M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1855-02-23
Fashion AT wushIngion--PresI-
dents Levee, &c. -i

correspondent at Washington City
from whose last letter to that paper vi
take notice Of one Of the President:
levees, the guests present, dc:
"Last evening, { (Friday), we atten,
ded the Levee at the Presidents. The
assembly was large and brilliant, with
the attractions Of Beauty, Fashion,
Diplomacy, and Craftsmanship. We
entered the Green Room, to uncloak,
and found it alive with ladies in the
last flutter Of a preparation. Some
were glancing satis6edly at their fail
reflections in the large mirrors, and re-
arranging curl here, and braid anc
Ijaponica there, with an artistic eye, Il
the finest display and the most captiva,
ting effect; while others resettled collar.
and bracelets and head.dresses, ovel
and over again, to secure them the fin.
ishing air OF good taste and best posi-.
bic adjustment.
"rhis done, the throng moved on,
and exchanged salutations with the
Chief Magistrate Of this grea! Repub-
lie. We thought when we were pre-
sented, that the cares of the nation
had ploughed some furrows in his
cheeks, that were not there when he
had his picture taken for the dear peo-
| pie.
"The celebrated East Room was
brilliant with gas light, and overflow
ing with the elite oil our Republic, and
its chosen Representatives. A large
brass band played ia the chamber,
and music, introductions, compliments,
and promenading were the order and
fashion Of the evening. The gentle
men were as plenty as leaves in Val
Ambrosie, and distinguished chiefly
Tor black coats, white kids, and intel,
ligent, handsome faces.
General Scott was emphatically y the
great man OF the evening, il size were
the standard. He seemed in excellent
spirits, and bowed, smiled, and compli.
mented on all sides, almost as grace.
fully as he once did to the 'Rich Irisl
Brogue,' and the Sweet German Ac,
cent
i "We noticed VIM. Seward, in a re-
tired corner, talking quietly with a la
dy, most of the evening. He is bette
looking than represented, d. E. Sick
les, Secretary Of Legation, lately re
turned from London, showed conspic
uously as master Of the Arts agree
, able Of the drawing room, as he doubt
less is of Diplomacy The 'Littl,
Giant ranked also among those whom
fortune and the ladies favor with thei
, smiles.
"The ladies appeared mostly in full
dress, which, as usual, implied some
thing Of a contradiction. The reign
ing fashion seemed very short waists
peculiarly short in the neck, some o
. them cut down to the very edge of de-
corum, and some times little beyond
) thought, (but the reason probably is
that the edge of decorum being only al
J imaginary one, it is, of course, capa
BILE OF great variety Of location, AM
people not possessed Of the requisite
faculties, might find it extremely diff
cult to locate it at all, arms bare to tn,
shoulders, if we except the effectiv,
covering OF lace, bracelets, and gloves
while the heads of our fair fashionist.
resembled the hanging gardens of Baby
lon, filled with roses, terraced on darl
braids, and falling over snowy should
ers, which, with elegant silks, anc
} flashing diamonds, made up tout en-
> Semble,' destined, no doubt, to carry
arrows Of conviction to the hearts o
many men. But, after all I'VE could no
help rejecting that clear compilations
and wax-doll expressions, fascinatin,
as they are, are not the essence, but thl
form Of beauty, at which we are to,
content 10 stop, regardless of the infn
, ity OF real spiritual beauty beyond, ca
pable of attainment by all, and that il
| how really worthless a cause do W,
spend our lives, martyrdom for tn
D admiration of mankind, who often
: thoug h they are profoundly consciou
s Of the magnitude of the offering, ar
yet SO ungrateful as not to thank US 70
, the sacrifice"