Year: 1869

The Washington correspondent of the
N. Y. Herald, Dec. 90, gives an interest
lag account of a ''childrens party at the
white house. lie says:


Andrew johnson, be his faults what they
may, and by comparison, they don t seem
very heinous, must be given the credit OF
having introduced into the social existence
Of the white house feature hitherto un-
known, but none the less delightful from
it very novelty. The chidrens party
last evening at the executive mansion was
without exception, one of the happiest
events that has ever taken place within its
limits The grandchildren of president
JohnSon-an interesting group OF fair hair
ed little girls and OGght eyed boyS-lnvltcd
over 800 of their Juvenile class to q party,
in which was embraced reception dance,
supper and general mcrrlment. The lnvl-
tatlons were sent out severa weeks preVl>
ously and included the children OF the high
ard the lowy, the old precaution it was
thought prudent to adopt being the pre-
vention Of too many from attending. 1t
was happy thought this chlldrens party
at this particular season of the year, III
these peculiar times, when 50 little sentl
ment if left and SO little charity shown in
public life. Every invitation was gladly
accepted, with but one exception, which 1t
would be lnharmonlous TO recall. The
children came in troops and with their
merry laughter raised a foreign echo IN the
duh walls of the White House. It was odd
but was very delightful to see them in
such a place, decked in rainbow colorS
dancing around the east room where we
have been SO accustomed to End none but
the adult creation in solemn promenade.
They came and saw and were Oyerjoyed
They shook hands with the president, and
bIushed at bis kindly questions, looked
awkward for a nome, and then ran away
gayly, with innocent laugh and prattle.


The east room where the dancing took
place, was very brilliant from the glare Of
gas. All its color and gliding vas brought
out into very told rclef, and, together
with the many mirrors and marble mantle>
pieces, presented an exceedingl ly bright and
luxurious pic ture to the eye. There was
no additional ornamentatlon except few
large baskets OF natural flowers at either
end of the music stand, a few small iiags
and a iestoou OF evergreen in front. The
children commenced arriving at SIX 0 clock
and continued pouring in until nearly eight.
They were driven up under the high Dorlc
portico and after alishting were escorted TO
"a reception room where, after leaving cIQaks
&c, they issued on the broad corridor in
the middle of the mansion n groups of
half dozen or so, looking like living bo
quets of flowers, so petite they seemed in
appearance and pretty IL contrast. Grown
folks came also, some to see how their OF
spring would acquit themselves and others
TO witness the latest novelty Of the season.
Indeed, there were people beyond the term
of minority who came to trip the light fan
tastic toe, forgetting with the happy OBJ
hviousness Of elderly maiden or bachelor
hood that they had passed the meridian of
youth OF this class, however, there were
but very few.


Tho anxiety to prc cure invitations TO this
party afforded a topic Of much amusement
to those in the secret. One fond parent lS
reported as having written request to be
supplied with an invitation for his boy on
the score that he was youth Of such bril-
hancy and excellent parts that he would
lend lustre to any festive assemblage. 9th
ers wrote on the score Of personal acquain-
tance derived from new year lntroduc-
ton. The secretaries of the executive
Office were bcsieged from ,uorning Till night
by ladies of ve7y winning was, and the
coverted cardboard besought with as much
solcitude as though it were the sesame to
the gardens Of Paradise. The ladies' were
well aware that the display would be some
thing more than ordinary and the fondness
of the female heart, especially the mater
u heart, for admlrng well dressed chill
dren in grand exhibition Of 300 or 400, in
large, bright. pala,ial apartment, with
music thrown IN paya riSa m tho irrpsj2fi-
Bile desire 10 be numbered among the favor
ed ones to whom the invitations were ex
tended. Had every one who wished to be
present been gra.ifcd in the innocent d.
have been much too confined to accommo
date one hall. As il was there was harJly
room enough for the ting walzers to whirl
freely around the cireum cribei sp"co Of