Evening Star Newspaper, March 5, 1889, Page 11

STATELY CEREMONIALS. The Inaugural Balls in Honor ot Former Presidents. WHERE THE BARLIER BALLS WERE HELD—DIVID- IN® THE CROWDS TO PREVENT A JAM—THE GRANT BALL IN THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT— JUDICIARY SQUARE BUILDINGS AND BALLS. ‘Mr. Cleveland’s inaugural ball was more suc- cessful than any of its predecessors. It was more comfortably housed than any of the oth- ets had been, all the arrangements for it were More complete, and the attendance was the largest ever known. The Harrison ball 18 expected to bea little bet- ter than it at every pomt. The building: that ‘Was then unfinished is now complete in every Getaii, and the labor, atteution, and money that had then to be devoted to roofing the great court and making the building comfortable May now be expended in the more minute de- tails calculated to increase the comfort of the Muests and to add to the beauty and success of the occasion. it haa taken nearly a bundred years = aie te eonduct an inaugural ball to the comfort and pleasure of everybody concerned. Of the long line, beginning with the second in- aucural of Washington, at Philadeiphia, most of them have required much faconvenience and suffering in compensation for the _—, of Participating in the grand ceremony. sa ational ball. and the trouble has always been that no building in the city was large enough to Sccommodate the crowd. Not ali the Presi- dents have had balls given in honor of their ap- pearance at the head of the government, but the omissions have been tor som= good reason. The occasions have grown with the growth of the nation, and unless for national disaster or on aceouat of deatn in the family ot the Presi- dent-elect their omission would not be thought of. They have always been the most brilliant assemblages possible at their period. TS FORMER DAYS the oid Carusi’s saloon, now the Washington theater, was the place for holding inaugural balls until they outgrew its proportions. When from four to six hundred people made up the company @ ball like that could accommodate them. but as the attendance got larger the cus- tom got to be to divide the bail into two or three among the different halis, with price of admission varying according to the degree of Swelldom at each hall. Later they got to occu- pyinz unfurnished public buildings or temporary | structures erected forthe occasion. Cleveland's ‘Was In the uncompleted Pension building. That of Gen. Harrison Is to be in the same building completed. It is only by good luck and the | Popular spirit of accommodation that this Spacious court was preserved for this occasion, 48 an act of congress had almost authorized its | Occupancy by Washington's vagrant city post- Office establishment. o The much-needed building suitable for such Occasions has never been erected in Washington. MADISON'S INAUGURAL BALL. The first inaugural bail given in this city was | on the evening of the inauguration of President Madison in 1809. The ball, which was given at Long’s hotel, was declared to be “the most | brilliant and crowded ever known in Washing- | ton.” Ex-President Jefferson and President | Madison were present and all the foreign minis- ters in Washington. The company present, it ‘was estimated, exceeded four hundred.” | Pretty Mrs. Madison is described as being | inted and powdered for the occasion, as was custom in those days, and dressed in gay colors, with pearis about her neck and head- dress trimmed with birds of Paradise. From 400 0 that occasion the attendance has grown until, in "S4, it was 8.000. BEFORE MADISON'S TIME one ball was beld in Philadelphia, on the 4th of | March, 1793, when Washington was inaugurated | the second time. There was no ball at the first | inauguration of Monroe, but at his second inan- | guration, in 1821, the **Washingtun Assembly” gave a grand ball. Jonn Quincy Adams’ inau- gural ball was held in Carusi’s saloon, in 1825, and was a very ceremonious and fashionable | affair. Jackson's first ball was given in the | same piace, and his second was at Central Ma- | sonic hall, on Louisiana avenue. Probably the most brilliant of the early balls was that of President Van Buren. held at Ca- | Tusi's. On that occasion the hall that had usu- | ally been large enough for any social gathering | was overcrowded. THE TIPPECAN@E BALL. ‘When it came time to celebrate the inaugura- tion of William Henry Harrison, the grandfather ef Gen. Harrison, special provision for a large crowd were necessary. The old Louislana-aye- gue theater was purchased by the committee and was completely remodeled and arranged with every convenience for the occasion. The labors of the committee were repaid by the suc- cess of the bail, both socially and pecuniarily. Af- | ter paying all expenses of purchasingand refitting | the building, and all other incidental expenses, | & surplus of about $2.000 was left, which was | divided between the Protestant and Catholic | orphan asylums of the District. The bnilding in which the ball took place was subsequently | somewhat changed in its interior arrangements, when, as the “Washington Assembly Rooms,” it became tamous as the scene of some of the most pleasant sociables and reunions which | grace the annals of our city. Still later, during he war. it was again turned into a theater, and, assuch, terminated its career as a victim to the | flames.’ A ‘Peoples’ Tippecanoe Inauguration Ball” was also given on the oceasion of Presi- | dent Harrison's inauguration at Carusi’s sa- loon; also a “Native American Inauguration Ball” at the (then) Masonic hail. IX HONOR OF PRESIDENT POLK. Two balls were given in honor of the inaugu- ration of President Polk. The swell ball of the occasion was held at Carusi’s. The tickets sold for 210, and the number of guests was limited to 600, which, nevertheless, overcrowded the ball price of admission to the other ball | was only $2. The President himself attended | the $2 bail, out Mrs. Polk spent ail her time at the more select preps ny we She was a strict Presbyterian and aid not believe in dancing. so she wore a sober black silk gown, long black | velvet cloak. with deep fringed cape, and bonnet of purple velvet. Mrs. Polk never permitted dancing in the White House. The other ladies made up for any lack of gaiety in the dress of the sedate “first lady.” The occasion was conspicuous for the gorgeous toilets of the ladies and the number of uniforms, the corps diplomatique and army and navy being Tepresented in full force. Like its predecessors it proved a success, financially as wo as socially. IN JUDICIARY square. There was no hall in Washington large enough to hold the people who wanted to attend the bali given in honor to President Taylor. It was Recessary to erect @ temporary building. Ju- diciary squure was selected for the site, anda wooden building was erected in the rear of the City hail, with which it communicated through the covered passages. This structure was spendidly decorated and furnished with all the comiorts and gonveniences of the period, and, to add still farther splendor to the event, the celebrated Austran band of Prof. Gungl was en- gaged to farnish the dancing muse. it having | Just arrived m this country. The expense | attending this feature was very considerable, tor, “ceed but it proved a successful specul: settling all bills, there was a very b: ance on hand, which was divided between the two orphan asylums, which had already been Deneficiaries upon @ previous occasion. But even this did not furnish sufficient accommoda- tion for all the people. Two other inauguration balls were given on the same night, one at Jack- son hall and the other at Carusi’s saloon. Pres- ident Taylor visited all three of the bails in the course of the evening. GRACED BY HARRIET LANE. A temporary building was erected on the same site in Judiciary square for Pierce’s inaugural bajl. The rooms in the City hall were tempo- rarily vacated, and were as dressing, reception, and cloak rooms, communicating with the balt buiiding through covered corridors. A gay and splendid throng of pleasure-seekers assembled to dp honor to the occasion, and it was one of th, most jovial inauguration balls @o far on No e: was spared to an occa- . The “radiant beauty,” on the*arm of the gray before the yet appeared fl zg i , y pereiee I F Bi and Mesers. Thompson and Alex. BR. furhished the gas fittings and chandeliers, the latter being Pronznt , from “ Jayne’s hail,” in Philadel the of which had agreed to loan them forthe aces sion. Mr. Joho Alexander rarnished the deco- rations of the bali building, and to Mr. Chas. Gautier was assigned the task of preparing and serving the consequence. of view, the success be. A critical period had arrived in the history of our country, and it seemed as if no even the gay butterflies of a Washington sea- son—were in humor or spirits to thorough! enjoy themselves. civil war'cast its eh: ows over the ball-room, and mang of the then leading and promineut in politics and society, whose presence had been expected for certain, tailed to put in an The pecuniary deficit was borne by t! the committee of arrangements, some of whom lost quite heavily. THE SECOND LINCOLN INAUGURATION BALL, which came off in the “‘model-room” of the pat- ent office, was more ofa success, both socially and financially. It was, however, chtefly re- markable for the confusion which prevailed in the cloak ba fe soon dja the payee ba 4 when everybody wanted, apparently, w everybody else had got and whe nobody could give. Such aturmoil and topsy-turvy state of affairs has seldom been equalled anywhere. The Washington hatters made a rich harvest on the following day, for no ordinary chi had been equal to the emergency. In the supper room the scanty aecommodations and conse- juent jainming and crofding was also a serious raw back. GRANTS’ FIRST INAUGURAL was a crush that will be long remembered by those who were present. It was held in the north wing of the Treasury department. Bar- ring the crowding, consequent upon the small rooms and limited accommodations, it was an enjoyable affair and a great success financially. Nearly $6,000 had been realized after all expen- ses had been paid. which sum, It was by resolu- tion of the managers resolved to donate toward the erection of a monument to President Lin-" coln. As this ball 2,000 tickets had been sold, admitting one geutleman-and two ladies, and It was estimated that 5,000 persons were present. The Jam in the passages and on the stairways was terrific. The arrangements for checking and ‘ elivering hats and coats were defective. Many waited Nvais for the rédemption of their cheeks, and were then compelled to go away hatless and coatless. Horace Greeley was jammed for two hours awaiting the delivery of is whité overcoat, and, itis said. ‘he swore a good deal in the oddest and most miscellaneous style.” The disagreeable features'of the occa- sion sprang largely from the fact that the access to and exit from the lunch and cloak rooms were by the same door. THE TERRIBLE COLD that came upon Washington on the occasion of Grant’s second inauguration prevented the ball from being one of historic tame for its briiliancy. No such extensive preparations had before been made. A building 350 feet by 150 feet: was erected on Judiciary square especially tor the purpose. The interior arrangements and deco- Tations were pronounced superb, excelling those in any building ever erected before for like purposes. The ball room wus 300 feet long by 100 feet wide, and was lighted by 2,500 burners. On the pendant supply pipes- and below the burners were hung crimson, blue and gold aprons. Beneath these were cross streamers in every conceivable variety, stretched trom chandelier to chandelier over the entire room. The walls to the height of twenty-five feet were covered with white muslin with a deep cornice painted in blue and pink. Around the cornice Was a continuous chain of laurel wreaths looped up with rosettes of red, white and blue. In- deed, the national colors appeared everywhere. At the north end was a radius of red, white and blue, with gold rays diverging from the center in every direction upward, and terminating in large gold letters forming the name *Washing- ton.” The balconies tor music were handsomely decorated with flags and red, white and biue trimmings. It was the aim of the ball man- agers to cover the entire woodwork and make the whole building an illuminated mass of deco- rations. The President's reception platform was covered in front with red, white, blue and gold glazed muslin, was richly carpeted, and provided with suitable furniture. The supper Toom, into whieh there were twenty entrances, was also highly decorated. It was hung with four miles of laurel-ieaf rope. Hot and cold water was conducted to the kitchen in pipes. Everything for the supper was cooked in New York under the direction of a former chief cook of Delmonico’s. THE RESULT. But all the labor and expense incurred were made of small effect by the outrageous behav- jor of the thermometer. Those ladies who braved the weather ignored all vanities and ap- peared in the warmest wrappings they pos- sessed. The gentlemen showed a partiailty for hats and overcoats. The conveniences supplied for taking care of wraps were more than suffi- cient to meet the demand. There was a great rush at the supper table for hot drinks, but the other dainties were neglected. An army of ca- nary birds had been provided for the bail-room, but the weather was too much for them. The music troze in their throats, and they devoted themselves strictly to the task of keeping warm. In short, the cold neutralized all the results of the labor of weeks. and prevented the brilliant success which would otherwise have been a cer- tainty. There was no ball following President Hayes’ inauguration. as there was not time after the decision of the electoral commission was an- nounced to arrange for one. THE GARFIELD INAUGURAL BALL had the advantage of a grand hall and every necessary convenience in the National Mu- seum building. It is estimated that about 5,500 people attended the reception and ball. People began to arrive before 9 o'clock. There were so many carriages that the line ex- tended outside of the Smithsonian grounds and far down the street. The grounds were lighted with calcium lights, asthe faeilities for getting in and out of the building were looked after with care. Opposite the hall where the Presi- dent held his reception a band of sixty musicians Was stationed in the galleries. The dancing music was furnished by another band of one hundred musicians. THE LAST BALL. Mrs. Cleveland did not have the pledsure of attending her husband’s inaugural ball. She ‘was then the pretty Miss Folsom. In compensa- tion for this she has the honor of being the bride ot the White House, More brilliant than any of its forerunners was this ball on the evening of March 4, 1885. ‘The construetion of the Pension building had Teached that stage which made it ne for the structure to be used as @ ball-room. The committee in charge ot the affair had a temporary wooden and felt roof placed over the great open court and a superb dancing floor was put in to cover the unfinished tile- work. ‘he decorations were of the most. elaborate and artistic description. The eight mammoth pillars, 25 feet in eireumference, were each covered with white cloth and then entwined with a chain of evergreens and trim- med with palm leaves.and pennants and flags. The balcony, which extended around the en- tire hall, was draped with a deep crimson. ta} estry and garlanded with yines. The myriad of smaller colugins around the hall, support- ing the baleony. were Hkewise decorated with palm leaves at the base, and rich national ban- ner-flags of satin, witlestars of gold embroid- ery, and iu the arches, between the eoluma: decorative flags were pendant on. si ever developed. Stairways, ante-rooms, the hall were gayly and artistically ornamented in a variety of pleasing aad harmonious colors. In the center of the hall, and ‘ THE EVENING STAR;. WASHINGTON, D.C, TUESDA MOUNT VERNON AND ARLINGTON. Two Beautiful and Historic Spots on INTERESTING INFORMATION FOR INAUGURAL Vi8- ITORS—WASHINGTON'S HOME. AND-IT@. PRESENT STATUS—HOW TO REACH IT AND WHAT To sKE— There has been so much said and written |. was purchased was to preserve Intact the house and grounds, while at Arlington external deco- ration progreases from day to day and closely approximates perfection. MOUNT VERNON, on the Potomac river, ts 17 miles south of Wash- ington, and accessible by boat from ?th-street wharf daily (except Sunday) at 10 a..m., return- ing at 8.30 p.m. The fare, includiog admission to the inds, is #1, one-third of which ts de- ducted for the benefit of the association, and is pata? ago source of revenue, amounting an- nually to several thousands of dollars. In 1856 the Virgin: legistature passed an act authorizing the purchase of the property, whi-h 9s subsequently made for the sum ot $200,000, Nearly one-third of the purchase-money was contributed by Edward Everett, as the result of lterary labor. and to whom, with Miss Cunning- ham, the first regent. thanks are mainly due for the efforts made to secure its purchase. ITS FORMER OWNERS, Lawrence Washington, who died in 1752, be- queathed Mount Vernon to his daughter, in the event of whose death, without issue, it was to come into possession of his half-brother, George Washington. The daughter died soon after her father and the estate became the property of George Washington, who resided there at the time of hts death. Bushrod Washington, a nephew, and one of his executors, inherited the estate. He died in 1829, and his remains are in- terred in the family vault. Join Auzustine Washington, anephew of Bushrod, was appointed Sue of his executors, and Mount Vernon became ‘his property by bequest, and from his heirs was purchased in 1859. The farm contains two hun- dred acres, the greater part of which is under cultt ation. A considerable amount of money is realized from the sate of farm prodacts, which, in addition to the revenue derived from entrance fees and the sale of photagrapha, {s sufficient to meet the current expenses. Whilst the reeeipts are comparatively iarge the expenditures are necessarily the same, and to meet the demand for repaits alone ‘calls foran outlay of a large amount of the revenue. THE ASSOCIATION iscomposed of arezent, one vice-regent from each state, secretary, treasurer, and advisory board, which meets annually in May, for the purpose ot transacting business connected with the estate and conterring with the board of yisi- tors appointed by the state, whose business it is, to see that the conditions of the purchase are fulfilled. ADVICE TO VISITORS. In visiting Washington, Mount Vernon should be made the objective point. To one who has been there there is nothing new to be told. Along the pathway from the boat leading to the mansion the guide fas told the same old story | every day for years, answered the samé ques- | tions, and made the same explanations until | a repetition of it seems like plagiariam—it seems | to belong to him alone. those who have not | been there the trip down We river is a prelude | to the pleasure in anticipation. The Arsenal, where Mrs. Surratt was hanged. the Govern- ment insane hospital, Fairtax seminary, and Alexandria, whose glory has long since de- parted, are the principal points of interest en | route. From the wharf at Alexandria may be seen Christ church, in which Washington and Lee worshiped and were vestry men, and on the walls of which tablets in memoriam have been placed. The old Cary house. Gen. Brad- dock’s headquarters, and the Marshall house, former site of the hotel in which Col. Ellsworth was killed, are pointed out, and complete the | sights to be seen ina city whose grass-grown | streets disclaim {te possibility of at one time | becoming the seat of government. THE TOMB. From Fort Washington, a few miles distant. | Mount Vernon may be seen and its approach | announced by the tolling bell and hoisted flag. The tomb, a short distance from the landing, is soon reached. It is built of brick in simple design. The sarcophag!, wrought from solid | blocks of marble, and which contain the remains | ot George and Martha Wasnington, are viewed | through an iron gate, which are never opened | except when repairs. are made in the tomb. | Over the door@ay js the inscription, “I am the | | Resurrection and the Life; He that believeth in ! Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” | The piainuess of the sarcophazus of Washington | is relieved by the United States coat of arme | j and flag, with the word ‘ Washington” in- | scribed upon it, In the vault at the rear are | buried a wamber of family relatives. After the | body of General Washington was removed trom the vault in 1837 it was closed and the key thrown into the Potomac. On either side of the tomb aré monuments marking the resting places of Bushrod and John’ Augustine Washington, Mra. Elanor Parke Lewis (nee Nellie Custis) and her daughter, Mrs. Conrad, whose tomb bears this beautiful inscription: “If the posses- sion of every virtue that adorns or dignifies her sex could have warded off the stroke of death she would have been immortal; and those who mourn her untimely end are consoled by reflect- jon that those virtues seemed better to fit her for the abode to which her spirit has fled than for that which it has abandoned.” PREVAILING HARMONY. One is im; ly which prevails every'vhere about the house. The old furniture has been reproduced, and the house yery nearly restored to {ts original condition. Visitors are denied direct entrance to the rooms in the mansion. The mark of vandalism on every hand is sufficient explanation,consequently gates over which a fall view of the rooms may be had are used instead of doors, yet these offer no resistance to determined relic hunters. Some years since a woman pe pe behind tne crowd, climbed over a gate, and was in the act of ap- propriating @ wumber of small articles, when found by the superintendent, who after satis- fying himself as to her manner of ingress, de- thanded exit in like manner. A small portion of flax was stolen from the old spinfiing wheel, aud returned years atterwata with instructions to “please replace and ve for- give.” Nothing but a visit this hallowed spot.can convey an idéa of what a Southern home was in days gone by. There are “no remnants of things that have passed away,” to tell us what it has been, but everything remains in as good order as when the dwellers of the home went out and did not return again. ARLINGTON, about a mile fromtie landing on the Virginia side of the Potomac river, is reavhed via the new bridge. The road te the right from the bridge leads through Fort Myer, and commands a beau- tifal view of the city and river until the house is reached, The impression luced upon en- tering the grounds varies with the sympathy ot the visitor, and cannot be relied upon as uni- versal, as at Mount Vernon. A plain, wooden fence to the right-of the carriage entrance in- closes the remains of George Washington Parke Mrs. Robert E. and wife, parents ) who resided there trom 1802, and through whom came into possession of the estate. Tt was confiscated by anda national cemetery opened three ‘ IN THE CEMETERY, years in fact, every conceivable nook and pasty A be plainly 140 feet front, ia built of brick and stuccoed, are the huge Doric columns which pe askceasss Tite Beep PE SG AP > the government in 1864, pe ye eee ne ay ~ for Tun Evawrme gran. ‘Written, ete 4 FORTNIGHTLY BANQUET AND A UNIQUE MENU— THE ROMANCE OF CONGRESSMAN M'CREARY'S people who know anything ebout it, and to my knowledge it has never been “written Up” before. From thie you infer that the can- vas-backers are a somewhat exclusive and clusive crowd, g A famous jastronome once observed that the guests at dinner table should never be less than the a or more than the muses. “Bear- ing this advice:in mind the participants canvas-back club banquet consist. of exactly never more or leas, the seven mem- bers of the club and one invited =. The bames of the seven gentlemen who keep up this unique organization are Gen. Nicholas Ander- son, Dr. F. B. Loring, Paymaster Bacon, of the navy; Jesse Brown, Maj. Thomas B. Ferguson, Representative Edward Burnett, of Massachu- setts, and Calderon Carlisle. Tue constitution and by-laws of the club are very simple. They merely provide that the club shall meet once in pppace r ry Cr eagle g eo Every member is allowed the privilege bringing @ to the feast once during the winter, so tit there are always eight men present at. the. tabie. There are no formal speeches or toasts, but stories, anecdotes, repartee, and bright remarks flash about the board. And now having in- troduced the hosts let me give you the bill of fare, which never varies. — + Half-past seven is the time and John Chamber- Jain’s the scene. That famons purveyor kaows that he is catering to men of fine and discrimi- nating taste and must be watchful ot his reputa- tion. The table is a picture. The glass, china, and silverware—all the property of the club—is of the very finest quality, and fout of the most expert waiters are there to look after the club's creature comforts, shell form the prelude to the piece.de resi * which is half a canvas-back duck, shot at Havre de Grace, and personally inspected by Chamber- Jain before going into the hands of the chef, done to a turn and resting on a bed of hominy. The hominy absorbs the juices of the duck. and I am told no one can really appreciate thé beauties of that succulent bird unless it is served in this way. After the duck has been disposed of one of the meinbers mixes a salad. To be able to com- ound @ salad the like of which was never tasted fore is the altitude which ali canyas-backers seek to attain, and while many strive few suc- ceed, It is with. breathless interest they watch the admixture of the vinegar and the oll, the salt and the pepper, and a solemn hush befitting the occasion pervades the table. The latest gastronomic concoction having been discussed and jts merits passed upon, crackers and cheese are brought on and then black coffre, That's all, and yet its a banquet of whieh Lucullus might have been proud. Don't imagine that canvas-back mea are total abstainers. They know good wine when they see it, and John Chamberlain knows it, too. Bon vivants—the men who spend their lives between a dinner-plate and the bottie—are as proud to be the guests of honor as the average statesman a few days ago was to be invited to Indianapolis. To give a list of the guests would include the names of Vice-President-elect Mor- ton, the late President Arthur, Cornelius Van- derbilt, Tom Reed, Tom Ochiltree. General Sher- idan, and others equally as welt known and as famous. If you know the members you know that the champagne isn’t more sparkling than the bon mots, or the duck more juicy than some of the stories. At 11 o'clock the diners disperse and the china goes back into its closet for another two weeks. . A congressman's mail is an interesting study. Tt isn’t enitirely made up of requests for indorse- ments, applicatfons for public documents, and demands for free seeds, Now and then there is a romance concealed init, Big-heffrted Gover- nor McCreary, of Kentucky, has just been the means of making three people very happy. It came about in this way: Not long ago he received a letter from a lady in New Jersey.. The writer was evidently a woman of refinement and good education, She told the Congressman that a Kentueky lady had receotly been visiting her and happening to mention Governor McCreary’s name she had taken the liberty to write to him. McCreary’s correspondent was a widow with one son, 80 Was her visitor, and learning that the governor had only one son she was inclined to think he would ail the more gladly listen to her appeal. Her boy. the writer went on to say, wus engaged to be married to a very cuiarming girl. Tee be- gagement was sanctioned by both families, and as the boy’s mother was comfortably “well off, she looked forward with great pleasure to her son marrying and settling down. But the young people had a lover's tiff, the coremement was broken off. and in a fit of pique and mad- ness be enlisted asa private inthe army. The girl was heart-broken, and the mother was dis- tracted at the thought of the hardships her boy would have to endure, and would Mr. McCreary use his influence to have her son discharged? ‘The governor went over to the War depart- ment and laid the case before Adut.-Gen. Dram. That functionary wasn’t disposed to do anything in the matter. Of course the adjutant general couldn't be expected to take a very lively inter- est in the woes of a mere ordinary, every day private. Gen. Dram got behind a roll of red tape and a copy of the Revised Statates and showed that it couldn't be done. But Mr. Mc- Creary told the general that the keystone of the arch wouldn't fail if the strength of the United States army Was reduced by one man, that the happiness of three peopte depended on his de- vision, and that tt would be a goud deal better to discharge the foolish young man, who heartily regretted his folty, than to keep him an unwill- ing prisoner with the chances against his ever making a ood soldier. These arguments were too much for the general, and-he graceful; capitulated. Secretary Endicott, always will, ing'to do a kind action, heartily approved of the general’s action, and Gov. McCreary had the satisfaction of being able to write his New Jer- sey Correspondent that her son would be dis- charged as soon as the necessaty papers could be made vat. * Later—Governor McCreary has just redetved an invitation to attend a wedding in New Jer- sey, to take place ip the near future. If the werk ot the. extra session permits it he will . “ Representative-slect Charles E. Belknap, of he. fifth Midhigan district, was probably the youl ‘man in the Union army to hold a cap- tain’s commission. He enlisted inthe ist Michigan infantry when only fifteen years old and scarcely more than two yéars later he was wearing the shoulder straps of a company com- mander, ere was a deal of opposition on account of his, ter age inst his. re- ceiving. his commission, but he hada warm friend in General Sheridan, and owing to the latter's personal interest In the matter Belknap was enubled to weur the double’ bars. And, by the bye, Belknap may have good cause to tuve the memory of the hing cavalry he ee his friend Jo more w: than one. Incident also shows on what a little thing a man’s future sometimes hi port e = Wy eh inpr of mill discl; ni ‘one of the mino’ military ine ‘ing found with a cigar in his mouth. Rreaane jappened to be along at the time, and in a kindly way he w to be : fh rf iat cb | A dozen oysters on ghe haif | 88°Y 4 TENDENCY To ORIGIN: ‘AL INTENTION—HOW PROPLE OF LIM- ITED MEANS CAN GIVE TEAS EQUALLY 48 EN- JOYABLE 48 THOSE OF GREATER PRETENSIONS. Washington—ench lovely, delighttul affairs, which have grown from a matter of « modest compliment to a small coterie of friends to some- thing scarcely less formidable than the more dinner or luncheon of other days. The great ailantability of the tea. as it now ex- ists, to cover a multitude of compulsory atten- tions and at the same time include courtesies one wishes to extend to one’s genuine friends has made it THE MOST POPULAR OF ALL ENTERTAINMENTS, the most convement and perhaps the most greatly abused. The abuse lies largely in im- parting to the tea the extensive & generously appointed Jatitude given to the list of edibles provided may create an impression of exuberant gener- osity, but it robs the tea itself ot that alr of re- fined moderation originally atenssen, ona whieh gave to ita jy amicable charm, destroys its par ieuicsorese purely informal sociable. Teas, as commonly accepted now, are regarded as “events” rather than mere “affairs,” es- pecially in official circles and circles ot high de- gree. AN ATTRACTIVE BUT INEXPENSIVE TEA. It is not at all essential to be both wealthy and wise to give what society regards and the news- papers describe as a ‘ beautiful tea.” Of course it must of necessity be more or less’ expensive, but after all wisdom is the great silent partner, 80 to speak, whenee must emanate that consum- mate art without which a fete, though entailing unlimited extravagance, would be voted a most dull and stupid event. The dispiay of art neces- to the civing of a tea is generaliy found to be of two kinds. First, that which simply origi- Dates and leaves the entire consummation ot design to the eaterer or florist; the second, that possessed by the less favored of Fortune's eaprices, who trom limited means must depend upon their artistic skill tor by far the greater part of what woes toward conceiving and con- dueting an attractive and successful entertain- ment. a re consummate tact and taste naturally belonging to the majority of women ao unpretentious tea table can be set and made to contribute to the success and pleasure of an evening equally with the handsomest t Washington ean boast, so far as grace of ar- rangement and decorative effects are involved. THE ENLARGFMET OF THE IDEA. When the tea first became a positive condi- tion no refreshments were provided beyond tea and some light cakes and crackers, possibly cof- fee for non-tea drinkers. Bouillon and sand- wiches were the entering wedges, and they were probably introduced asa strengthening medium for those who liad a long list of calls to make. Then toliowed salads and ices, and sub- sequently one thing with another until the tea of to-day is scareely short of a gorgeous recep- | tion. People who used to delight in receiving | and entertaining their circle of friends and at- quaintances at a tea without dreading the bills which would follow, now shrink in dismay at the expensive ' consequences. 4 lady whose husband is in receipt of a salary of two or three thousand a year does not expect to wear diamonds or loll in an equipage that would rival those of her neighbor whose hus- band is a millionaire, or who gets a salary of ten or twelve thousand. Yet, unfortunately, if the formes. wishes to give a tea she will stretch every nerve and dollar to present a table and offer attractions comparable to the reception of the latter. This may be a commendable spirit. prompted, doubtless, by a high and unmistaka- ble sense of pride, and in a way it is practically obligatory from the conditions of social require- ments, yet the application of practical views to the matter will show that it is not necessary that it should be as extensive or expensive to be made as notable and thoroughly enjoyable as the other. REQUIREMENTS OF AN INEXPENSIVE TEA. An atternoon tea may be a small and simple affair, but one’s guess will carry away with them impressions of a far finer feast if daintily served, and thie can be done by any good housewlte who has had the forethought and shrewdness to col- lect ty and delicate table and ornamental be had in such profusion in art stores and at moderate prices. It is to be taken for granted, however, that every housekeeping lady has a fair supply of ehtoa, silverware, and table linen, or she should not think of inviting guests. There is no reason why she should not haye, | tor it ia neither difficult nor burdensome to'se- cure a fair accumulation by investing a dollar or 80 at odd times for such things, or even for one thing at a time, such as good judgment may suggest. It is not so much in what the money can buy asin what taste would divine. There was atime when a thing was valued not so much for its as cost, when only the very wealthy could gratify their artistic fancies, though they may have been humble compared with the extrav it ideas of to-day. But now it is that which is dainty and graceful with an exquisite correspondence to its happy surround- ings that larly pleases and fascinates, and this is within the goal of every one whose heart is in the cause and whose perception is equal to the ‘omer or her porte-monnaie plethoric or not. DINING-ROOM AND TEA-TABLE ARRANGEMENTS. In the preparations for a tea a key-note should be chosen, when it 1s possible, and arrangements as far as practicable made to harmonize accord- ingly. It is not diMfcult to secure flowers to barmonize with table decorations and they need aed be orchids Kd very rae roses, either. Say ¢ prevailing tone is pink, pretty and fragrant flowers to suit can be had buy day in market, if need be. where they are cheaper. Tinted globes, hired for the occasion at very reason- able figures, fancy candles, colored ices, &c., may be made to conform equally as easily to the ruling shade. Ot course, when the China matches the other accessories it is more agree- abie, but even without this charming effects may may be produced. Indeed as taste now is bre} in a line with an odd and unmatched fitness of things, allowing the wildest tiberty in selecting the decorations for a tea-table and dining-reom furnishings, except so far as har- mony is involved. which common sense holds as inexorable ag the laws of nature. In the attending dining-room accessories a chipped ylate, which was of my tady’s mother's Weddin < china, the carefully mended seyres cup, the slightly broken royal Worcester pitcher, or the brilliant Jay teapot that has lost its top, can bardly’be available upon the tea-table. but they may make a gallant and perfectly ad- missible show upon the upper part of the buf- fet, or on a set of mantel shelves su) cate little brass hooks fro Proportions in. The wide a ee ee cree Pane © served 3 { i "4 fi is g | & fF ! it i a 3g cf i hl Hs t i | Z i Hs : i Bf i i “1 don’t think Gen. Harrison had any more fan on his trip from Indianapolis last week than portation of Gen. Harrison from Indianapolis to this city, and It reminded me of a trip I took = aoe vee he yes ‘Col. an of i ventieth Indiana volunteers, com: first brigade. third division, twentieth pe, It was in 1864. We were down at Atlanta, Ga, and as the army had nothing to do at that time, the days and nights hung rather heavily on our hands; so Col. a, & number of other officers and myself succeeded in inducing Gen. oa Thomas and Gen. — to grant us twenty days ve. Tis outer was then called upon pad _ to Se train—a freight train, by the way—a car for our transportation, and it waia palace car, It had been used for ten or fifteen years as a car and was was therefore in perteet condition. At that time most,of the furniture ot the inhabitants of At- lanta was stored away in the churches, in ten- antless houses and ja the old depot, so we did not have to go far to find elegant furniture and fittings for the car. A broom soon a | foundation for the reception of an old mattress whieh some officers had probably bought (7) A diminutive and extremely antique kitchen table was di frem obscurity and three or four stout unvarnished wooden chairs were looked up. An irregularly-shaped and small piece of mirror was fastened up at one end of the car and a dilapidated fragment of carpet softened the asperity of a very limited area of floor. What did we eat? Why the very best the market afforded. There was plenty of ‘sow- belly’ and no scarcity of ‘hard-tack.’ don't think we drank anytbing, but I have an indistinct recollection that in j one ,of the darkest corners of the car there was a dusty and mysterious-looking piri which I heard some one cali a ‘demi- jonn.” i Iread that Harrison's train from In- | dianapolis ran, in places, at the rate of a mile o minute, We only bad to travel from Atlanta to Chattanooga, and as oure was a special train we made the run of 150 miles inaday and a half. We were sidetracked, out of to our right-ol-way. at every way-station on the route. We had a good deal of fun, though. Some of the occurrences were not so fanny then asthey seem to be now, but I very much doubt whether Gen. Harrison took more pleasure in his trip from In- dianapolis to Washington, in President | elegant car to be inaugurated, than he did in | that Journey in the fall of 1864, on his way to his home after a four-year absence from his be- | © | loved family.” —_$~ebgescastastibe LIFE IN NEW YORK. That City Doesn’t Want to Experience Another Open Winter. DEPRESSION IN ALL LINES OF TRADE THROUGH LACK OF COLD AND SNOW—A CIRCUS BY S0- CIETY PEOPLE FOR CHARITY'S 8AKE—TROUBLE ABOUT THE CENTENNIAL INAUGURATION BALL, Correspondence of Tut EVENING Stan. J New Yor«, March 4. The wonderfully open winter in New York which may now be looked upon as past, unless ‘another March blizzard strikes us unawares, as it did in 1888, has been a matter upon which many people have congratulated themselves. And yet there are a great many men and women and families to be commiserated rather than congratulated on account of the exceptional mildness of the season. The absence of cold weather has saved many @ poor family the eon- in place of the idle days ordinarily during other winters. But I am inetined to think that the open winter has been much more of a curse than a blessing. I walked yesterday through the retail clothing district in Broadway and the Bowery. Everywhere great were offered in heavy overcoats. in the passer-by to purchase an overcoat for next winter at half or even leas than haif the usual price, some of these stores 1 found the counters piled high with unsold winter ¢glothing, and rietors told me that never before had ft at this time of year with such a unsold goods on hand. This state means the failure of many smail dealers loss of joyment this summer to work on winter clothing. The ers have suffered greatly. They stocks last fall in anticipation and with a winter averaging about SpE SS we disposed ly stock. The loss of work to ‘ho ‘and put it into cellars hag effect, the mines will man: out of employ: wages end possibly stri! boat carriers are of coal. There here for sleds, adjunets of winter these articles have attics to await another wi : i & FE tins Bun dies ail | i i! ea i i i 53 | epee Ha i E i rl j ! i! ee i i i i g is af 1 i wee ome pt newt tem oe He — * Talk about fust trains; things moved in those | and Mrs. may EP il } ? | i a i tion, It is alleged, while others Tork tote coerehe nae marrecnts, West Bex York is to celebrate, and they want the Sentiy than eno caer anes, mare Erem my CN ig TS Tt was the ae Pp a eS himself to select who should and who t dance in it. He fixed upon the four ye] ‘in F. Harrison and a areeg, and ealine of wee Gov. David B, Hill and Mayor Hugh 8. Grant for the first set, and the ladies were to be Mra. M Mrs. if Mrs. Rutherford B. Bayes, wud Mra. Grover eland. Meantime the chairman of the committee, Stuyvesant Fish, fret. set ot the “ghadrilie’ repreeasinn ey as jaya, t! Avi the Schermerhoras, the Handoiphs and the Sebuye descendant Mr. Pish's invitation, and some of the invited by Mr. McAllister had consented hibit themsetves in the first set. was an embarrassing one, as there well be two “first sets,” and the very lively one. Of those invited by Mr. McAllister Mr. Harrison and Mrs. Cleveland refusals, who had accepted, and by dipio- macy and his own intimacy with them smooth things over so that if they were tabooed from dancing in the first set they wouldn't feel bad about it. The thing hasn't been settled yet, but the majority of the commitiee tavors the revolutionary) descendants idea. . os Actors and actresses in New York add con- siderably to their incomes by appearing in read- ings or recitations in the drawing-rooms of wealthy families at receptions, They are treated Just as other guests are, ordinarily, but their i ? = to Newport, he summer time. 4 A F abe li See Hil ° $500 for his halt hours's work. iF Sous. “ENDOWMENT OF RESEARCH.” Leisure Not the Most Inspiring to Work- ers in Science, Art, and Literature. ‘From the Pall Mall Gazette. Tf you want good work done in science, orart, or literature, you must endow people, it is said, with the means of giving their whole time te it. Tote quite his own account) was busier than bi . Cicero London ie i | | ir j ; : ! E a i é & : i ‘and was given a seat opposite me. His oréer was for baked white fish. It came on x , |e ay soem at