Evening star., 1894-01-04
Mrs. Cleveland's Luncheon and the
Cabinet Receptions.
THE REFRESH HMENF QUESTION.
A Brilliant .AssembIage at the
Bachelors German.
HANDSOME ENTERTAINMENTS.

day, at which the cabinet ladies and the
wife of the Vice President were invited to
| meet Mrs. John K. Russell of Massachu-
setts and incidentally, it was under
stood, to have the time for an exchange of
opinions on the social program for the sea-
son. In both ways the occasion was a
great success. The luncheon was a green
and white one, the punches of carnations
at each cover were tied with green ribbons
and the ices that came on in fanciful
shapes in little baskets had more of the
green ribbons attached. AS one witty cabi-
net woman put it. inasmuch as the topics
discussed did away with any greatness
some of the ladies might have had as to
how to proceed this winter. the color Sc
lected was very suitable. The ladies were
home just In time to commence their first
formal receptions and for some of them to
put in practice the New Year resolutions
on which they had agreed.
The question of refreshments or no re-
freshments at cabinet receptions is not
new one by any means. The elaborate
spreads that were usual years ago have
steadily decreased in extent until the di-
mensions Of a stand on which a steaming
teakettle could be accommodated has been
the limit. The ladies in the last cabinet
Kept up the custom pretty well until last
winter, when they decided 1t was time for
them to abolish the practice, and they
partly did so. The most eager. however. to
do away with the tea table and it's appur-
tenances wished that they had kept 1t
up. for with crowded house the refresh
ment table helped SO much to entertain and
divert the throng that it saved themselves
great deal. Mrs. Stevenson and Mrs.
Carlisle. while appreciating the situation as
1t was presented to the other ladies, would
not. however. offer to join the anti-refresh-
ment league, and at their receptions yes
terday the tea table, with its customary
surroundings. formed familiar feature of
the occasion. At the other houses the able
was not missed. for the novelty of meeting
for the first time. as many Of yesterdays
callers did these hostesses, was of itself
refreshment mentally and an experience
well worth ten times the exertion it cost.
Some of the callers who made the whole
round of visits, beginning with the recep-
ton at Mrs. Stevenson's, found Ii was pos
sibe to go to the whole nine places, stay
long enough in each to make a pleasant
call, and accomplish it all inside of two
hours and a quarter, the last fifteen min
utes, and perhaps a little more, being given
TO chats with friends met coming and going
in and out of the houses. OF course this
means that these visitors were driven from
place to place There would be few no
could make the round On foot within the
two hours that the receptions are suppos ed
to last
Mrs. Stevenson received in the flower
in the bay-window recesses a mandolin or
chestra eniivered the event by a program
OF the softest music. Mrs. Stevenson wore
a superb gown of black moire antique, the
waist of which was trimmed with narroSv
edges of sable and fine lace. Only her elder
daughter. Miss Stevenson, was with her, as
the other young ladies have returned to
their duties at college. Assisting the hos
tess were the wives of Senators Vance and
Cali. Mrs. Caruth of Kentucky, Mrs. Lane
and Mrs. Williams of Illinois, and Mrs.
EnlOe. All of them wore elegant gowns.
In the tea room Miss Letitia Scott and
Miss Enloe. In the daintiest gowns OF white
and blue chiffon, offered tea and other re-
freshments to the callers. At the table
Miss Julia Scott presided at the tea fix
ings and made very attractive picture in
doing II. Mrs. Stevensons reception kept
up till nearly o'clock.
The Secretary of War and Mrs Lamont
will entertain the President and Mrs.
Cleveland at a cabinet dinner on the even
ing of the 18th. and the Attorney General
and Mrs. Olney will have the same pleasure
on the evening of the I'D.
Mrs. Gresham held her reception in her
own parlors at the Arlington. Her gown
was of dark olive silk, with beaded net
trimming the bodice. Assisting her were
her niece. Mrs. Fuller, wife of Capt. Fuller.
Mrs. Eckles wife of the controller Of the
currency. and her sister. Miss. Reed. The
group was always surrounded.
Mrs. Carlisle had crowded house from 3
gray moire and mauve satin, and had as
sisting her Miss Alice Berry and Miss Hen
derson of Kentucky, who are her guests
Miss Draper, and her guest. Miss Duncan
of Kentucky. Mrs. Morrison and Miss Nor
ris of this city. Mrs. VIM. X. Carlisle and
Miss Henderson were vis-a-vis at the re-
freshment table in the dining room. The
two little daughters of Mrs VIM. Carlisle
and her handsome young son. who is named
for his distinguished grandfather. were
conspicuous adornments of the second par
lor, where they occupied a sofa and looked
on very quietly and demurely at the people
coming and going
Mrs. Lamont's first formal reception was
exactly as every one was sure it would be.
crowded to the very doors with so many
of her friends, who also knew each other
She received IN the second parlor and wore
an elegant gown of olive velvet. trimmed
with antique lace. Assisting in her hospI-
talities were Mrs. Goodyear, her guest
Mrs. Schofield and her guest. Mrs. Welles
Mrs. Sternberg, Mrs. Henry, Mrs. Brook
Miss Grace Sanders, Miss Cockrell and Miss
Williams.
Mrs Olney gave a very pleasant quarter
of an hour to her callers and was assisted
in her duties by her sister, Miss Thomas of
Boston. Miss Mary Thomas. their attractive
young niece. Miss HaEllin and Miss Jennie
Hamiin, sisters of the assistant secretary
Of the treasury. interesting young ladies' I
and Miss Keats Rodgers.
Mrs. Bissell. looking thoroughly restored
after her recent severe illness and the wor-
ry incident on the illness of her little
daughter last week, had a very large and
pleasant reception. Her gown was rich
combination of deep red velvet and black
chiffon, and it was immensely becoming.
Assisting here were Mrs. Fitch and her
sister. Miss Campau; Mrs. Thurber. Miss
Goodwin of Baltimore, and Miss Fowler of
New York.
Miss Herbert had as usual a crowded re-
ception. She presides very gracefully over
her fathers home and wore yesterday a
becoming toilet Of light brown satin and
pale blue bengaline. Assisting here were
Mrs. Ramsey. Mrs. Mannix. Mrs. Cook
Miss Edith Buell., her guest. Miss Almy
and Mrs. Micou, who is pleasantly remem-
bered as Miss Herbert of a few winters
ago.
The Secretary of the Interior received
with his wife in the pretty artistic silver
and blue parlor of their X street home.
The hostess wore a dainty toilet of pale
blue striped satin, prettily trimmed with
lace and charmed all who were either re-
newing an acquaintance or were meeting
her for the first time.
Miss Morton received alone at her apart
ments at the Portland. and was constantly
surrounded by callers. " no found a chat with
her one of the pleasing remembrances of
the first cabinet day.
The first of the Bachelors cotillions was
given last night at the Rifles Hall. That 1t
was great success Is only repeating what
has always been said of these hospitalities
on the part of the Bachelors, and which
seemed doubly true last night. 1t was a
red ball. Vivid red draperies covered the
windows and doorways and frightened the
stage and the gallery where the Marine