Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-02-24

ladies assembled here. The variety OF uresseS
puzzles the memosy Of the bcau-conno'ssear'-
All our fashionable ladies at the north, with some
few exceptions, dress one way. Inc iong,oae
and latitude Of the sleeves, &c. &c. are all re-
suIated nv unerring decision. The mania OF
single color takes possession Of whole town, or
whole city, and this for while. is 'ail the go.
NAT an here. Seldom are two ladies dressed
alike. Seldom are two ladies dressed in the same
fashion. You zee all the colors Of the rainbow.
You see all the fashions of the civilized universe.
You see all the different manners of the North,
South and West.
Washington society when amalgamated, is de-
licious Without this amalgamalion, like al! COL
lecuous Of strangers, it is stiff, unsracious and
selfish. But break down esprit de corps OF the
various circles-assimilate them-infuse them
and you have delightful assembly. All are mu.
tual story tellers of their own fair regions. All
are happy to find hearts so distantly separated
like those they have left far away. All are hap
pv to make YOU happy, and tongue, and finger,
and action don't express thoughts forciby and
rapidly enough.
Our ladies Of the north, when half educated.
talk like books, when well educated, like seraphs
when ignorant, l will not say how. but per-
haps not at all. The good sense Of the two first
is like the good sense of our men, calm. digni-
fed. unaffected. cool and unimpassioned. They
all talk because il is duty to make each other
agreeable, and not because they love to talk
Conversation is with us an effort-the gifted few
excepted. have heard hundreds say, they had
rather work hard all day, than be obliged to talk
out the evening with stranger. Not so with
the ladies have met from the South or the
West. speak but from few observations, it is
true, but they have been attentive'y taken. They
have more love for conversation; they run or in
termnabIy almost without an effort in most de-
lishtful nonsense and good sense, the first full as
agreeable as the last. They talk apparently with
out an effort They love to talk. You can have
their whole history by listening, and not asking
single question. The range of chat chat is
more limited than that Of our ladies. | should
not suppose them so well educated. They have
less book and more seniiment-less judgment
and more pasSion-less dignity, but more live
illness. They make you easier for the moment.
but perhaps not happier for life. Therei is among
them more nature than art-more sincerity than
affection. They have fewer airs than many Of
our ladies' in singing playing the piano &the guitar
In all this balance Of periods, hope have CIV
en- no offence. If | were crazy enough not to
be bachelor, should prefer --.
Every body here talks politics. II is the fash
ion. The ladies hear speeches on the tariff, and
discuss the subject with great gravity. Ladies
every where are acute investigators OF charac-
ter, and here they exercise their faculties on the
various orators who grace the two halls OF Con-
gress. In social parties they dance. not darnce.
las they laugh at the northerners for pronouncing
the word) Cotliops. Virginia Rells and Waltz.
Virginia Reels are all the ton. With US they are
an antiquated sort of dance.
We have an odd idea of the west. What,
think we, can that state that Daniel Boone has
but lust traversed as wilderness full of savages,
now be an accomplished State? II is SO indeed.
The lady visiters from Kentucky are accomplish
ed as well as beautiful women. They are nu-
merous, aud was going to say might be called
the bellies of the city. am angry enough to
wish for all importation Of rivals from the North.
New England stands high even in beautiful wo-
men-and don't like to see Kentucky eclipse
her fair fame.
You have one hasty sketch after an evening
vista few thoughts embodied from an idle brain
at midnight. If the rery particular will be so
good as to pass this over, aud suppose il not in
tended for them, will 90 abroad again into the
gay world. and note what is doing, There are
host of parties ahead, and etiquette is so obIlg
ing that stranger can almost always obtain an
invitation Send a bit of pasteDoard, as Major
Eaton defined visiting card. with your name and
residence, and you will obtain billet; it is an
odd sounding way in northern ear to beg an in
vitation, but it IS the fashion. and who will
gainsay that? Blessed be the man that invented
these bits OF paper. They are here your legal
representatives in all things. You can even stay
at hume, and with sufficient quantity Of them
visit all Washington! B.
From the National Gazette.
The only instance in which the Asatic Chole-
ra has visited any of our ships of war was at Ma
niIIa in 1890 The Congress Frigate came to
anchor, there for few days during its prevalence
and afterwards lost good many of the crew.
The following letter from DR.. Edwards, an intel
lisent Surgeon Of the Navy, who was on board,