The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-11-02
MRS. SMITHS RECEPTION AND BALL.
Two Magnificent Social Functions most
Successfully Carried Out.

OhNcOoStuitJ Vuos
The social event of the season is now a
| thing of the past, and thOsr participating
| will long have pleasant Temem ORANGES of q
| great social event.
During the day the invited guests from
| outside the city arrived In streams, and by
evening the Capitol was ablaze with the
| elegant costumes of hundreds OF ladies'.
The weather was perfect for The occasion,
and every preparation and detail was COM
| plete when The hour arrived.
The decorations in the executive chamber
| consisted of u row OF magnticc mt palms in
the rear Of the room, at the base Of which
was row of large potted maidenhair ferns,
the whole forming superb bank OF foliage.
These decorations were from DIR. Webb's
| conservatory, and were arranged by the
| doctors gardener. Draped over them was
| the State flag and the cOlors OF the First
| Vermont regiment in the late war. The
| decorations were modest in their concep-
| ton, and altogether more effective for that
| reason.
| AT $3.50 o'clock the doors were opened to
the apparently endless line of guests, and
the tormalty of receiving began. The re-
| ceiving party as arranged by General Peck
comprised Mrs. Governor Smith, Mrs. Lieu
tenant Governor Bates, Mrs. j. Gregory
| Smith, Mrs. Governor Pingree, Mrs. Gov
| ernor Ormsbee, Mrs. Governor Woodbury.,
Mrs. Governor circuit, Mrs. Lieutenant
| Governor StranahaD, Mrs. Lieutenant Gov
| tTuOr h1dDbuT anu Llcub6udub 1ON6Iu-
or Fisk. The guests were introduced by the
| Governors staff composed OF Generals L.
| s. Peck, Gilmore. Bates, and o. w. Peck
aud Colonies Booth, Stranshan, Chaffee,
Bingham, j. &. Brown, Hinman, Emery
w. ii. Brown and Nelson. General Estey
| also assisted
The rooms OF the clerk and assistant clerk
| OF the House were used by the ladies to
leave their wraps, ami the guests were ush-
| cred into the hall OF the House until the
| pr recession formed.
The vestibule was filed with cut flowers
in vases; the effect to the eye aud sense OF
smell was most pleasing
| Thoroughly excellent music was fur
nished by the Montpelier military band, re-
enforced by two pieces from Burlington.
| The relatives and immediate friends of
Gov. and Mrs Smith forming the Guberna-
tional party were: Madame j. Gregory Smith,
Miss Annie b. Smith, Mr.. and Mrs. o. q.
Stevens, Mr.. and Mrs. George g. Smith,
| Mrs Ii. f. James, Mrs. FL. X. James, Hon.
and Mrs. +. 5. Stranahan.
A brief description of the costumes OF the
| ladies of the receiving party Mrs. Smith,
Duchess satin and lace, point lace TRIM
! mings and diamond ornaments; Mrs. Lieut..
Gov. Bates, black satin. cameo and pearls;
| Madame j. Gregory Smith, silver grey bro
| eau cd satin diamonds; Mrs. Pingree, gray
brocaded satin and diamonds; Mrs. Ofms-
bee, violet silk, diamonds; Mrs. Woodbury.,
| black grenadine, trimmed with white, dla-
monds; Mrs. Grou violet silk and chiffon;
Mrs. Stranahan, duchess satin with bro
caded lace front, seed pearls, diamonds and
opals; Mrs. Mansur, black satin, lace trim
| mings, diamond ornaments; Mrs. Fisk, yell
low silk, black velvet trimmings, diamonds.
| The lad es of the receiving party each car
ried magnificent boquet of roses, present.
ed by the staff.
The crush was Unprecedented, and in
| point of attendance and costumes far ex-
ceeded anything OF the kind ever seen in
the State. The line at late hour appeared
to be amending and hardly IT ached an end
some time after the expected hour.
Photographer Chandler Of st. Adams took
a sue cessful fashight view of the room and
| party at the conclusion of the reception.
When the end finally came the party took
carriages in waiting and drove to the ball
room. Here everything was in waiting for
the guests.
used in the decorations of the hall and in
every detail. The galleries we're festooned
| with the national colors, with streamers
radiatiDg from the GENRE Of the roof in
every direction. The shield of the State
| occupied u prominent position on the gal
ery over the entrance to the ballroom,
while at the opposite end were banners and
the national flags. Several colossal palms,
from Col. Webb's conservatory, were
ranged at conspicuous points about the
hall, and the multitude Of electric lights
cleaning from the banner decorations made
an effect of dazzling beauty.
The dancing began shortly before eleven
and at 10 the Governor, Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor aud party entered. Reserved seats
had been kept for them, and they were soon
interested spectators of the brilliant scene.
The immense hall and galleries were more
than full, and the floor space was consider
ably enc, cached upon by the spectators.
Seats were at premium. The orchestra
never served better music, and the brilliant
uniforms of the staff anu many other Off
Gers present. and the dazzling costumes of
hundreds Of ladies in full dress made
scene 10 dream Of. The festivities continued
until an early hour and all departed with
the memory OF most delightful and sue
cessful occasion.
Finally the writer must echo the univer-
sal sentiment that Mrs. Smith is charming
hostess, emitting nothing suggested by nat
ural aptitude for functions of the kind and
long experience in delghting and giving
pleasure to every guest.
So say we all o us, and-good night.