The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-07-29
Correspondence of the n. i. Tribune
Society at the Capital.

WAsHINGToN, Saturday, July 10, 1852.
The session draws to cose--the excitement
caused by the Presidential nominations is nearly over
the heat becomes intense and for all these reasons
taken together, Washington is nearly abandoned bv
the beauty and fashion that crowd it so intensely du
ring the Congressional season. The hotels, and
ming parties the receptions at the White House, and
finally even Pennsylvania Avenue comparatively
deserted One Of the greatest attractions for quiet
observer is thus gone 1t amusing turmoil
that was kept up BY these sel-styed fashionabes -
Such It was, 1t gathering far different from
all others, which i'll the prominent cities Of the mon
as, for example, in Boston. New York, Philadelphia
and even in Baltimore, contrvA acquire rho ohor-
acter and the position OF the upper thousands, raised
above others on fancul and sham platonm The
society of the Capital taken large, differs from the
above mentioned in every respect; in its composition
as in its tones and features,
This Washington society ought to be divided into
two kinds-distinct from each other, and still ANAL
gamating together. The | would call the stand
ing OF permanent composed Of old remains of
responsibilities, which took root here along with the
foundations Of the Capitol and OF the White House;
nest come those, who nailed TO their official Oc-
cupatons and then, SPECTATORS voracious leeches
hanging the issues of the Treasury, such bank
es agents shavers and birds Of that feather; and f.
nallv what are called in the lingo of the pace--te
! lobby men, Some of this whole eenms, count their
existence here already by generations. The other
great division is the floating one, parts Of 1T brought
every session the waves of the Congressional tide
and disappearing with its cbb, This division--nu,
mcrous active, mobile the qucbsan Of the desert
blown together from all directions Of the compass,
craving after excitement of any kind, eager to sec
new faces. new coats, dresses and anything new
whatcver--pcneuatcs like a tornado everywhere and
gives to the whole world here its peculiar character
It's clearly drawn features Its hurry burlv mover ent
can ony be resisted by him who has real ballast in
his own personality. Such was the lamented CLAY
such are other public well established celeb tiles
ANY other assumption is mcrcilessly ovcrthrown; and
thus the prominent criterion Of society here becomes
that of real democratic equality, in which psuedo
aristocrat can hold his ground, less than any other
the argyrocrat the money bag parvenu. Grandees,
from the great Commercial cities Of the East,
descend on Washingto for short yisit--men whose
tread shakes the solid bases Of Wall street State
street aud resounGs the MAJ kets of both Hem
isphcres; but here all Of them disappear in the social
tornado, very often wholly unnotlced or even trampled
under foot. lf then, some few responsibilities from
the standing division. affect TO keep alOof resist
the irresistible cmrent--such persons, imperceptibIe
in number obliged to shut themselves oysterlike
! in their shells.
All the regions # the Union forward to the Capt.
tal together with the better halves of the members
Of Congress, cargo ci daughters, nieCes, young
ragable friends rich and poor widows etc. etc, etc.
This secures pretty considerable of far
ones, and thus immense torren, of Irritation rolls
continually through parOis, public and private, in
the hotels the galleries Of both the Houses Of Con-
rress the rotMda, the Capitol grounds, the avenues
evening parties, piCknIcks, drives, and all other
counters and points OF meeting such as studios OF ar
fists, churches, and Occasion in general is
very easily afforded for the like, account of the
wholly uncontrolled liberty enjoyed by American
girls Few fta,ions are carried on, only for the
sake Of Irritation. II is hunting party executed by
all the interested, the marriasabIe gentlemen, and
tbs misses and ladies. Some individuals hunt for dis
tincton others for connections, generally all of them
] NJ VI tho of
ciety--Inoncy. The match-hunting Mamas or Aunts
equal IN pertenacity any celebrated English Of the
same species still there is here less cunning, audaci
ty or impudence The game IS more open, the par
ties to ii less acrimonious, and every body can safely
peep into the cards All Is rather harmless, and a
certain primitive naivre spreads the perormal
ces rather childish charm. The final aim is, after
all what the French call the ton mot9, or matrimony
which makes The whole maneuverng, inohensiVe and
not dangerous.
Poor Members of Congress, officers Of the Army
and Navy, Young clerks in offices newspaper CORES
pondents form the principal pack of the helresshun
ters To ths ought to be added squad OF Dipio-
mats. high and low, poor creatures whose munger Is
stimulated the since one OF them some time ago,
carried away very we'll stuffed prize.
Washington, as well as Georgetown, possesses
standing beauties of its own mostly daug ghters o.
cai udividualsgeneraiy pennyiess, but not less
eager after matrimonial establishments. All these
various elements make the race very amusing for a
spectator In this conflict Of chasing, catching.
abandoning and snatchng up, one can detect the in
ward play Of the passions, and finally draws this
conclusion that if the outward manifestations require
variety and differ from each other IN different coun-
tries and states Of society, inwardy human nature is
everywhere alike.
The male hunters. natives, strangers, foreigners,
are verv often thrown of the track in the fervor
of their pursuit. This happens when, at the start
they are not discriminating enough, but began the
race without ascertaniny most positively the worth
in dollars and cents Of the chosen To find ou'
her real valu, is the more difficult, when the fair
rrize comes from the dFtanr bank OF the Miroiszirp