The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-14
when anrliear,s for Congressional fsyors. or their

Nee
the motives Of their h2st. Doubtless they have mo
tive as Was iosruatgd some time since in your pa
per. in the iasiauce OF he Colt patent extension
but repeat II is NOT for us, ia the pursuit OF plea
sure add amusement to be 50 ounctiliously scru ou-
Ions in such mstten. Such puritsnism on our par;
would argue an extremely shallow knowledge Of hui
man nature.
But As to fashionable lie in Waslington-for that
is The main subject OF my communication: II Ia.
come 10 be recognized as unqusstionable fact that
the national capital is the winter rendezvous OF
tbs wealthy, the learned, the influential, the po-
lite, the beautiful, ana the fascinating classes OF
our community. All sections Of the United States,
from California 10 Maine are supposed to contribute
what they have Of greatest merit in any of these
CARDS, to make up, with the foreign residents here
tout ensemble Of worth, fashion and elegance. BY
degrees became indoctriAated in this faith, and so
was induced by curiosity TO come and hibernate
here. Shall ! confess it'll have been in great
measure disappointed Washington by no meaus
realizes the expectations had been led to form OF
it. Tsoue h a confirmed bachelor. am to the last
degree sensible to the power OF womans loneliness.
IL is to some extent, to my intense admiration OF the
fair that owe my state Of single bessedness on
the principle that
wsuld not offspd tina vhols RAGS
By silly sl.c len q one.
And yet cannot with acy degree OF caudor admit
thai the slightest impression has been made on my
heart since came here, although 1t has been regl.
larry laid siege to by at least half dosen lsdiss OF
various ages and sizes, and some of them, too, OF
considerable beauty. For you must know. MIR. Ed
tor, at least your readers must know that Wash
ington is regarded by splinter and widow ladies',
throughout the country, as the most eligible place in
the land to select partners for lfe and is Is much
resorted 10 os this speculation, Independent Of azy
other consideration. At present the ladies sojourn-
ing here would seem to stand in relation to the men
IN poiDt Of numbers, rs three to two, SO that one
third of The ladies' at this calculation, being unprovi-
Ced for, you msy imagine what chance versant
youths or smorous beaux have Of escaping their
viii 1haYG aI. no, -,
have escaped intact
Tie most favorable opportunities for the diIplsy Of
personal charms and rich dres,e afforded by the
receptions given once week by each of three or
fIur members Of the Cabinet Messrs. Guthrie,
Campbell. and McCelland are consdefate enough
and in this lbey follow but established usage-to
throw their salons open to the public one night in
each week. There is little, if auy. eXclusiveness OBJ
served In these parties. All that stranger has to do
is to leave his card at the residence Office of the
cabinet mini ter whose reception he wishes 70 at.
tend ard as a matter of course invitation is sent
10 ih5 address. These receptions, however amusing
they may be 10 seneTa sense, are not at al brilliant
or attractive. The crowds attending then being as
general thing some three or four times larger than
the ROOMS can conveniently accommodate, it follows
a matter of necessity that there is regular JAM
which sadly dsarrapges the skirts Of ladies' dresses
and sometimes accidentally carries away the bloom
Of their cheeks. But though there is no actual
pleasure in tie tbing-the receptions being mere for
mai ahalrsthe same persons repeat their visits, and
20 II Tue same process OF ana DclDX
squeezed week after week. The Presidents levee
hch Is held every Friday evening, is, perhaps the
best place for la6es 10 be seen 10 advantage, the
premenafe room being large the light good sad the
at'eadance he aoss numerous Here toere Is 40 pre-
nduaiy furmslty III tae way of invita- don requisite.
II - ggar democratic free and easy sori of an
affair, though | do think that the custon-sn i'm
l'ation Of monarchical usages--is empty, meaning
les humbug, and one which would re 'more honorea
IN The breach than In the observance. 1t is ell very
plea ant, agreeable, aBd right, perhaps that the
ecutiye mansion should be thrown open 10 vister5
once week; but do think it is 20 much to ask the
President OF the republic to submit to The punish
ment OF standing up, wearing the same sniie, repeat.
ing tie same salutation, and shaking hands wish all
that enter, for two lopg mortal hours. 1t is an IN
mtigated bore and which, were in his position,
should not submit to, except it was expressly pro-
ydeo Tor in the constitution Let the room be lighted
No. ~ let the ladies promenade it, in the full nlaze
OF ihe gas Dd OF their own attractions, and al the
necessary requirements are suici .nty fulfilled They
don't goto see the Piesident-tney merely 90 to oe
seen themselves That being attained by simply
throwing open the rooms and giving the re u1 On the
character OF fashionable, / think the Objectionable
Part OF the ceremony might be very well dispensed
with. II tie Presidest should make coup detat to
carry this point, let the HiRALD support him in it,
the Scarlet letter and the distribution Of the spos
NJ understanding.
gentleman who had arrived here from New
York few days ago, sa'd to me on Friday evening,
Ben Iwuuldh like to go to the levee onight YOU are
fashionable man and know most OF the people hire;
will you accompany me?' / placed myself at hi,
disp.sa, though had no particular fancy for gong,
as had seen quite enough to satisfy me on former
occs-iors. The East room wss almost vacant when
we got into it, containing only few fashionable
young men, who had arrived early and Who were
louhpiDg sbout in the most approved democratic at
tItudes: Presently the first ranks began to file in
through the reception ROOM and the tide continued
to flow until the East room and the corridor were
filled With promeraders OF all ages, from the country
mchin Of ten, who gezed round him in complete be-
wIldtrme1t at the brilliant spectacle which met his
eyes, 10 the old gentleman or lady of three score.
What seemed most of all however, to astoniss my
proege, was that out Of the great number Of ladies'
there were so very few who showed any pretsnsions
TO beauty; and he began TO indulge soto rocs In re-
marks contrasting them with the ladies to be met
with in public places in New York. Ger ainly the
contrast appeared very palpaby 70 the disadvantage
Of the l>nits at the levee. But the difference was
not, perhaps after J. much this result of inferi.
oi,y OF face or figure as in the style of dress and
Refreshments which is just row fashionable here.
Fa.tdions gentlemen will naturally question the
good ta,te OF ladies exposing their breasts-be they
even If Delian mould and purity-to the gaze Of
hundreds OF young men Who are attracted by the
spectacle; n r will these same exacting characters
be likely TO appreciate the beauty Of swanke neck
when It's wbiteness is the result OF chalk, )r of
bio" mrg cheek TO which toe delicate appl cation OF
rouge hts conveyed its color.
The fact Is, the ladies now In Washington are DOS
sefsed of no less natural charms than their ,od
locking stters in Ns6 York and else shere. Blu.
here they to have somehow or other got il into
Their foolish little heads that their chief attraction
over the hearts of mankind consists in ignoring ma
tura sId their own delicate sensbili.ies. Foolish
idea! II these little women knew the human heart
they could lot but be sensible ths Ia the mind Of
worthy man ore touch Of ratnre outvsues all the
embellishments Of art, and that the greatest orna-
neut OF woman is modesty 10 dress and department.
II they would take the counsel of one who has
siudie3 them minntey their influence the sfec.
ucls and passions of man would be tentold aug.
Debted and certainly would tend to more good
But il is more especially al these fashionable re-
ceDlions that ladies dressed thus extrsya.
ganuy On the avenue AMI at dinf table they not
generally appear so. i was amused the other day at
Wlatds, observing The eilsc which beautiful bust
ard uncovered chest pIoducsd on u brawey Irisa
waiter. Though sot very sensitive perhsps apd not
gwen 10 bushng for rifliug matters the blood rusp-
ed ~ his cheeks, and he became so confused that he
let TIE plate of roast turkey re was banding to The
lacy ail on the floor, and very nearly got discharged
for his awbwardress
The Nation al theatre has secome one 81 the most
popular and fshio she rendezvous IN this metropo-
", since Forrest commenced his engag,mecs lat