The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-31

Year levees were thus described by
chronlcler OF the time:
AT ono moment ono was knocked
against the wall by sturdy hack
driver and his fat spouse. and at tho
next pressed by lovely creature I'M
der tho protection OF foreign minis
ter; at ono momont tho scent of eau
de cologne and ottar Of roses was de-
liciously inhaled. and tho next the
smell of garlic and odor of birthstone
assailed tho olfaotoriesn
Hams Weapons.
At one OF the New Year receptions
Of odd Hickory the crowd became
engaged In squabble over the viends,
several combatants. selling hams
from the rcfrcshment table anS bring
Ing them down upon the heads of their
opponents with laughablc precision.
And this baltic waNed hot until tho
negro walters, carried the punch bowls
out onto the lawn. whittier hurried
the rabble, thus relieving tho tension
indoors. The British minister. Sir
Charles Vaughan. driving up to pay
his respects. viewed the disorder and
and cried roughly TO his coachman:
Drive home; this is too d Demo-
cratic for mel"
But the sacred privilege of the en-
treo" appears to have been reSained
by tho diplomats by this time. Court
dress was as much in evidence at those
early levecs as those OF present time.
Thus. at one of Tylcr's New Year re-
ceptions. the Mexican minister appear
cd in q 'profuslon of gold embroidery,
the French minister In uniform OF
blue and gold. the Spanish minister In
costume OF light blue and silver. the
Austrian and Swedish ministers In
white uniforms and the Russion envoy,
Baron Bodisco. was Respondent in his
silver coat"
"As there is but one front door. the
dows In departing" wrote a chroniclcr
of ono Of Tyier's New Year levees.
Polk, at ono of his. was described as
appearing in "scedy suit of solemn
black" The diplomats during his re-
sime still arrived in four horse coaches.
"a gantlet of policemen from the
outer door to the Presidents apart
mont" was New Year novelty, which
brought Buchanan much harsh critic
| ism from his guests. Indeed, this
safeguard was described as repulsive
to hundreds. who refused to enter the
building and turned away" But de.
spite this policy one visitor complained
of having his pocket picked while
greeting his hostess-ail OF which tri-
bnlation was accompanied by the star
| Spangled Banner. played by feeble
band in an invisible chamber
| slaves Freed During Lcvce.
A memorable New Year levee WAS
that of 1863. during which Lincoln
after having shaken hands with hun
dreds OF guests. gave an audience a
| noon to seward. vino brought the fate
| tui Emancipation proclamation. for It's
signature. Il have been shaking hnnda
since o'clock this morning, and my
right hand Is almost paralyzed." said
Lincoln. twice taking up his pen. IN
| futile effort to afiiN his signature. III
my name ever goes into history IL
will be for this act, md my whole
soul is In It. IL my hand trcmblcs
| when sign, all who examine tho
document hereafter will say: He hest.
| tatcd.' Then. summoning his strength
he wrote, rather TREMENDOUSLY, the auto
! graph which completely altered tn,
| fates of millions of citizens.
Grant was criticised for cancelins his
| New Year levee. 1871, on account OF
the death, within the week. of Mrs
| Belknap. first wife OF his Secretary Of
$ War. Some of hiseopponcnts contend