The Washington times., 1895-02-01
SOCIAL SAYINGS AND DoINGs.

honor of the Congress and the JUDICIARY.
There was a large attendance OF the especlhl
guests of honor as we'll as their friends. TO
whom invitations had been extended, and
also the usual gathering of the self-invited,
which is contingent always to be looked Ior
at Presidential receptions. AS long as those
who come exclusively at their own bidding
and whose names never have, and probably
never will, figure on the list Of invited. con-
duct themselves with propriety, their pres
ence is tolerated and no remonstrance raised
by the proper authorities.
In many instances those who do come un-
der the head of invited, thoughtlessly bring
with them two three, and sometimes even
moro friends, without rejecting that by SO
doing they are contributing in large meas
ure to the uncomfortable oyercrowding OF
the rooms to which they so strenuously object
and about which they invariably make SO
loud an outcry.
The reception to the Congress and Judi
ciary is generally the largest ofthe three card
receptions given during the season, and that
of last night was no exception 10 the rule
The entrances presented most animated ap-
pearance, with the carriages driving up In
rapid succession TO discharge the handsomely
dressed occupants ON the steps of the large
portico.
In the East Room the decorations differed
somewhat from those usually prevailing at
receptions. The effect of having the ceilihS
canopied with asparagus vines, introduced at
the last state dinner, was reproduced. from
each chandelier the asparagus vines radlated
in all directions over the ceiling. The pillars
were twined with ropes of smilax and the
mirrors were in frames of ferns that at the
top OF each mirror formed q broad ledge.
Above the mirrors on the east and west sides
OF the rooms there was massing OF foliage
plants that brushed against the ceiling. In
the corners and window recesseS there was
massing of palms with smaller varieties
massed around the base.
IN the Blue Room there were strands OF
asparagus vines extending from the central
chandelier to every portion OF the ceiling. At
the back of the room among the masslnR OF
palms were introduced with good effect,
acacia bushes in full bloom. The mantels
were banked with scarlet and white bios
sons
The fact that the reception was given in
honor of Congress and the Judiciary did not
by any means indicate that those two august
bodies of legislators would be more promi-
nently in evidence. Quite the reverse was the
case Strangely enough not single member
of the Supreme Court was present and not q
dozen Senators and members OF Congress-
There was only corporal's guard OF Army
officers. and beyond that regimentals OF the
mighty unknown filed the East room and
made progress up and down the corridor an
utter impossibllity.
1t was with considerable difficulty at 9
o'clock that the ushers succeeded in clearing
a way through the crowd sufficient to admit
the Presidential party, which. rs usual, was
headed by Col. John NJ. Wilson and Lieut..
| Gilmore. who made the introductions.
Mrs. Cleveland wore gown oil maige color
! silk lowered in color. with low neck corsage
| and full puffed half sleeves of yellow velvet.
| The thread lace about the neck was caught
in Iaru nlT CT nj diamonds
/ The necklace of solitaire diamonds and small
/ diamond-studded side combs completed the
! Jewels worn. Directly in the middle of her
] forehead. Just over the part in her hair, Mrs.
| Cleveland wore a tiny gold crescent.
Mrs. Gresham wore gown OF pale blue
/ silk fowered in color, with lace on the low
! neck corsage.
Mrs. Carlisle's gown was of old rose satin
! embroidered in jet, with black lace on the
/ low-neck corsage.
Mrs Lamont's gown was of mauve uncut
velvet with thread lace on the low-neck cor
sage and clusters of Parma violets on the
/ shoulders
Mrs. Olney's gown was of light blue satin
! brocaded in watered effect, with gold and
trimmings of moss green velvet. Duchess
lace ornamented the corsage.
Mrs BisseIl's gown was of ivory white satin
with clusters nf pink orchids on the shoulders
and diamond pins catching the lace on the
! corsage.
Miss Herbert's gown was of blue satin with
girdle Of cerese velvet and clusters OF the
| same shade of roses on either shoulder.
Miss Morton wore Il black moire antique
with deep fall of lace on the shoulders.
Back of the line of the receiving party there
were few familiar faces and the room was at nc
/ time uncomfortahIY crowded IS is generally
the case at card receptions.
After the receiving party had taken ur
their position in line the first persons TO pass
through and greet the President and Mrs
! Cleveland and the Cabinet ladies were th'
members Of the 4, diplomatic corps present.
! These were the Italian ambassador, the
Mexican minister. the Turkish minister, the
Chinese Minister and Madame Yang. the
japanese minister the Korean charge d af
faires. Madame Yangs especi ally gay ap
parel attracted no end of attention from th'
crowd. 1t is safe to state that. not even eX
| cepting Mrs. Cleveland. she was the most OBJ
served and talked about woman at the recep
| ticn.
Chief Justice Fuller arrived late with hi
family.
Among others present were Marshal A. A
Wilson, Judge and the Misses Strong. Mrs
Sicard. of Buffalo; Senator and Mrs. J. NJ
Carey. Senator Butler, Representative ant
Miss Enloe. Gen. Breckenridge. Representa-
tive and Mrs. Cultivate, Mir and Mrs
Charles Spaulding. of New York; Miss Queer
and Miss Helm, of Kentucky; the Chilian Min
lister and Madame Cana. Miss Margaret Cox
Miss Frances Cox. Senator and Miss Villas
Senator Proctor. Assistant Secretary of Treas
ury and Miss Hamlin, Major Rittenhouse
Representative and Mrs. Swanson. Mr.. an,
Mrs. Philip Z. Chapin. ..-...,
One would have thought that wizard {
old with his magic wand had visited yestel
day the banquet hall OF the Arlington Hote
Certainly the sight that met the gaze of th
guests invited by Mrs. George Westinghouse
jr.. TO the breakfast given at 1 o'clock, i
honor of Mrs Charles Gibson, was one th
like OF which they had never witnessed be
fore 1t was truly the most regal entertain
, ment of the kind that has ever been given i
Washington, and it Is more than doubtful
it is ever again ,equaled.
The banquet hall had lost all semblance {
a room. For the occasion 1t had been tran!
formed into dream Of the tropics, fores
of giant palms, jungle of thickly interlaC
ing underground. a wilderness of the mos
magnificent bloom, set in q tangle of feath
cry ferns that waved softly with every cul
rent of air.
The walls were completely covered wit
trailing vines of wild smilax that, after vel
ing the many mirrors. were met on eithe
! side by massing of tall palms in the windo'
recesses. This arrangement was continue
all around the walls. The ceiling was COY
cred with an interlacing OF the same vines
Between these palm groves and the in
mense table, at which were seated sixty-foU
guests, there was simply room for the seatin
of the company and the passage of the legio
of walters that served the feast. Some ide
1 of the extent Of surface covered by the circl
/ l,-4 ala hGar iy,oR ic ctr tad n.