The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-25
From the ST. Louis Republican, Jan III
FRENCH SOCIETY IN,lsIS.

FRENCH SOCIETY IN 'le3s'
On Monday evening, DR.. Reeurt receives
at the Hotel de Vile. On the outside,
horseman Of the republican guard watch at
! all the doors, on the inside the doctor and
his lady, their ushers, five or SIX members
Of the town council, most of them fat as al
derman should be, as many agents Of the
! prefecture, two or three village mayors, and
host Of the medical gentry, and the mer-
chants Of Paris, wander in the saloons,
amazed at the magnifcence Of the furniture
and the gildings. The conversation is not
remarkable for its brilliancy. AT one Of
! these Soirees of the Project, there We're on
| ly two ladies present AT half past ten the
Doctor goes to sleep, and Mrs. Recurt has
great difficulty in not following his example.
The visitors take their umbrellas, the lights
are eXtinguished, and at IL O'clock, the
honest couple are snoring quietly under the
curtains of the Department,
But Tuesday evening is the great eve
ming of the week, the evening of the soiree
of Gen. Cavaignac The garden and the
Hotel Of the Presidency are thrown open to
all Christendom They are all kinds oftypes
OF people indigenous and exotic; ambassa-
doris, warriors, ministers, Jews, catholic, re-
formers and musselmen, and perhaps five or
six pretty women The citizens look quiet
in their black coats and white cravats.-
| There are ten thousad national guards from
all parts Of France, who have marched up
through the mud, snow and rain. Many of
them are accompanied by little national
guards Of both sexes, who, stifed and trod
upon in the crowd, cry so as to melt the
heart Of gen d'arme. II is, not a recep-
tion--it is night review passed BY the I'M
fortunate Caviagnac in his parlors, ante
chambers, kitchens, garden, and street. f.
After three-quarters Of an hour Of struggle,
tearing clothes, Of cries Of children and SUI
locations, you succeed in getting into the
third parlor, where you see the noble moth
er Of Gen Cavignac, dressed in black, sur
dby Lady Normandy Madame Roger,
Madame Lamorcere, Madame Dutaure,
Madame Marie, and two or three other fe
male notabilities, perfectly distinguished and
graceful although belonging to the official
circle Then if nature has gratifed you
with six feet Of height, and stout toes,
you enjoy the painful spectacle Of five or six
poor ladies', devoted to the implacable curl
osity Of citizens who will see them, dead or
alive, Each wave Of men rests moment
to gaze, and then is forced on before new
wave which does the same thing, and so on
ttill midnight
The monotony is sometimes interrupted
I, by the little voice Of the urchin Of some Ma
tional Guard, who does not wish to go be-
fore seeing General Cavaignac. 6 Papa,
show me General Cavaignac say papa,
show him to me-"
Here, my dear do you see that tall, dry,
meagre man, with the black moustaches,
black coat, white waistcoat, red ribbon around
his neck, who is speaking to an English lord'
| that is the General"
" Sacrst! papa, how pretty he is; papa,
let's go."'
Eleven o'clock strikes the citizen lords
are satisfied, the crowd gradually passes
! away and the President, thanks to his clocks
I and patience, has once more little time to
! think.
On Wednesday evening the Minister of
Agriculture, the Minister ofthc Interior and
the Minister Of War, all receive. At the
first the conversation is about horses, oxen,
vegetables, methods Of irrigation and the
culture Of the beet At the second there is
all the politeness Of charming lady, and a
Reunion Of many danes who formerly made
the ornament Of the court ofLouis Philippe.
At the third, there is great congregation
again Of National Guards. The ordor Of
powder, Of cigars the clank of the sabre,
the brilliant epaulette, moustaches, and war
like conversation, form the attraction for the
military. However, the eye Of a civilian
must repose upon young lady, pretty,
sweet, good and gracefully aiiectonate-an
embodiment Of all the charms and graces
which Heaven has reserved to her sex : ii is
Madame de Lamorieierc. Surrounded by
the Partisan army, she looks like one Of
Raphel's virgins in camp of Crusaders.
! We will pass over the miscellaneous COM
pany of NJ. Mauast on Thursday evening,
and the Friday soirees of the Chancellor,
which are Just what they should be for that
day Of fasting and abstinence. We would
recommend these weekly reunions at the
Chancellor's house to those poor souls who
desire to prepare themselves, by penitence,
for better life.
Out, the odtuiuaJ evening receptions OF
M. de Lamartinc are entirely different
There you will find small but select circle,
devoted to elegance, good manners, taste,
wit and genius. 1t is there that traditions
are preserved and as the vestals removed
the sacred fire to preserve it from becoming
extinguished, so have ideas, sentiments, and
inspirations been moved to the circle Of La
MARITIME, to keep them from perishing. How
ever mutilated It may be, the saloon Of La
maritime will regulate ard preserve always
the knowledge Of the elegant world
Exchange Hotel, Washington city.
We have on former occasions within The past year
called attention TO the Exchange Hotel Washington
City under the control Of our personal friend,
T. NJ. Mcllhany, formerly of Loudoun county, Va.
In doing SO, but paying just tribute to true
wortl.--whilst we always felt thai we were at the