GAY AND FESTIVE SCENES.
New Year's Day has always been celebrated at the National Capital
in the style which President Washington inaugurated when the Federal
Government was located at New York. The foreign Ministers and the
Government dignitaries go in state to pay their respects to the
President, after which the old Knickerbocker custom of visiting
friends generally is kept up. One is certain to see at the White
House on New Year's Day all the prominent people of both sexes in
Washington. Then, too, it is the only place in the metropolis
where the ladies can pass in review all of the new toilets, and
see what the leaders of fashion have designed since last season.
It is the only place where there is room for a large crowd to move
about easily and where the full effect of brilliant dressing can
be displayed. The ladies invited to receive with the President,
with many others, are in evening costume, although walking-costumes
are not uncommon.
President Arthur's first New Year's reception was a brilliant
affair. Mrs. Frelinghuysen accompanied the President into the Blue
Room, and stood next to his sister, Mrs. McElroy, at his right
hand, with the wives of the other ministers of the Cabinet. When
his daughter and niece came in, he welcomed them with a happy smile
and bent down and kissed them. Their simple white ribbon sashes
were in refreshing contrast with the gorgeous costumes of the
diplomats.
Brilliant as were the diamonds of Madame de Struve, the wife of
the Russian Minister, and effective as was the bronze golden silk
dress, trimmed with gold beads, of the wife of Attorney-General
Brewster, the "observed of all observers" was Dr. Mary Walker, who
came tripping in with elastic step, shook hands with President
Arthur, and was profusely poetical in wishing him the compliments
of the season. She wore a black broadcloth frock coat and pantaloons,
and carried a high black silk hat in her left hand, while in her
right she flourished a slender cane. After leaving the President,
she passed along the line of ladies who received with him, giving
to each a sweeping bow, and then went into the East Room, where
she was carefully scrutinized by the ladies.
Senator Hoar gave a most enjoyable dinner to a party of gentlemen
invited by him to meet Mr. Justice Gray, after his appointment to
the bench of the Supreme Court. It was given at the hotel of Mr.
Wormley, the friend of Charles Sumner, and the guests assembled in
a parlor containing much of the furniture which adorned the house
of the great Senator. The guests met about seven o'clock, and
after an exchange of salutations, the large doors which form one
side of the room were thrown open, and Senator Hoar informally
invited those present to gather around the magnificently furnished
table which presented itself. Covers were laid for thirty-six
persons, and the china, the silver, and the glassware were all rare
and of beautiful design. A belt of flowers encircled the table in
front of the plates, and within this inclosure were mounds of rare
exotics and quaintly constructed ornaments of confectionery. The
place of each guest was marked by a card, on which his name was
printed, and on this was an exquisite button-hole bouquet. The
bills of fare were on large sheets of cardboard, handsomely engraved,
and the succession of thirteen courses, beginning with oysters and
ending with coffee, was an epicurean treat. In accordance with
Washington etiquette, President Arthur sat at the host's right
hand, and on his right sat Judge Gray. At the left of the host
sat Chief Justice Waite; directly opposite sat Senator Dawes; at
the right hand end of the long table was George Bancroft, and at
the left hand end was Representative Harris. There was not, of
course, any speech-making or drinking of healths, but after the
dessert had been served, gentlemen left their seats and sat in
little groups around the table, chatting pleasantly until after
midnight. Taken as a whole, dinner and guests, it was the finest
entertainment that I have ever seen in Washington--and I have seen
a great many.
President Arthur's first state dinner was given in honor of General
and Mrs. Grant. The parlors and the East Room were profusely
decorated with flowers, and in the dining-room were palm trees and
other exotics massed in the corners, while the mantels were banked
with cut flowers. There were thirty-four plates on the long table,
in the centre of which was a plateau mirror, on which were roses
and lilies of the valley. On either side of it were tall gilt
candelabra bearing eleven wax lights each, and beyond these large
gilt epergnes overflowing with Marechal Niel roses. At the end of
the mirror were pairs of silver candelabra bearing shaded wax lights
and oval cushions of white camelias set with roses and orchids.
At the extreme ends were round pieces of bon silene roses and lilies
of the valley. Around this elaborate centre decoration were ranged
crystal compotes and cut-glass decanters. Large, flat corsage
bouquets of roses, tied with satin ribbons, were laid at each lady's
plate, and small _boutonnieres_ of rosebuds were provided for the
gentlemen. The cards were of heavy gilt-edge board, embossed with
the national coat-of-arms in gold, below which the name of each
guest was written. The Marine Band performed selections from
popular operatic music.
The guests were received by President Arthur in the East Room. At
eight o'clock dinner was announced, and the guests repaired to the
dining-room in the following order, each lady taking a seat at the
right hand of the gentleman who escorted her: President Arthur,
escorting Mrs. Grant, who wore a white satin dress with low neck
and long train deeply flounced with lace, and a profusion of
diamonds; General Grant, escorting Mrs. Frelinghuysen, who wore a
black velvet dress with flowing train, opening in front, and showing
a petticoat of plaited black satin; Secretary Frelinghuysen,
escorting Mrs. Lincoln, who wore a black velvet dress with sweeping
train and rich jet trimmings; General Sherman, escorting Miss Beale,
who wore a white satin dress with a train of silver brocade, trimmed
at the neck and sleeves with Valenciennes lace; Admiral Porter,
escorting Miss Coleman, who wore a dress of terra-cotta satin
trimmed with flowered brocade and lace; Senator Anthony, escorting
Mrs. Logan, who wore a magnificent dress of wine-colored velvet
trimmed with Pompadour brocade; Senator Miller, escorting Mrs.
Kinsley, who wore a ball-dress of cardinal satin trimmed with
brocade; Senator Jones, of Nevada, escorting Mrs. Beale, who wore
a white satin dress trimmed with lace; Senator Cameron, of
Pennsylvania, escorting Mrs. John Davis, who wore a ball-dress of
white satin trimmed with lace; General Beale, escorting Miss
Frelinghuysen, who wore a dress of marine-blue velvet, with a long
train trimmed with iridescent bugles; Secretary Folger, escorting
Miss Cutts, who wore white satin trimmed with lace; Secretary
Lincoln, escorting Mrs. Secretary Chandler, who wore an exquisite
dress of pale blue surah and crape; Postmaster-General Howe,
escorting Mrs. Teller, who wore a dress of white satin; Attorney-
General Brewster, escorting Mrs. Cameron, who wore a pink satin
dress elaborately trimmed with ruffles of rare lace; Secretary
Chandler, escorting Mrs. Brewster, who wore a dress of cardinal
satin with a court train embroidered with gold in large figures;
Secretary Teller, escorting Miss Totten, who wore white satin
trimmed with white ruchings.
Dinner was served in fourteen courses, with which there were served
eight varieties of wines, each variety having its appropriate wine-
glass. The guests were two hours at the table, and the menu was
eulogized, especially the terrapin, which was highly commended by
the epicures who enjoyed it.
Mr. Blaine was a prominent figure in Washington society, both social
and political, after he left the Department of State, and there
was always a great desire to know his opinions on passing events.
His heath was excellent, and he never appeared to greater advantage.
Tall and portly, yet graceful in movement, his wealth of white hair
set off his mobile, expressive features, with their never-quiet
dark eyes.
The new house built by Mr. Blaine in the northwestern part of
Washington was an imposing structure, covering an area of about
seventy by seventy-five feet, and it was solid and substantial from
its steep roof to its roomy basement. The spacious halls and
stairways were wainscoted, finished, and ceiled in oak; the drawing-
room, the dining-room, and the library were furnished in solid
mahogany; and the chambers were finished in poplar and pine. The
great charm of the house was that each and every room, large and
small, had its open fire-place, some of them surrounded by beautiful
mantel-pieces, with carved wood and mirrors. It was, indeed, an
English house, with its comforts set off by many Yankee contrivances.
In this house, on a bright morning of early spring, Colonel John
T. Coppinger, of the United States army, was married to Miss Alice
Stanwood Blaine. President Arthur adjourned the regular meeting
of the Cabinet that he and his constitutional advisers might attend.
The Speaker of the House, with the Maine Senators and Representatives,
left their Congressional duties in order to be present. The
Diplomatic Corps, doubtless remembering the courtesies which they
received from Mr. Blaine when Secretary of State, was out in full
force. The army and navy were largely represented, the elite of
fashionable society was present, and there was a good representation
of the press. All had congregated to show their good wishes toward
the family of the young bride.
Colonel Coppinger, who belongs to an old Roman Catholic family in
Ireland, served gallantly in the Papal Army, and coming to this
country in 1861, was commissioned in the Fourteenth Infantry. He
received two brevets for "gallant and meritorious services" in a
score of engagements, and after having displayed great energy in
command of troops operating against the Indians, he was made Acting
Inspector-General on the staff of General Pope, a position only
given to those thoroughly versed in the manual, the drill, the
equipment, and the discipline of the army. He was forty-nine years
of age, tall, erect, with clear, hazel eyes, gray hair and whiskers,
and a martial deportment.
Twelve o'clock, noon, was the hour fixed for the ceremony, and soon
after that time conversation was suddenly hushed, as the Rev. Dr.
Chapelle, of St. Matthew's Church, took his assigned position. He
wore a black robe with a cape, and carried a small prayer-book,
from which he subsequently read the brief service used when a Roman
Catholic is wedded to one not belonging to that Church. A moment
later Mrs. Blaine came down the broad staircase on the arm of her
eldest son, Mr. Walker Blaine. She wore a high-necked corsage of
wine-colored velvet, with a satin dress and train of the same color,
trimmed with lace.
Soon the bride came down the staircase leaning on the arm of her
father, who appeared somewhat impressed by the solemnity of the
occasion. She wore a dress of white satin with a sweeping train
trimmed with crystal, while an ample veil partially concealed her
youthful features and slight form. She carried a bouquet of roses
and lilies-of-the-valley. Behind her came her only attendant, her
young sister, Miss Hattie Blaine, who was dressed in white. Mr.
Blaine's other two sons and Miss Abigail Dodge, of Hamilton,
Massachusetts, followed.
At the improvised altar, Colonel Coppinger, attended by Lieutenant
Emmet, of the Ninth Cavalry, advanced to claim his bride. As the
happy pair knelt before the altar, Mr. and Mrs. Blaine and Miss
Hattie stood at their right, and President Arthur, George Bancroft,
and Miss Dodge stood at their left. The service was quickly
performed, and after the parents, President Arthur was the first
to salute the bride. The guests were then presented seriatim to
Colonel and Mrs. Coppinger, and if good wishes could have been
regarded as an augury of their future, there could have been no
doubt of their good fortunes.
After congratulations had been offered, President Arthur escorted
the bride to the large dining-room. There a table was bountifully
spread, while on a sideboard were boxes of wedding-cake to be sent
to friends at a distance. It was not long before the bridegroom
and bride left the festive scene to array themselves for their
journey, and they quietly departed from the house to take the train
for Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Taken as a whole, the wedding
surpassed any similar festal scene ever witnessed at Washington,
and was a hearty manifestation of good feeling toward the happy
couple and the parents of the bride.
One of the most charming houses in Washington was that occupied
for some years by the British Legation, and which Admiral Porter
rebuilt and refurnished with a portion of the large sum of prize-
money received by him during the war. It was a model of good taste
and luxury, elegant without display, and perfect in all its
appointments. The square hall, with tessellated marble floor, led
into a suite of three parlors, opening into each other by arched-
ways, heavily draped with satin damask. The central parlor was
upholstered in crimson velvet, that on the right in drab, and that
on the left in blue. The hangings and furniture were of colors to
match. The marble mantels were decorated with articles of virtu,
and rare painting adorned the walls. Leading from the crimson
parlor was a long, wide ball-room, with waxed and polished floor,
and rows of seats for the accommodation of dancers and spectators.
Numberless crystal chandeliers emitted a flood of softened light,
while flowers bloomed everywhere in pots, vases, and baskets in
indescribable profusion.
[Facsimile]
Robert T. Lincoln
ROBERT TODD LINCOLN, eldest child of Abraham Lincoln, born at
Springfield, Ill., August 1st, 1843; graduated at Harvard, 1864;
member of General Grant's staff during the last month of the war;
admitted to practice law in Chicago, 1867; Secretary of War under
Presidents Garfield and Arthur, March 5th, 1881 - March 6th, 1885.