Washington Women

But the I i-treet housobas lilis advontnge now in that (here is a young lady inuhtor to aatiitt in makiog ilio entertainiuents agrceable. Miss Minnia Slierman enjoya society very much indeed, albuit she hes the credit of boing scinewhaft irapassivo. She is pleasing in lier nppeanince, and is more of tho blonde than of the brunette nrder. Her face is by somo callecl "coldly intellcctunl," by others "statucsque." But her quiot manner is more to be attributed to her hnving been aa invalid for some time thau to any intentional reserve. She was so ucfor'.unate ns to be thrown froni i her horse, whiie riding, somc two or three years ago, and fcho was so seriously iujured tliat for a long time there was no hope of her recovery. It is not quite a year siuco the was iirst ablu to go iiito society ; and sha four.d it so pleasant then that at tho first of this winter ehc declarad her intention to accopt every inriiation sent, even at tbc rato of four or five ev6ry evening. A stor' nas gouu the rounds that slie declined dancing with the Prince, on tho score of a previous ergagement; but that is not true, for she did dance with hira. With regard '.o the locket Piince Arihur sent her, it was sent a3 a dtlicato n.olc of returuing General Sberman't gonorosity in presenting H. 11. II. vitii a very harjdtouio rifle It eontaind bis own picture, but not bis mother'a, Tlicro is Daver any dtneing at tho Sbcru;an receptions. Mrs. Sherman dispproves vjry dicidsdly of the round dances, and i.e?er perruits her daughter to datco them. MRS. PI8H. ro one tías done mort toward tlic entertainment of society this winier than Mis. Fisli. Sha begau in December to bavo evening receptions, and has continced theui up to tliu present time. aod ia likely to keep tbem up uiitil Leut begios. Mis. Fieb bad tbe advantage on comiug Lero of a long experience of Washington society wheu bcr liusbaud was Senator several years ago. She had left a moet delightful inipression on tbe minds of all who knew hr tben, and tbat impression is not only deepened, but extended, by her couite this ■winter. Every one bas sometbing pleasant to gay of her. Sbe is so entirely what a litdy of her age and poEition sbould be. Shc is a handsomo woman, dignified and reserved, but never haughty. No expression can better describo her than self-contaiued. She is quiely attentive to all her ueste, makcser.ch feel atease without ever making tbe slightest parade about it. She is tho embodim3Dt of refinemeut nnd culture. Her pperance producen a favorable itupre;sion ou strangers at tho firet glanoe. She is above tbe medium hcight, and hns a good figure. Hor faco lias a very sweet expression. She dreFses richly, but in cuiet and wellchosen colora. MRS. BELKN'Ar. The wife of the Secretary of "War, Mrs. Belknap is young, handsome and attractive in overj way. A story went the rounds at the time of Gen. Belknap'e appointmetit, wbich gives an excuse for referring particularly to her past life. It was faid that she becamo acquainttd with her husband througb her brotlier. who was in the Confedérate prmy, being taken pi isoner by General Belkap's command. She, it was said,went to ses her brother, and tho rest of the romance is inferred. It Í8 so far true that her brother was taken prisoner and carried to General Belknap's headquarters. Tho General having kuown a married sister of the young tnan in Keokuk, Iowa, shówed him much kinduess. It was not until a year afterward that he met Miss Carric Tomliuson, whom he has 8nce married. The Tomüüson family ia well known in Kentucky, and the young ladies of, the name have been grcat belles. Mrs. Belkuap has alwaj-s been much admired respected, and loved. She had a gny girlhood, haviug visited under pleasaut circumstnnces uiany of tho large Ve3tern cities. She is us bright iatellectually as ahe is in appearance, and possessea grent conversatioual abilities. But her cordial sincerity of manner is her great charm. Itiss real pleasure to her to raake others happy, and sho often sacrifice6 her own conveniunco entirely to avoid making any one clso In the loaat uncoiafortuble. ïhis is so entirely natural to her that it makes no differecce whether she ia seon in lu:r room in the tnoruing after being up till a late hour tho oighi beforo, or whetber she is prepared for callera on Wednesday atïornoon ; her manner is just tho same. She is very tall, but perfectly grsceful ; is a olear brunette, has brilliant color, and very dark bright eyaa. She dr esges very handsomely aud very taste fully. 51R3. SPRAGÜK. Two or three years ngo no sketch of ] Vi'ashingtuu society irould have boen complete without giving to Mrs. Sprague a prominent placu in the foreground. For severa] wiutcrs her Saturday reccptioDf, whioh Vicro alwnys matiuees dansante,.--, wcre the liundsoincst as well as the most oharmiog of the tyeekly attractions. 01' late f-Iio has passed very little of her time in Washington, aod wliou hcre Las entertained but seldom, haviog given herself up in great measnre to her maternal datief. Thns f;r this Beasou au elegant dmner and a uiusioale, to whioh lat a rery fow were iovited, have boen llio only occasions on wliioh her housü h.is been open to her friends. Much has beou said of tho beauty of this lndy, lier gracc nnd her superb dresting, and n bat has been snid Iihs been but littlo exaggerated. Mis Spragv.o has fine e3'eg, a woü-fhapcd bead and a gracefnl Cgure, thou'h porhaps she is a trillo too eleoder. All these advantage6 hov better as be!onging to Mrs. Sprague, arrayed in costly eostnmes, than they ever did when Miss K;ite Chase appeáred in very ordinsry apparel. The taste in dress of this lady has m.'iteriaily improved of late years. Sho no looger wears a Iiugo diamond ornari;etit on tho top ot' her bonnet, as she did in tho winter of 1805. Indeed, her dress is more notiecd dow fii tho gakeoftho frell-known taete of the weariT, than the wcarer is commeDted npon fiir the display made by her dresa Mrs. Sprague };is a brir!it, iutelloct nnd a cootl dvsl of diplomatic cupacity. She is a devoted datlghter nid a careful wife. A s'ory ia told f her at a state dioBÍer at táe Wiiite Houso, in tho early p;irt of Jir. Johrison'a adtninutratiop, wbioh sliows her disposition to exerciso a wholesome iijfiuenco over tlie husbaiul of wbom slie has ncver appeared preud Senator Sprag-ue's eeat ut (liis dinner was between Mis. Stover and Mrs. Dixon. liis wifo's was on tlia s.'in-.o sido of the table, %.few scats bi-yond. At that tiinu Mr. fciprague was not by any mcaiis a températe man, aud lie partook o freely of wiuo that ooe of iiis oeighors, becing liioi stretch oufc Lis hand to epienish bis glats once inore, eaid gent)y, "I would not take tny more f I were you;" wbile the otbersaid, "Tbere are a pair of bright eyes looking at you." "D tbem !!' cxclaimcd the excitad man, "they oan't see me !" and rtfilled bis giass as he spokc. Eut instantly the ovfner of the brigbt eyes in queatiop, radiant ín pink satin, poiut luce, and diamond, leaued forward, and usina the kees eyea on her busband, said earoestlj, "Yes they can sce jou, aud tbey are hcar'.ily ashamed of you." ::i-"s ciiase. Miss Nsttie Chase is, perhaps, more universuily likcd than ber more hau sister. Si)c is not only a young lady to boadu.ircd for bcr stjrlish appearance and case oí msnner, but tr.ore for hur :nciit:;l Hcqnireinents. Sho hap greafc taste and ability as au artist, and of her drawing, a gentleman who is permitted tbu privileges of her portefeuille says : "Souie of ber productions are really miracles oï their kind, bringing up instantly and vividly bolh Cruikshank and Hogarth, of neitber of wbom she ia a co p vist " Tbe Cliief Justice has taken a house this winter, acd no lonpcr aaltree that of hia eldeat ciauhter. Miis Chawe does the honors ( f lur fuiher's house with much grace, and filia her position with tho easo uouully uctjuired oiily by long experieuce. Auother of tlio boautics of whora muoli bas been said and wiitten is Mies Blanchü Butler. This young lady is one who has tho rare advautiige of appearing lovlier in her own homo, aud when dressed siicply, than sho ever does with brilliant surroundings. She is a blonde of a peculiar type, that so soldom peen, whero hazel eyo, made dark by black lashes, are aoootnpanicd by a skin, dazzliog in whileness and purity, a brilliant color, and hair which is of the famous golden hue, with a tinge of red just suflicierit to inake ït glitter. Miss iButler's amiability and lovable disposttion aro suHjects of as much remark as is her beauty. In partioular her friends speak of the relation which exists between her and her fatlicr, just what it should be betwecn father and daughter, but what it rarcly is ia our day.