ll were as whist as mice.

The folding-doors were opened from the broad passage-way into the East
Room, and soon the President was ushered in with Mrs. Grant, Secretary
Fish and wife, Secretary Belknap and wife, Secretary Cox, wife and
daughter, Secretary Boutwell and wife, Secretary Robeson and Miss
Nellie Grant, Judge Hoar, wife and daughter, Postmaster-General
Cresswell, wife and sister, Generals Porter, Dent, Babcock, and others;
then followed senators, members, and their wives and other ladies.
Next, Minister Thornton, wife and lady friends, with Mr. Secretary
Ford, wife, and other attaches of the British legation; Baron Gerolt,
wife and daughter, M. and Madame Garcia, and indeed all the
representatives of foreign nations on the whole earth but China and
Japan. The diplomatic corps did not wear uniforms, but imitated the
Indians, who had many insignia of rank in tell-tales of scalps taken,
etc., by putting on all their stars and orders, and each wore
swallow-tail coats, white vests, neckties, and gloves and dark pants.

Mrs. Grant was attired in a handsome grenadine, and wore a diamond
necklace, and japonica hair adornings. The other ladies seemed to have
vied with each other to out-dress one another, surpassing even their
gay attire at their winter receptions.

Soon the President with his party had all got into the East Room, on
the west side, the President, with Secretary Fish, General Parker, and
M. Beauvais, the interpreter; next, Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Parker, and Mrs.
Fish, distributed so as to see all going on, while the Indians lounged
lazily on the sofas staring at their white brethren, both parties
mutually surprised. Then General Parker made a sign to Spotted Tail
with his braves, and they rose up, one by one, advancing to where the
President and his party were standing, and the introduction,
hand-shaking, etc. began; the Indians, as usual, said "How." Red Cloud
followed with his band, and all said "How, How," shaking hands with
each one present. The ladies seemed to enjoy this very much, laughing
and chatting, and wishing, perhaps, they could speak the Indian
language; for they forgot for a few moments all the restraints of the
situation, and went in for real fun and frolic with these tawny sons
and daughters of the plains and mountains.

Good rounds of hand-shaking indulged in, many questions were put and
answered through the interpreters, and a careful examination was made
of the hair-dressing, the pain