grace. Her beautiful
gown cf white satin fitted her stately form
to perfection. The long, pointed waist,
the elaborate train, the lithu Of sheeIest
lace, folded demurc!y upon the breast, and
the beautiful, becoming headdress are ia
miliar 10 every one She also wore Il neck
lao, ct1 rl, ff Pa ia
1t WAS not customary for General Wash
ing nor his wife to shake hands at their
reccptipns. hut on New Years day this
formal rcgulltion did not prevail, ana
inter the elaborate courtcsics We're eX-
changed Mrs. Washington extended her
u!itt"utl hand, heavy with gems, and
iiHntly bat ,,raciuusly touched The hands
of her guests From l O'Clock until 3a
steady stream of brilliant pcrsonages
poured through tue rooms.
General and Mrs. Washington stood at
the farther end of the second drawing
room. A liveried servant at the door re-
ceived the name Of the guest and announced
it in trumpetlike tones. The refrain WAS
then taken up by Il second "pampered men
ial" ana repeated to General Washington,
who in turn presented the caller to his
wife. rcserving his own salutations until
hers hai been made
The two parlors in which the reception
was held were large, long and lofty. The
ceilings were OF white and gold, as were
the paneled walls; long mirrors framed in
the same deiicatel ints reflected the beauti-
full gowns, the delicate hues of which
showed to admirable advantage against
the deep scarlet cushions of the furniture
All the beauties of the republican court
came in gorgeous attire to usher in the
new year with wishes couched in courtlv
phrase. Lady Kitty Duer, the daughter of
Lord Stirling, was one Of the first arrivals
on that long gone New Years day accom-
panied by her soldier husband, Colonel
William Ducr Lady Kitty, who was
neither very young nor very handsome,
was one of the sweetest looking women in
New FORK. Her tall and graceful figure
gained additional height and grace from
her beautiful gown Of pink brocade, fall
ing in long loose folds from her shoulders
i'll the back and opening in front over a
petticoat of white satin, from which it was
Topped back with punches of pink roses.
Her low cut corSage showed to advantage
her fine neck and shoulders, set in n frame
of rare old lace, and her hair, drawn ur
from her forehead over cushion, was
powdered and dressed with strings OF
The president of the senate and his wife
Lady Christina Griffin, next appeared or
the scene. Lady Christina who was rather
austere and gaunt in appearance, was re
served in manner and in i'll health. She
was not very beautiful nor very fashion
able; indeed, she WAS emiueutly plain ant
n wee bit ''dowdy," / fear for she wore
pown of gray stuff with a white silk ker
chief about her presumably thin Shout iers
aud some plumes of funereaI black ia he
hair.
A vivid contrast to her and her tacturl
lord were the secretary of state and Mrs
John Jay. Mr. Jay was a most charming
man, of faultless manner, and had, we ar,
told, "Demevolence portrayed in every fca
ture." He dressed plainly for the times
bat with great taste His coat of dark
plum colored velvet. trimmed with gol,
lace, his brooches of satin, his long sill
stockings Of pale lilac. his diamond buck
les al knee aud instep, made Il most elegan
attire. Mrs, jay, VINO was perhaps tn
leader of social lie in New York, was yer,
young very beautiful, very charming, an
what VIC would now, for want OF bette
word, call stylish"
She dressed always most showily bu
with great elegance. Her costume nov
lacked none of its usual splcndor. Tn
long trailing robe of pale blue satin wa
hrocided with large plush roses, so naturl
that one almost detected their perfume
The very low corsnFe was bordcred wit
superb gems, aud string, of diamonds an
pearls were twisted in her beautiful hail
which fell in most delightful ripples abou
her throat and shoulders. Her jewels wer
among the most celebrated in New York
and on this occasion she wore most of then
Another notable belle and beauty wa
Mrs. Rufus King. Her features wer
"iaultily faultless," her clear brunett
complexion contrasted strikingly With he
wildly blue eyes, aud her beautiful blac
hair and fine teeth were famous for thei
perfection.
The women of the day inclined to III
most magnificent fabrics and to luxuriou
dressing in all directions. They wore thei
hair very high on the top of the head an
frequently covered 1t with superb orni
ments. Many of them, instead of powde
used a ponHde to make the hair gloss
and where the hair was of a blond tint tn
effect was very becoming. Cosmetics wer
little used for sew % foreign noblemeI