The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-20
For she National Era.
LETTERS FROM THE CAPITOL.

WASHINGTON, Pbrsary Is, 1851
DEAR W. Pardon me for giving another
dull morning to you and let pleasant old memo.
ries throw little sunshine into my chamber and
onto my page, now that Nature, bat yesterday all
smiles, is weeping and frowning like passionate,
capricious girl-very unbecoming conduct in a
lady Of her years, must say.
at rains, and rains, and is never weary
truly day after cabman's own heart By the
way, one cannot be long in Washington without
remarking that it absolutely swarms with hacks
of all sorts.
The levee at the Presidents last night was one
of the pleassntest of the season There were
many strangers present, lately come to the city,
in large excursion parties from Maine and Mas
sachusetts and among these was a fair proper
ton of beauty and grace | think have not seen
so many handsome women at any drawiug-room
this winter. If you have never attended levee,
let me give you a little idea of one.
After depositing hats and 0loaks in the ante
room you proceed to the " Blue Room,n where the
Marshal, or some friend presents you to the
President and his family. After exchanging the
compliments, you pass on into the magnificent
/" East Roomn where most Of the guests are as
---.blea, forming @ssrsam OF promeD aders, pass
ing round and round the brilliant hall. or paus-
ing in groups to laugh and chat
The President plays the role of the host in An
admirable manner. He is urbsne and cordial
with no air of effort or condescensou. Mrs and
Miss Fillmore perform their parts with equal
grace and readiness The Presidents Zone fair
daughter impresses one more and more as an in.
teligent natural, modest, and fresh hearted girl
She dresses with peculiar simplicity and good
taste, and always meets one with a sunny, un.
forced smile, and words Of pleasant greeting.
An object of considerable interest, last evening
was the Presidents venerable father, man who
having seen the SHOWS of eighty winters, is yet
erect and vigorous and apparently fresh and
youthful in his feelings He had just arrived
yet seemed in no wise fatigued by his long
journey.
Passing into the East Room, we first remarked
the towering forms of Scott and Houston each
with host of admirers circling about him-s
slow whirlpool Of broadcloth and brocade-whie
Foote and Douglas, and other distinguished Sena.
tora created considerable eddies in the crowd as
they passed along 1t is curious to observe how
lamb-like the fercest lion Of war becomes in the
drawing .room-there he softens his terrible front
and "roars you gently an it were a nightingale
There, the hand used to WELD the dripping sword,
tribes daintiy with my lady's fan-there, the lips
wont to thunder out commands or tighten forth
hot oaths, wreath with gay smiles and let of in.
cessantly the harmless words Of compliment and
lively repartee Toward the close Of the evening
saw the hero of Vera Cruz, supporting on his
arm his youngest daughter, very beautiful girl
who reminded one Of Tennyson's "Adeineo
"witb her a,atng haxsn hair,
Her rosy cheeks and full blue eye"
The mate To this fine picture was formed by the
gallant Colonel May, superb figure Of man
powerful enough to have worn mail and welded
the battle-axe at Agincourt, and Mrs CT
young widow from ST. Louis fair and stately, who
also reminded me of one of Tenny sons creations
"oh, sweet, pale Margaret,
Oh, rare pale Margaret"
But the belle Of the evening, decidedly, was
Mrs A., of ST. Louis lady past the nrst
season, but hardly the first bloom Of youth---ons
who charms alike by her beauty and courtly man
ners, and by the everywhere apparent freshness
and kindliness Of her heart. One would suppose
that she had drunk Of the tabled fountain Of
youth-was in possession Of the true ply Biological
northumberland and obeyed that primal law Of
nature, selfpreservation.
May ! make q confscation Of this newspa-
perp said Jagiello to me, the other day. Ii
might make conhscation Of one Of Willis's lus
ciOus words, should say that the ylnnptlude Of
Mrs. A is just at that point Of roundness and
ripeness behind which lie leannes and sharp lines
and beyond which you enter upon the dowsger
degree, wherein you eschew short sleeves and
founces, don black velvet and turbans, get short
breathed on mounting stairs, drive leisurely, 20
seldom to the opera, attend only morning service
on Sunday, take long after dinner maps, and pei
over fed lar-dogs sleepy aud asthmstic Ia
short, shc is Of such fair and just proportions thai
one says with the poet
"Yst though would not lore thee lass,
could not love thee more"
Washington seems, indeed, the paradise Of
married and middle-aged women, and Of elderly
gentlemen Society here seems much like that oil
English cities in the respect that its leaders arr
not young irts and dainty eXquisites, but women
of mature age and worldly experience, and meu
Of dignihed port, wearing Solomon's sign Of w's
dom, or, at least, that barberous substitute wh'o0
decsives nobody. You look, In vain, throseA OUT
saloons for nice, specialized, gosspins. tsa.aFht
ing, snuif-taking old lsdiea in brows ssu1 ."'
muslin kerchiefs You see soosss Of fAir oss's''
and stately ffties, but, BY sens sssAsse !.''"',
no wonfa ever rsachss sixty IN wsss''s''"