Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-01-27
FOR THE STAR.
PEREGRINA AT THE PRESIDENTS
.a-. 70. LEVEE


GENTLEMEN: | was one in the crowd
that trcde down the velvet carpets of the
Presidential mansion, On Friday evening.
1t was the first evening reception of the
season, and was well attended. General
Pierce looked as he always does, hand
some and noble. l know he was tired of
shaking hands. As people, we expect
moro of our Presidents every four years.
General Washington bowed yerv grace
fully, but did not always shake hands.
Another of our early Presidents had a
fashion of putting his right hand within
his vest, over his heart; from thence he
only withdrew it when wishing to paw
some individual a peculiar compliment.
But Young America is very exactinc.
Nowadays, the President must shake
hands with everybody. tr--a-- ~ -.
What a variety was found in that, as
semblage! [, plainly but genteelly habit
ed, took my seat on one of the sofas, and
there, mentally, l made the following re-
marks: There stands the Secretary of
the Treasury-What bland, good coun-
tenance he has! How richly and becom-
ingly his daughters dress What pretty
girl that is-so sweetly attired In plain,
untrimmed muslin, with wreaths of lilies
in her fair hair! Do look at that old
bachelor, grinning and smirking to that
rich widow-he has been fortune hunt
ing for thirty years There stands Gen.
Houston, like sturdy forest tree-Iet
him take position, and then uproot him
if you can. There is Mrs. Senator, G. ,
maguificently dressed, as usual. All /.
woman of fashion there is real goodness
in your heart, worldly as you seem to be.
And there is Mr.. X, the artist like
him, if he is bachelor: for he owes little
children, and he is so kind to the poor.
Here comes Com. s. and his good lady
[ like them botle and | love their Young
daughter, whose changing, sweet coun-
tenancc says so much, denied as she is
the power of language. There comes
Major Wyse !!!' ei-
The Major held out his hand to me :
81 How do you do, Miss Peregrina ia 2" said
he. ooh! Major said l, show well
you look, in spite Of your salt water
bath" g Miss Peregrina, sais he, "I
should be glad never to see salt water
again. When the storm was at its worst.
one of the young people called out, WHO
wrote The Sea, the deep blue Sea g
Some one answered, in sepulclral voice,
The greatest fool that ever lived"
saw manywere pushing forward to shake
hands with the Major, the held a mag
nificent bouquet) so l told him to 20 on
and be lionized. seated myself on the
sofa, and began talking to myself again.
Look at that old lady with turban
like hod-carricr; how complaccnt she
looks. There is pretty Miss -. All
she is too, much of belle. She looks
jaded with her balls and receptions every
night. Those men that surround her, /
think so too. Gracious. there's old
Mr.. thought he was dead. He
has buried three wives, and lis, l dare
say, looking out for another. Let man
be widower the second time, and he
will live forever. There is Mrs. B.-fine
looking woman, but too much dressed.
There comes Mrs. -; silk was scarce
when her dress was made. If that Duke
of something were here, (the one. who
lOuilu ldulC WIFI NlTS. tSOule > ureSS Tue
other day. he would not call all American
women prudes. Look at that handsome
Captain, fattering and looking tender at
Miss - Is he going to marry her
These army men are mighty slippery.
There is a handsome, stylish South Car.
Olina widowcr. And there is handsome
widower, a Colonel, and a young man
There is the milliner that repaired my
old velvet bonnet. There is the grocer
that We deal with ;,and that is his wife
! know, that daprer little fellow too. Hi
is clerk in store. And there is tht
nice little woman that keeps thread
and needle store opposite our house
Why not ! They are all we'll behaved
and how happy they look There sits /,
demure little maiden, witha bonnet OF
her head and there comes that unfahine
fop with the thin fingers and gold spec
tacles. Dear me, how warm it is getting
But there is young, bride with an Ole
bridegroom !! That is the fashion now-a a
days, | wonder if our party are not go
ing soon." - ,'... - 80 81
/ was tired, and in this a great c Grove ov
began to feel lonely. Hooked around 70
familiar faces, but saw none, Ifooke,