The herald., 1896-03-04

Mrs. E. T. Stimson was the hostess yes
terday of the first notable society event of
the Lenten season. Notwithstanding the
gloomy aspect of the weather large circle
of friends gathered at the handsome home
on West Adams street, and were more
than compensated by being present at the
most beautiful reception of the season,
which was given in honor of Mrs. J. ]. Tay
of Chicago. AS the guests entered the
hospitable front door the first bits of beauty
that caught the eye were groupings of forms
and are palms which stood at either side
of doorw ays, and reaching over the castings
were lon branches of date palms. Ferns
posed thro ughout the hall to good advan-
tage. Out here in this veritable conserva-
tory Of green Mrs. Stimson with Mrs. Tay
received the guests. The ladies who as
sisted with gracious cordiality were Mines.
L. d. Stimson, T. J. Waters, Willard Slim
son. Godfrey Holterhoff, William T. Bishop,
AL Barder. Violets adorned all the
rooms; they were banked on the mantel
and were in every conceivable place
where they could lend their
fragrance and beauty. The dining-room
was q symposium of exquisite taste at
the large table presided over by Miss Dor
othy Wellborn who poured coffee and Miss
chocolate. In the center of the table a
miniature lake was formed by large
mirror. Across one end of the glrnmering
surface ran a small rustic fence. Opposite
this was an island and growing from this
and the bank Of vioets and amilax that
composed the shore were umbrella plants,
so tiny as to he mere suspicion of the
real thing. The whole table was mass of
violets twining in and out among the BIOS
SONS, and falling in graceful ends and
loops over the snowy damask were violet
ribbons. Festoobs of snilax outlined the
freize, and on it violets and freesia
were harmoniously combined. The tempt
ing viands were in charge of Slater.
Perhaps the chef d'oeuvre of all was the
small reception room. which was trans
formed into a bit of Dresden. Over the
walls smilaX and violets trailed in Dresden
design, and in places, where the pretty
green was caught up, we're pendent small
flowing with the fragrant little flowers.
Violets and garlands of violets and smilax
were conspicuous on the mantel. A large
bowl of violet frappe was imbedded in the
blossoms. The refreshing contents were
served by Miss Kimball, who made
charming picture in gown of yellow. Day
light was excluded, and soft glow from
shaded lamps pervaded the rooms. A
mandolin orchestra was an additional
pleasure of the afternoon. Among those
to whom Mrs. Stimson extended her de-
lightful hospitality were Mines. J.
f. lowell, Walter Lindley, How
ard M. Sale, E. b. Millar. W. r. Hunt,
Cliff Page, j. B. Gwynne, j. W. Mckinley,
William Niles. j. A. Fairchild, Rid9way,
W. II. Burke, C. M. Devendorf, f. c. De-
vendorf, j. r. Haynes, E. P Johnson. jr.,
w. D. Longyear, Wesley Clark, r. e. Glib
bon. +. w. Peck, J. H. f. Peck, E. A.
Preuss. Butler, Margaret Hughes, N. P.
PDft LIT T.s1c
q. Schumacher, w. W. Hitchcock. ]. A.
Henderson, L. x. Tuttle, Frank RAIDER.
James J. Mellus, A. j. Howard, 3. G. Whit
ing, Fred Waters, Chas. Ducommun, c. ].
Ellis, NJ. W. Stimson, Alfred Solano, /. N,
Van Nuys, r. S. Widney, A. Crutcher, r,
Fl. Heron, G. II. Mcfarland, l. L. Blinn.
Dean Mason, J. S. Vosburg, w. Rodman,
II. G. Brooks, o. Wellborn, G. c. Vose, r,
Brotherton, g. P. Carpenter, G. A. Caswell,
w. B. Cline, T. j. Flemming, l.. w. Blinn,
w. NJ. Van Dyke, T. H. Shoemaker, Sar-
tori. W. V. NewIin, f. p. johnson, Nc
Gowan, NJ. A. Briggs, Frank Kelsey, C. B.
Jones, W. B. Beamer, A. l.. Lankershim,
Richard Mercer, Misses Tuttle. lowell,
Lindley, Klokke, Croft, Misses Fairchild,
Davis, Misses Johnson, Ellis, Russell,
Henderson, Carpenter, Dorsey, Overton,
Ward, Parsons, Ewing. Bassett, Clemons.
Croft, Ducommun, Alden. Bloomfield,
Frankenfield, Chandler, Kurtz, It. L. Jones,
Haynes, Spence, Nc Lelian, Cobleigh,