The times., 1899-05-12
VISITING ENGINEERS
RECEIVED BY SOCIETY
Brilliant Scene in the West
inghouse Residence.
A Very Pleasant Featnre of q
Scientific Convention.
The Last business Session to BE Held
Today-A Trip to Mount
vernon.

In answer to two thousand invitations,
the residence of Mr.. and Mrs. George
Westinghcuse-the Blaine mansion-wa5
thronged last night with Washington So
clety to meet the members of the Ameri-
can Society of Mechanical Engineers, now
holding their thirty ninth meeting in this
city. The reception had been arranged
as the social feature of the convention, and
far eclipsed in magnitude and splendor
like functions in the history of the organi-
zation.
The famous old mansion, with an addi-
tion for the occasion of a grand salon, at
a cost of several thousand dollars, had
been decorated with products OF the hot
house, combined with electrical effects, so
as to present a panoramic maze of exqui-
site beauty and dazzling brightness. No
expense had been spared in carrying out
the most lavish conceptions of ornamental
tion. During the hours OF the reception
the magnificent costumes of the guests,
the atmosphere of welcome and sociabii-
ity, the murmur of many voices mingled
with orchestral strains in their rendition
OF the masterpieces, combined to make a
scene which will ever be pleasant mem
ory to those who were fortunate enough
to be of the guests.
The large assemblage was superbly
handled Attendants were on hand at
every turn, and from the entrance to the
departure each guest was made free TO
wander throughout the entire house, yet
directed with delicate tact SO that con-
tinuous circuit was established from the
cloakrooms on the upper floors TO The re-
ceiving party in the drawing rooms, thence
to the salon, where the guests assembled.
An elaborate menu was served from side
board extending across the end OF the
salon, over which hung balcony for one
of the orchestras. Another orchestra was
stationed on the first landing OF the grand
stairway. The carriage arrangements were
superb and throughout the reception COM
plete to a degree seldom attained.
Nothing too extrayagant could be said
in praise of the floral decorations of the
entire house, which were gorgeous in col
oring and design. From the third story to
the reception lobby the grand stairway
was as verdant as a forest with ivy and
other garlands that twined about the bal
ustrade, while tall palm trees formed
clumps of foliage at each winding turn.
Entire walls were sprayed from ceiling to
floor with dogwood blossoms, whose snowy
background brought out in artistic con-
trast the banks of American Beauty roses
that were massed in splendid pyramids
that rose at least Ave feet from the floor.
A blush of color was given to the draw
ing-room, where the hostess, who dis
pensed such royal hospitality, received her
! guests. Mrs. Westinghouse wore a su-
| perb toilet Of silver white satin brocade
with bodice effects in rich lace and chiffon.
With the white aigrettes in her hair were
| touches of shell pink that harmonized
I ~
she wore magnificent gems. In the Teceiv-
| ing line with her were Rear Admiral Mel
vile. Mrs. H. S. b. Beall. Mr.. and Mrs.
! Boardman, Mr.. and Mrs. Hora E. Wylie,
Mrs. Hewitt. Mr.. and Mrs. Archibald Hop
kins, Mr.. and Mrs. John Dalzell Mr.. and
Mrs. B. II. Warren, of Pittsburg. who
are guests OF Mrs. Westinghouse, and Mr..
and Mrs. George f. HUFF
The following ladies and gentlemen as
sisted in receiving: Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
L. Frailey, Mr. Cotton, Lieutenant Bev-
ington, Miss Langhorne. Miss Alice Lang
horne, Miss Bell, Miss Marian H. Bell,
Mrs. Sedgley, Mr.. and Mrs. Crannel, of
| New York, and Mrs. Frank Moore, OF
Pittsburg who are also guests OF Mrs.
Westinghouse. Mr.. George w. Jones,
| Miss Sartoris. Miss Rosemary Sartoris.
and Capt. Algernon A. Sartoris. The din
| ing room had the effect of a conservatory
of orchids. so countless were the splendid
mauve pink blossoms that formed the
| floral adornment of the table. The mas
sive candelabra of Etruscam gold and
! frosted silver were wreathed with them
and the same royal flowers formed the
| fcral adornment of the chandelier ~Vide
satin orchid tinted ribbon rippled about
| the cloth in graceful knots and streamers
and the ceiling. fiuted with white silkoline
was yelled by asparagus sprays, caught at
/ the corners of the walls with the ribbon
/ that formed a Louis XIV. frieze The
| grand salon, erected especially for the
occasion. looked as though Aladdin migh;
have wished it into existence, with the
queen of all the flowers to assist him in
The decoration. The carpet was a rich
crimson velvet, and the walls and ceiling
a sort OF white pufiings, sprayed with gar
lands of green. On each Of the columns
that girded the great apartment were
bracketed huge gilded baskets filled with
long stemmed American Beauty roses
and garlanding the entire walls were
Vatican designs wrought in La France
pink ribbons that contrasted pictu7esquely
| with the deeper red.
The musicians gallery showed a dadc
of roses glowing from the green foliage Of
asparagus vines, and from the glass pan
eled rotunda in the centre of the ceiling
was suspended large electric bull
wreathed with roses, pink and crimson
with trailing vines of smilax that formed
lacework around the chain of smaller
lights chat circled its base. A source o.
genuine pleasure to many artisticaily in.
clined visitors were the priceless Cd print:
that almost entirely cover the walls of tht
| stairway, and a gorgeous bit of color wa.
given 10 the general scene by the illglni.
mated stained glass window at the head o
the first balcony. which depicted demurt
maid in a snowy cap and gown of ruby
red.
Among the guests were Rev. and Mrs
Aspinwall, Mr.. and Mrs. WoosIey Aspin
wall. Col. and Mrs. George L. Andrews
Mr.. and Mrs. T. q. Alyord Mrs. Davit
Aiken. Misses Rachel and Grace Aiken
Hon. Charles II. Allen, Miss Allen, Mr. an,
Mrs. Charles II. Babbitt, Miss Elsie Bell
Miss Marion H. Bell. Mr.. James G. Blaine
jr., Mr.. and Mrs. George Whitfield Brown
Miss E. C. Brown, Mr.. and Mrs. j. F
Barbour, Miss Barbour Major and Mrs
Charles Bird, Miss Boutell. Mr.. and Mrs
Robert E. Bradley, Mr.. and Mrs. William
II. Baylsy. Mr.. and Mrs. D. C. Balentine
Mr.. Frank Lee Benedict Mr.. and Mrs
Blick. MIR. Jessup Blair, Mr. f. S. Bar
BARN, Mr. and Mrs. E. 4. Byrns Mr. an
Mrs Francis Cotton. Miss Cotton, Mis-
Clarke, Mr.. II. S. Cummings Mr.. and Mr..
W. E. Curtess, Mr.. and Mrs H. |. Cobb
Gen. II. c. Corbin, Dr. Clinton Gushing
Mr.. and Mrs. Hunker, Mr.. and Mrs job
Cammack. Mrs. Cumstock, Prof and Mr.:
F. W. Clarke, Mr.. John b. Dahlgrer
Lieut.. and Mrs. Hale briggs, Capt. an