The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-24
Our Washington Correspondence.
WASH NGroN, Jan. 20,

the Democratic Party IN Nep fok-h -'to
Mode of Patching up the Late BreecheS-" osd
Brooches" Supposed 10 be the Aahor-iN
"RaM aud File" Of the Democracy about 10 Ao'
for Themselves, &C., &c.
have learned from an authentic source tna' 'neie
is movement being made by sundry poii'iciAns
from New York to bring about reunion oe'ween
Rhe "hards" and softs, by an entirely ne" moue Vi
operations, which the knowing ones mere VINO nave
seen the plan pronounce to be Just the thing 'has
was wanted
The scheme originated with gentleman from
Western New York who, with o coadjutor from
NE eastern part Of the state is here to have the
natter revised and sanctioned by the heads Of the
hrty now in Washington The programme is as
1ows:-
II Is proposed to foresta the action OF the State
Jnyentions of both sections of the party by tax
-xg measures to have two men, Gone hard" and one
xIS9tt Aelsstei From each Assembly district in the
State, who will meet in Syracuse in August and
July next for the purpose Of nominating ,ket,
to be submitted TO the people irrespective OF sec
tional divisions claiming the support OF the demo
These delegates are to be chosen from the most
moderate class of both sections, aud are to be men
who have not held Office under the State or federal
administration for the last year, and who are not
applica0tsror official favor from any quarter They
should also be men who have not figured, or in any
wise made themselyes conspicuous lu tne lasc lrou'
bes between the two branches OF the party.
The ticket to be nominated will be composed OF
new men, and is to be submitted to the people,
(before the time for usual meeting OF The conVen-
lions of the existing Sc ,tions) together with the
pledges of the delegates to its support,
The old leaders a. well the old divisions are to
be thrown overheard if they do not fall into line as
common soclers. JOHN JONES.
WASHING rom Jan. 81 1854
President P.erceS FIRST Leree-1he Fashion and
Beauty of the East Room.
President Pierce held his first grand levee
Iast night. Great were the preparations made by
ME- ladies Of this city to appear to advantage on that
occasion, and brilliant were the snticipations in
dulged in as to Its spendor and elegance Gorgeous
ribbons and extravagant headdresses were in great
demand for the past few days, and white kids must
have become precious commodity in the market.
The hackmen seemed TO recover their spirits from
the unusual number Of jobs which came to quicken
mp their ordinary dulness and the mllners and
dressmabers were, 1t is to be presumed, kept in
. profitable circle Of fuss, furry and excitement.
The hotels experienced remarkable increase in the
number Of their guests owing to the very fresh ar
walls OF young misses, fashionable danes and anti
quated demoiselles from the rural parts, to whom
Presidents first leyee appeared as one OF the great
Dccasiona Of life, and whose imagiIations were
Strongly excited by the brilliant perspectives of
fashion, beauty aud elegance which their inexper
enced heads associated with the idea. For the past
two or TIRES days-ever since the announcement in
the Union that that grand event was to take place
Oh the evening OF Friday, the goth of January, and
- be continued every Friday evening during the
Session. have bad all these consequences OF the
announcement and these preparations for the occa-
sion brought before my observation, and | actually
began to think that possibly the specta lie might be
one well worth going to see
Acting under this fallacious impression, last
eyenilg hunted up from the mysteries of my port
manteau q pair of spotess Alexandres, which by
some strange accident happened TO have got among
my traps and having expended "bit to the
advantage of the darkie who presides over the boot
Slack department Of the National, / found myself
Soon on the front stoop Of tie White House, where
Eopped for some time admirng the grotesquely
Hooded and cloased figures which 1t required some
discrimination to recognise as belonging to ladies.
There they were. hurrying past and sweeping into
He nall, and thence into the attrng room, with an
lagerness and hustle which is only to be equaed
af er the bell has sounded for dinner in Washing
ton boarding house Soon afte. found myself in an
an,e.room well lighted and handsomely furnished,
shutting along amid ranks OF serious looking men
aud lesolute 10; king ladies, the latter appearing
terrible In their semi-naked simplicity OF course
had often before beheld similar spectacles OF bare
b SONS and arms psraded in public assemblies, but
have not yet made sufficient progress in fashionable
life TO overcome my instructive aversion to IT, more
especially when these appertenances OF the female
foim so exhibited belong to individuals Of corpu.
lent or of iahk habit of body, and American
ladies are very often found to be in either extreme.
But let this pass, indeed while thus specializing
found myself in reality to have gradually passed into
the reception room, and before | had had much
ieisue to cover from the train Of thought, and to
note the surroundings of the apartment, | had re.
ceived polite recognition from the President,
an introduction to the lady at his side-whom
/ at first. in the confusion of my ideas, had mis-.
taken for Mrs. Pierce, but who afterwards learned
is q relative and visiter of hers from New Hamp-
shire-and another equally polite recognition from
his private Secretary, Sydney Webster. These
ceremonies through the satisfaction OF all concern.
ed, | soon found myself standing one OF group OF
gentlemen, in the centre OF the east room, gazing
sans ceremos,ie, and with amazing n1nchdidnce, at
The uninterrupted es OF half dressed females who
pronenaded on either side apparently for no other
purpose than to exhibit the charms of their faces
their figures and their dresses, in the eyes Of the
admiring spectators The room was very full and,
as a natural consequence, very warm. Some OF the
ladies were very yvacous, aud very oQuacious, and
very-oh, gracious while others seemed TO consider
the whole affair g very solemn sort OF tn 'ng and
where merriment and good humor were not az al to
be thought Of
am naturally inclined 70 be very gallant young
man. ! am at all times sensitive to glance from
pair OF bright roguish eyes, aud am, consequently,
-ery 10th to say anything which might offend the
Ngel side Of creation. But yet feeling that have
plemn duty to perform in enlightenng, through
Jour columns, the public miad, anxious TO learn
serythng connected with this fashionable event,
frve myself to the task, and proceed to discharge
Sat duty unshrinkingly. The concession of my weak
tss. which have just made, indicates that am an
Hmirer OF female loneliness. admit the business OF
ihe inference And, consequently, one Of the most
natural impulses felt on finding myself, last even
Ing. in a position which promised splendid oppor
tunty for INDUCING this harmless taste, was to avail
myself of it to its fullest extent propped myself
against one OF the small circular tables in tae
centre OF the room, and prepared to feast my
eyes on grace and beauty Half dozen files
passed without giving me the fantest shadow of an
excase to calculate inwardly, How handsome
how beautiful :" Well, ! reflected philosophically
that beauty Is not alstted 10 all indscrminately;
+haf a. tln If thn
tnre would turn round, which doubted not it would
In time. Half dozen more files passed by-a dozen.
Halo, Venus where the deuce are your favorites
gone TO " ireligiously exclai ned; "yon don't
mean to say there are no pretty women at all in the
room :" A curious echo-which eigDed for while
10 disbeieve-raDg in my senses s,me ten minutes