The beauty and brilliance of Philadelphia were not without honor at home, and this recognition of local talent caused some rather spiteful comparisons to be made with the New York belles.  Rebecca Franks, to whom we have referred several times, declared:  “Few New York ladies know how to entertain company in their own houses, unless they introduce the card table....  I don’t know a woman or girl that can chat above half an hour and that on the form of a cap, the color of a ribbon, or the set of a hoop, stay, or gapun.  I will do our ladies, that is in Philadelphia, the justice to say they have more cleverness in the turn of an eye than the New York girls have in their whole composition.  With what ease have I seen a Chew, a Penn, Oswald, Allen, and a thousand other entertain a large circle of both sexes and the conversation, without aid of cards, not flagg or seem in the least strained or stupid.”

XIV.  Social Functions

While the beauty of the Philadelphia women was notable—­the Duke Rochefoucauld-Liancourt declared that it was impossible to meet with what is called a plain woman—­the lavish use of wealth was no less noticeable.  The equipage, the drawing room, the very kitchens of some homes were so extravagantly furnished that foreign visitors marvelled at the display.  Indeed, some spiteful people of the day declared that the Bingham home was so gaudy and so filled with evidence of wealth that it lacked a great deal of being comfortable.  The trappings of the horses, the furnishings of the family coaches, the livery of the footmen, drivers, and attendants apparently were equal to those possessed by the most aristocratic in London and Paris.

Probably one of the most brilliant social occasions was the annual celebration of Washington’s birthday, and while the first President was in Philadelphia, he was, of course, always present at the ball, and made no effort to conceal his pleasure and gratitude for this mark of esteem.  The entire day was given over to pomp and ceremony.  According to a description by Miss Chambers, “The morning of the ‘twenty-second’ was ushered in by the discharge of heavy artillery.  The whole city was in commotion, making arrangements to demonstrate their attachment to our beloved President.  The Masonic, Cincinnati, and military orders united in doing him honor.”  In describing the hall, she says:  “The seats were arranged like those of an amphitheatre, and cords were stretched on each side of the room, about three feet from the floor, to preserve sufficient space for the dances.  We were not long seated when General Washington entered and bowed to the ladies as he passed round the room....  The dancing soon after commenced."[225]