The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-04-23

| vary attractive woman was Mrs.. James Beck
| man. who was Miss Janet Keteitss: there IL q
| portrait OF her IN this book. An extant letter
OF Mrs ". x Smith. the daughter Of John
Adams. contains an account ri q dinner given
By Mrs. Jay to the diplomatic corps in May.
1888 Among the American guests present
| were Gen. James Armstrong. tho defender Of
Germantown In 1777: Mr.. Arthur Lee. who
had been active after . fashion In diplomatic
work abroad: Mr.. and Mrs. John Watts. Mr..
william Bingham OF Philadelphia. reputed
the richest man in Fennsylvania and Mr.. John
Kean. who had been since 17S5 q delegate 10
the Continental Congress from South Carolina.
When Washington was ineugurated Presf-
dent he OF course superseded jay as the head
OF New York society. It seems. however. that
he lived very plainly. except on state occasions.
Paine winRate tells OF n dinner the day after
Mrs. Washington had arrived in New York:
tho chief said grace and dined on boiled leg
OF mutton. After dessert. one glass OF vino
was offered to ench guest. and when It had
been drunk the President rose and led the way
to the drawing room.' The Presidents levees.
however. were moro courtly than those
held by any eS his SUCCESSORS. None
were admitted to the levees. or to the
drawing rooms.'e except those who had q right
to appear there. either through official sta
ton or established social position: full
dress was required OF ALL What the
ladies wore when presented to Mrs. Washing
ton we may SEQ from the following contempo-
rary description Of a costume imported from
Paris. This was "a celestial blue sntin gown
with a white satin petticoat. There was worn
with 1t on the mock a very large Italian gauze
handkerchief. with satin bordered stripes.
The headdress with this costume was a pouf
OF Rauze in the form OF n globe. the head piece
Of which was made OF white satin. having a
double wing in large plaits and trimmed with
a large wreath OF artificial roses. which fell
from the left at the top to the right at the bot
tom In front. and the reverse behind. The
hair was dressed all over in detached curls.
four OF which fell on each side OF the
neck.s and wore relieved behind by
q floating chignon. The shoes were
made Of celestial blue satin with rose-colored
rosettcs." AS for the men. they wore during
the day very long blue riding coats. the but
tons OF which were made Of steel. the waist
coat being OF q scarlet color and the knee
breeches yellow. The Shoes were low and tied
with strings: but above Thorn were fastened
CATERS made Of polished leather and running
up nearly to the knee. For evening dress the
CATERS wore omitted. and the legs moro or
less genuine as to shapel were encased In Six
stockings. 1t was not until 1900 that dark or
black cloth took the place Of colored stuhs for
tho dress OF gentlemen.
The editor closes his chapter on New York
society ct the epoch under review with an ac-
count OF a ball given By the French Minister.
the Marquis de Moustier. at his house oppo-
site the Bowling Green. It seems that Elias
Boudinot OF New Jersey. who was present, has
left nm enthusiastic description OF tho affair:
After the President arrived. a company OF
eight couple formed in the other room and
entered two by two and began a mos. curious
dance called En- Ballet. Four Of the gentlemen
we're dressed In French reglmentals and four
in American uniform: FOUR Of the ladies. with
blue ribbons round their heads and the Amer
lean flowers. and four with rcd ribbons and
flowers o: France. These danced In q very
curious manner. sometimes two and two.
sometimes four couple and four couple. and
then in a moment altogether. 1t formed great
entertainment for the spectators. and showed
a happy union between the two nations.
Three rooms were filled and the fourth
was most elegantly set of rs a place for re-
freshment. A long table crossed this room
from wall to wall. The whole wall inside was
covered with shelves. filled with cakes. oranges.
apples. ice creams. wines OF all sorts. &c. and
highly lighted up. Anumber OF servants from
behind The table supplied the guests with
everything they wanted from time to time as
they came in to refresh themselves. which
they did as often as = party had done dancing
and made way for another. We retired
about 10 o'clock. in the height OF the ~jollity."
We will only add that the then prevailing
custom Of pref1ing the title lady to the
names Of married women occupying n
distinguished social position not only
seems amusing to us now but was
ridiculed at the time. Childs's Daily Al
~rertisr. reprinted from the Albany Register
an article which set forth q number Of laugh
able quotations from the court journal Of 1900.
and ended by declaring that the only title
properly awarded was that Of the Marquise do
Brehan. 1t is. in fact. we'll known to every
student Of American history that 100 years
ago Now Workers had a much moro pro-
nounced hankering after titles than they have
now. Many thought that the President ought
to be addressed as Serene Highness. and Gen.
Muhlenberg suggested the title OF High
Miehtiness. There was a party in the Con-
gress which commended desperately for His
EIcellenoy. and. although the title was repu-
dated. and Is therefore unlawful. 1t still lin
gers in popular use. II. W. II.