The herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1835-1837, 1837-01-11
[Corespondeuce 0f the Herald
Mrs. Weoabury's S0aree--SlEetch N Chaxac-
ssrs--tAe DAglomstas CsrDs.
WASHINGTON, Jan. Z, 1887.

Mru. WDD1bUTYso SO1roe~-Sk0tCh NJ Ch040C~
6ors--the D1plomatse Corp. 0
WAsnlseroN, Jam Z, 1887.
Your mails must like myself have caught Geld.
received but one OF your papers since Saturday last
Amoss c0nduts must be stopt up, which is, perhaps
not at all remarkable after their expansion by the
late fire. AprOpes Of this fre-the committee are
prosecuting their inquiries but no discovery has yet
been made-and il is perhaps an idle waste of time;
unless like Richard White the incendiary has been
fool enough 10 communicate his crime freely be-
forehand. The trial of these men commenced yes
erday, the first of Henry, and the second of Richard.
called TO see Mrs Woodbury. cat home' ON
Thursday night. Secretary Woodbury's soirtes have
the reputation Of being rather dull and scant in the
article of refreshments; but think this is an
Mrs. Woodbury. is a lady of great suavity and ease
Of manners and in high degree graceful in her de-
pertinent She still retains great beauty not only IN
her countenance, but figure and must have been IN
her youth very handsome girl. Wallace, who IS
sort OF chroncler of past times informs me that as
an HOSTESS, she bears some resemblance to Mrs.
Madison who from her great desire to render herself
agreeable, was the most popular woman he had ever
known. The stranger was always put at his ease
andf he happened to be very awkward, which often
occurred to young men who had never been accus
toned to fashionable society, she was particularly
assduous in her attentions to him.
l will give you an instance.
tall dangling youth, fresh from the backwoods,
made his appearance al the drawing room one even
ing and took his stand against the partition wall of
the apartment. He remained in that position like
cup OF coffee, which it was then the custom to hand
round 10 the company. Mrs. Madison wishing 10
relieve him from his embarrassment for her keen and
friendly eye had noticed it, walked up to him and ad-
dressed him. The poor youth was SO astounded that
he dropt the saucer the floor and thrust the cup,
instead Of his hand unconsclousy into his breeches
pocket
"The crowd is great" said she, with the most az
The servant will bring you another cup OF coffee
Pray, how did you leave your excellent mother II
had once the hsnor of knowing her. but / have not
seen her for some years.
And thus she continued till the poor you III felt as
if he were in the company Of an old acquaintance.
He took care however, secretly, and soon to dslodge
the protuberance in his rocket.
AT dinner Mrs. Madison always took the head Of
the table, Mr. Madison the middle and one Of the Sec
retaries the bottom. Mrs. Madisons memory was
good that she never forgot name, and would add
dress each of her guests though just introduced with
twenty others, by his name, as If she had known it
for years. She was magnificent looking woman at
that timc in the drawing room. Her figure was
stately and Juno-ke, and lowered above the rest of
the company When she found timid young girl,
just brought out, she would attend to her like
want and conduct her TO the piano, and remain with
her till she became more Mt her Do yeu know
that she intended revisit the theatre of her former
glory, last winter? The house was rented, and be-
Leve furnished, but indsposton prevented her from
coming.
cut rerenons a nos nouions The company at
Mrs. Woodbury's numerous; but the rooms, with
the exception Of the ball room, were not inconve-
nently crowded. The host and hostess were very
attentive, and the refreshments sufficiently abundant.
The space occupied by the dancers was entirely too
crcumscribed from the pressure of those who merely
looked at the exhibition of the "poetry of motion
but beauty there, and what will not beauty at
tract l met with my acquaintance, the Misses
W., as radiant ever Indeed, have not seen
such collection o. handsome women for a long
lime-many were quite brilliant, and some of them
splenddly alfred l observed very large female
1 u IL III
cachinatisns, twisting and wnggling her body, like
one with the ST. Vitus dance. inquired Of Wallace
who she was.
"That is one whose motto seems to be, laugh and
be fat" for though she ls now in mourning she is not
at all affected by grief" lm
"In mourning, howP
"You observe she wears light dress and black
shoes which is al;o the style Of dress OF her daugh
ter yon big headed girl, with an unmeaning but eer
nal grin on her features"
aGrief" said !, will never kill them; but who
are they in mourning fori Some dear relative, no
doubt"
aNot at all-they belong to the culinary depart
ment Of the government and, that the public may
suppose they are very intimate the palace the death
of Mrs Donaldson has induced them TO wear black
gloves and shoes with light dresses, TO show the ex
tent of their sorrow, which is profound that you
see the elder lady obliged to bury under load of
ice cream and cold tongue. That beauty strding to
her right is her husband, living personihcauon Of
| Jonah, at the moment he issued from the whale $
belly His mouth is complete insect trap, and if he
should devote himself to the study of eutsmolo-
/ gy it would be the best instrument he could use to
| catch flies, &c. Nature was so shocked when he was
created, that she struck him in the face But here
comes Miss w. under the arm of Mr.. L.; she has
! Just left Judge III. Whittier so nstW said Wallace.
IL am flying from hate under the wings Of love, ia
to this region Of cnchantmenL But how do you like
| this scenep
"Oh! delighted with it, of course. Beauty and
ugliness are well contrasted, and and vulgary
mngle in unpleasIng union. Ii is not only agree
able but uscful for made conscious Of his de-
pendence upon his fellow mas, by being kept up and
supported by those around him. My kingdom for a
| char"
"Then you are not a member Of a standing COM
mttee" said MISS w.
"No; but have just left the chairman of one OF
committees, helping himself plen'ifuy to variety Of
| the REFRESHMENTS"
"Then he must have been the chairman of the com
mttee Of ways and means" retorted Miss w. for ]
saw him and the U. $. Geologist discussing the PHI
losophy Of plum cake and the primary formation Of
| an ice cream"
Sand pray, 10 what committee do you think be-
long" said Mr.. II. smiling.
'fTo the committee Of unfinished business certain
| ly" replied Miss W." but here comes your speaker
poking through the crowd, to reach the President.
| elect, who seems 10 be out of his element without
lady under his arm"
"This is quite a novelty" said Wallace but
! having succeeded by female well as male influence
in attaining the end of his ambition, he is not par
cular just in courting their favoran makes his
apOearance n the Washington soirfes fr0n habit and