"Three rooms were filled, and the fourth was elegantly set off as a place for refreshment. A long table crossed this room in the middle, and the whole wall inside was lighted up, and covered with shelves filled with cakes, oranges, apples, wines of all sorts, ice-creams, &c. A number of servants behind the table supplied the guests with every thing they wanted from time to time, as they came in to refresh themselves, which they did as often as a party had done dancing, making room for another set. We retired about ten o'clock, in the height of the jollity."

The anniversary of the Declaration of Independence was celebrated by a brilliant ball, at which Mrs. Washington and the principal ladies of "her court" were present.

At the Presidential receptions Washington wore "his hair powdered and gathered behind in a silk bag. His coat and breeches were of plain black velvet; he wore a white or pearl-colored vest and yellow gloves, and had a cocked hat in his hand, with silver knee and shoe buckles, and a long sword, with a finely-wrought and glittering steel hilt. The coat was worn over this and its scabbard of polished white leather." He never shook hands at these receptions, even with intimate friends. Visitors were received with a dignified bow, and passed on. At Mrs. Washington's levees he appeared as a private gentleman, with neither hat nor sword; convering without restraint, and generally with ladies.

Private theatricals were sometimes given at Wash

ington s house. President Duer enacted Brutus, in "Julius Cæsar," before him in the attic of the Presidential mansion, young Custis taking the part of Cassius.

At one of Mrs. Washington's Friday evening drawing-rooms, owing to the lowness of the ceiling, the ostrich feathers in the head-dress of Miss Mary McEvers, a distinguished belle in New York, took fire from the chandelier, to the general confusion and alarm. Major Jackson, aid-de-camp to the President, flew to the rescue, and, clapping the burning plumes between his hands, extinguished them. This lady married Edward Livingston, the minister to France.

At Mrs. Washington's drawing-rooms, "Mrs. Morris always sat at her right hand; and at all the dinners, public or private, at which Robert Morris was a guest, that venerable man was placed at the right of Mrs. Washington." At the age of thirty-six, Robert Morris had married Miss White, the sister of Bishop White. She was described as "a lady of elegant accomplishments, rich, and well qualified to carry the felicity of connubial life to its highest perfection."

Mrs. Washington was accustomed to speak of her days of public life in New York and Philadelphia as her "lost days." She preferred home comforts and seclusion. Contrasting the pictures, Mrs. Carrington wrote to her sister, a short time before Washington's death, describing his wife's room at Mount Vernon: "On one side sits the chambermaid with her knitting; on the

other a little colored pet learning to sew. A decentlooking old woman is there, with her table and shears, cutting out the negroes' winter clothes; while the good old lady directs them all, incessantly knitting herself. She points out to me several pairs of nice colored stockings and gloves she has just finished, and presents me with a pair half done, which she begs I will finish, and wear for her sake."

Loving such simple, domestic employments, and wearied with the glare, no wonder the illustrious lady was restive under the etiquette of public life.

The custom of calls on New Year's day was introduced by the Dutch and the Huguenots. The President received calls on the first of January, 1790. At Mrs. Washington's levee the visitors were seated, and tea and coffee were handed, with plain and plum cake. The company was expected to retire early. "The General retires at nine, and I usually precede him," the lady would say.

To an inquiry by the President whether such observances were casual or customary, it was answered that New Year's visits had always been kept up in the city. Washington remarked that the favored situation of New York would in time attract numerous emigrants, who would gradually change its ancient customs and manners; but, he added, "whatever change takes place, never forget this cordial and cheerful observance of New Year's day."

Curwen, in his Journal, gives, as the origin of the

custom of offering New Year's presents, the tradition that Tatius, King of the Sabines, was presented with boughs from the forest of the goddess Strenia, in token of good-will, and consecrated the holiday to Janus. The people sacrificed to Janus, and brought presents of dates, figs, honey, &c., covered with leaf-gold.

Of New York, Brissot wrote: "The inhabitants prefer the splendor of wealth and the show of enjoyment to a simplicity of manners and the pure pleasures resulting from it. The expenses of women cause matrimony to be dreaded by men." But when Oliver Wolcott, in 1789, was appointed Auditor of the Treasury, he wrote to Ellsworth about the cost of living, and was informed that a thousand dollars a year ought to supply him and his family. "The example of the President," said his correspondent, "and his family, will render parade and expense improper and disreputable."

Among the ladies most intimate with Mrs. Washington, beside Mrs. Knox, Mrs. Hamilton, Mrs. Morris, and Mrs. Powell, were Mrs. Bradford, Mrs. Otis, and Miss Ross. Mrs. Otis was the wife of the Secretary of the Senate, and mother of the great Senator, Harrison Gray Otis, who married in Boston, May, 1790, Miss Sally Foster, daughter of a prominent merchant. She was remarkable for beauty of person and grace of demeanor, vivacity of wit, and powerful intellect. She was prominent in metropolitan society during the administration of Washington. Mrs. Stewart, also noted in the same circle, was the wife of General Walter Stewart; and

Miss Ross was the beautiful daughter of a Senator from Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Bradford was the only child of Elias Boudinot, and married William Bradford, afterwards judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Her house was always the elegant abode of the most cordial hospitality. Her graces of person were so remarkable, that even at the age of four-score her appearance was strikingly prepossessing, and her carriage was stately as ever. Her suavity of manner and kindness of heart were also memorable. Mrs. Wallace, the wife of a nephew of Mr. Bradford's, thus described her:

"Mrs. Bradford is one of the finest models of mild and courtly dignity this country can exhibit. Early accustomed to the best society, of a family and connec tions holding rank and offices of trust and honor--her happy and much caressed girlhood was passed in intercourse with persons long since the boast of the brightest days of American refinement and patriotism. With her husband she commanded a sphere of extensive influence, the just desert of their united excellencies, and lived more than ten years in the full possession of every earthly enjoyment. Well for them they lived as Christians ought to live, in constant remembrance of their accountability to God! for in the height of distinction their well-planned schemes of happiness were laid in the dust by the death of Mr. Bradford. For many years afterward Mrs. Bradford maintained a position of useful