The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-03-15
Inauguration Ball at WASHINGTON.

adu2uIduou 6du al washington.
Among the Inauguration Balls, there is one which
has entirely escaped the attention of our Washing
ton contemporaries. 1t was given at the house OF
Madame Self Interest, a lady well known IN Inc
world of fashion, and was more thronged with
the distinguished personages from all parts OF the
Union than any other of the balls OF the evening.
The general effect was decidedly more picturesque
than at the other parties; for they were entirely
filled with welldressed, and, par consequence, we'll
hammered people. But the rout of Madame Inter.
est presented the greatest variety of costume and
behavior; there We're congregated the richest and
gaudiest toilettes, mingled with seedy and ragged
offlce-seekers, whose appearance would have done
honor to Poor Tom in Lear, or to the wearers OF
motley that enlivened the courts of kings and
mobiles.
Early in the evening" Mrs. Ambition, attended
by her devoted admirer, Mr. Proud Looks, entered
and paid her compliments to the hostess. This
couple was followed by numerous train, which
was distinguished by the elegance and propriety of
its external vestmens though OH closer inspection
you might sometimes see dirty shirt attempted to
be concealed by flashy scarf. The face and hands
oil these persons were generally nice and clean :;
but many had lean and sallow appearance, pro-
duced, we were told, by loathsome cancer that
was consuming their entrais. They all carried
their heads high, and seemed to despise everybody
but themselves For all that, they understand very
well the whole science of cringing and intrigue,
and are superlatively skilled in the kindred art of
fawning on superiors in place, and trampling on
those who may happen to be under them.
The train, however, of Mrs Ambition and her
companion was thrown completely into the back
ground by the arrival of Mr.. Greedy Avarice and
his accomplished ward, Miss DESTINATIONS Vanity.
The friends who attended this couple were literally
Legion; - but they were altogether inferior, in
their general appearance, to the company that pre-
coded them. True, the ladies who buzzed about
Miss Vanity had some pretensions to elegance;
though their toiettes We're often more splendid and
snowy than neat and decorous. But the gentlemen
who seemed more DESTROYS of attracting the old
guardian than of pleasing the lght-headed and ca
PRECIOUS young lady, were any thing but properly
apparelled for the entertainment to which they
were invited.
1t is understood, however, that Madame Interest
is somewhat of philosopher, and likes to observe
men under all conditions and aspects so that she
takes care to fill her rooms with the rueful coun-
tenances of those who seek fortune as well as with
their circumstances. The crowd of poor. worn.
out gentlemen who at present fill the streets of
Washington, furnish fine field for Madames in
designations; and her ball was a wind-fal to this
class. None of them sighted the invitation of the
hostess and they did ample Justice to
The rich supper that was spread in the delicious
gardens around the house. In fact they crammed |
down the cakes and turkeys as if they had not |
lasted food for twenty years. The wines disap- |
Deared as If by magic and are afraid that MANY
d them We're sick the next morning. Indeed we |
should not be surprised to hear Of a prevailing |
cholera among this portion of the guests for the |
quantity of food they clutched at, and which, it is
air to presume, they swallowed, was enormous
The companions and friends of Mr. Avarice |
would have been sufficient to fill much more room
han was provided for the guests of the evening.
large as was the company, the party of this old |
gentleman seemed to be every where, standing in
very corner, and chattering in every knot of reve-
ers A small and select number of gentlemen
we're gathered around Mr.. Place Power and these
we're by far the most serious and earnest persons
resent at the assembly. They seemed to be en-
aged in conversation all the evening, hardly ever
oining in the dance, and scarcely taking time to
ow to the lady acquaintance by whom they were
urrounded. We noticed, however, that they were
mong the first at the supper table and that
lough their tastes might be highly Intellectual,
ley were by no means too fastidi0us to indulge
leir gastronomic appetites
We have noticed only few of the more promi.
ent co'sDiues for in such crowd it was impossi.
lie to observe any but the most ilustrious person.
ges. Madame Self Interest was more flattered
nd courted than any of her lady-guests and we
ave no doubt that the manner in which her ball
ent off gave her infinite delight. Altogether, it
as by far the most brilliant affair of the season,