Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-01-12
WASHINGTON NEWS Ard GOSSIP.

to their utmost ability by the fairer portion Of
humanity. The evening WAS cold, and the
streets are like the celebrated Jordan road
yet on arriving at the spacious portico of the
White House, we found crowd entering the
portal. Les grandeS danes were handed
from their carriages by dome.tics in livery,
the Bonrgeoise alightcd on the avenue from
the eq"tpages de Vanderwerke,, and the PEG
pie, independent and happy, came on foot.
Hail Columbia! Side by side with belle Of
the upper X, belonging to double-F-V., in
rustling silk and glistening with diamonds,
there walked in pretty lass who sells taffy in
a candy-shop, clad in book-muslin, and wear
ing atty cent breast-pin. Are we not ''free
and equal" people .......
In the large entrance hall, an array Of at
tentive attendants were in readiness to take
charge of the over-ooats and hats of the gentle
! men. Further on, at the right of the vesti-
bule. the private dining-room was used as a
ladies' saloon, where the flowers of lovelincss
emerged from their wrappers, and came out
In full-blown beauty After the usual glances
in the mirrors, to see that the toilette was per-
feet, the expansion of skirts crushed in in the
carriages, and the pushing in Of refractory
hair-pins, the ladies were ready to make their
appearance. En- arant,
Entering the ''crimson parlor," the guests
passed into the oval blue room, where the Pres
ident and his lady receive their guests. Uniting
winning cordiality of manner to a soldier
like bearing-the dignity of age to the fire of
youth-be wins all hearts not stepped in party
malice, or branded with the stamp of an all
engrossing idea. Some Johnny Verdants ev-
identity think, as they enter, that it is an awful
thing to be presented to the Chief Magistrate,
and give their name to District Marshal Hoover
as though they were to be hung, drawn and
quarscred by that most gentlemanly of officials
But the President, with cordial shake Of the
hand, puts them at ease in q moment, and
chats with each newcomer until another
claims his attention. Mrs. Pierce, further in
the centre Of the saloon, is equally pleasing in
her reception of the ladies as they are intro.
duced. .
On move the crowd, through the " gre en-
drawing room" into the famed :" east room -
This is one Of the finest apartments in the
woSd, and never does it appear to such ad-
vantage, as when filled with the intellect and
the wealth, the beauty and the chivaIry, of
the Union. Last evening, as was remarked
by all accustomed to the scene, there was not
only very general, but very creditable at
tendance The room full yaf fboro xuo,
no jam-and there was no one present who did
not appear representative of the American
people, as left by Andrew Jackson, "prosper-
Gus and happy" Hundreds, of either sex,
were grouped in the centre of the room, or
congregated around the sides-enshrining
maelstrom of bright humanity, which circled
around and around, ever varying, ever chang.
ing, like the figures in kaleidoscope Mean
while the full Marine band, in an adjacent
vestibule, performed choice operatic airs The
ca anvil chorus" and the " miserere," were no
better executed at the opera on Wednesday
night, and Scala is evidently as well &C.
quainted with eli Trovatore" as Maretzek.
Towering above the assembled wisdom, was
the Secretary of the Treasury, an impersona-
ton of incorruptible Democracy, while the
Secretary Of War, keen as a Damascus blade,
was ever surrounded by his host of admirers.
With these Cabinet officers, there was eyery
grade Of subordinates, in every department,
from the Auditorial watch-dogs who watch the
Treasury, down to the lowest clerks, who lead
a CRYSTALS life in dismal Offices by day, but
burst forth at the levees in the full glories of
patent-leather pegged bootees, and well.
cleaned kid gloves.
Prominent statesmen, too, were there. Mr..
Crittenden, with his fascinating lady-Mr.
Seward, who is a most attentive gallant-the
Republican candidate for the Speakers chair,
who is ever devoted to the fair sex-and,
strange to say, even the Senator from New
Hampshire, who has so recently and SO bitter
ly abused the President, was now among his
visitors.
But, place auE danes There was the
queen-like Mrs. B**s****, whose Juno.like
charms appeared to great advantage in a rich
broeade, while q brilliant cluster of diamonds
in her hair was rivalled by the brightness of
her eyes. Mrs. N*****, in a simple white
dress, was ever attended by admirers of her
beauty and talents. Mrs O***, in pink
satin; Mrs. A*s*A**, in black velvet; Mrs.
W*s*ss, true New England matron; and
then Mrs J***s who reigns here like her who
was the sovereign of the sovereigns of Atti-
ca, the administration Guelphs and the oppc-
sltiOn Ghibbelines competing for her favors
Why will she remain neutral on the Speaker
ship?
Mas, les Dsmo,seiies? All, it must have
been bad heart which did not pay homage
to that galaxy Of loveliness. Every style of
beauty, every style of dress was represented,
and there was a capital exhibition Of couuetry
and fascination. Who was the belle, par &C.
esffe"ce' Some admired Miss R****&#,
whose profile is as perfect as her founced tot.
lette was in good taste, while others preferred
the queen like charms of Miss C~x.x*, and
third set raved about the petite and grace
full Kentuckian, Miss T~*s*. We, moro Ma.
hOmAt tan in cd