Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-03-15


New England Now the Hon. Lycureus
Brick is not considered good society at home
beeause his habits arc Of rather an unhappy
character indeed a respectable mcmber Of an
established family would rather hesitate about
a casual acquaintance but here II The burly
/ Lycurgus had his influence from his political
position, Mrs Saltou Soap should have hers in
/ right Of her upholstery. Il struck me that one
was as ennobli1g and entertaining ss the other.
But | did not pursue the improbable discus
sion.
You will observe, my dear g., in this two
elements directly efecling society in Washing
ton-one the political, the other the result Of
Slavery. The one recognizes labor--for labor
goes TO the polls, in shirt-sleeves or ragged
coats perhaps but there il Is creating politi.
clans and politicians create Washington and
the other degrades labor, owns it, beats it, and
Of couise can give ii no place in the so-called
society. BY observing these facts you will be
able to clear mp some apparent inconsis,ences
in the heterogeneous mass Of active life in and
about the corporate limits Of our capital
You must excuse me for thus taking up so
much Of my letter with snch philosophizing :
but il is a trick have, for which you may
scold as you will but il seems as il cannot
come out Of it.
Now for the Ieyee. We drove in hack No.
2oI, and very nice hack il is, 10 the Presi-
DENTAL mansion. The band was playing in the
vilest manner the popular air Of "Bobbn'
around"-a, least such was our vague impress
son-and the clock told the hour Of l-2, as
we rolled under the porlico which protects the
entrance. This early affair terminates at TO-
The present occupants were strangers TO me. /
never saw President Pierce until this evening,
bu, the house is an old acquaintance. 10 this
house many, many years ago, had taken my
first glimpses of society. ! had in these halls
been looked at by Calhoun, spoken to by Web
sier, and made much of by Clay. Il seems
but yesterday when these statesmen were the
dignihed guests at the house where they should
have been hosts bat each one has wended his
way for the last time down the steps was as
cendng-gone out 10 the land Of shadows, to
! be forcyermore but cherished name Of a grea,
people. Yoa see what garrulous old lady
am getting TO be. And could tell you choice
stories Of those dsys--days when Martin Van
Bureu. that most dignifed, gentlemanly states
man, rendered me wine at his own tabe-while
giants were battling in the Senate and society
vas graced by the presence of--bui no--no,
now must deal with the present.
We passed sea of hats, through the ante
chamber adjoining the diningtoOm, into the
dining room itself-for the moment a retreat
for ladies, shawls and oyershoes. Passing the
hall we entered the recepiion-room where, a
small man seizing Us, we were presented to
President Pierce. This was my first look at a
gentleman whose name fills so large space in
the political speculaiions Of the day. Now,
am a woman and Of course know very little
about politics, and may add, that it is getting
: to be so low pursuit that ! care less. So,
my dear friend, you may take my opinion for
} what il is worth. In General Pierce | was
: aereeably disappointed. He is a gentleman,
, aud unless misread appearances. a large heart
5 ed gentleman. Now am well aware this will
create quite au uproar in our little household
and father, who would not let poor James com
: plele his unique portrait gallery of the Presi-
, dents by bringing that Of General Pierce into
! the house, and threw out divers and sundry
; hints that made US think for the moment he
would forget his staid habits and punch some
thing or somebody, will. have no doubt, dis
own me- Well, abide by my assertion, and
!. when history comes to clear away the rubbish
a of daily papers and windy speeches, this hump
: backed iyran, who murdered those babes in the
: woods, Kansas and Nebraska, will he found
d fair-proPortioned gentleman, | say SO, and re
( lying upon my woman's instincts, assert, re
: eardless of contradiction, that General Pierc,
is kind-hearied, generous, impulsiye gentle
/, man. Nothing could exceed the ease and dig
= nifty with which he received our great crowd.
Another gentleman seized us--not a small
one this iime--and presented US to Mrs Pierce
y She, too, had smile for US, but it was so mix
: ed with weariness and sorrow that ! turneC
away panied. 1t brought up the past real AM
), palpable before ne. Power had come almos
+ nnsoueht to those inmates of the Presidential
!, mansion, but, aiIiiction came too. And to then
8 these halls are desola.e and dreary, and by ihei
. side all the while walks a shadow which saws