The Placer herald., 1856-04-19
Society at Washington.


only adds zest and piquancy. If they should
be a little severe upon their own SEX we
have it from high authority that "they lie
with such grace" and if their Judgment of
men should seem occasionally absurd, it is
nevertheless novel and original Upon all
matters relating to religion and society they
are considered "bosses," and really, we think
men should grant them an unobstructed field
We have been led to these remarks from
perusal Of intercepted letters" published in
the New York Tribune. The author, we
take it, is a nice little spinster from New
England, re-visiting the capital after ten
years absence. She disclaims any intention
Of becoming politician and although, as is
quite natural, tinctured with "higher law"
notions, there is an evident desire on her
part to see things as they are, and to Judge
Of men and manners impartally.
She is about to visit the President and we
will let her tell her own story:
Cen Pierce receives every Friday eve
ming. and at the last reception | joined the
miscellaneous throng that crowd the dusky
way-I beg pardon-I mean which flowed
into the barn-hke rooms Of the White House.
A little incident connected with this re-
ception will give you a clearer idea of the
condition of society here than pages Of re-
Election. found it necessary to consult
milliner-as little old maid from the inte-
rior cannot be expected to come to this cen
ter of fashionable folly and political wicked
ness armed and equipped as the iron laws Of
society command, and of course | found any
quantity of preparation necessary.
81 fear" said the fashionable dressmaker,
that we cannot have these things ready for
you in time"
"lndeed."
"Yes, this is the 22d of February, and my
girls all go the Presidents levee this eve
ming"
This was said in a very quiet, matterof
fact manner, as if nothing new. But must
confess that, simple republican as am, the
thought that these work-women should be
my associates at the Presidents mansion, was
somewhat startling. | soon recovered from
that, however, and felt no i'll, that am aware,
from the result That the little things in
their little finery were in attendance, were
pleasantly received by the President, and
aided in Tightening the general effect by
bringing youth, grace and beauty with the
scene, | have no question. But mark the
following
On my return to the hotel found an in
vitation to a grand ball given by Mrs. Salton
Soap, wife of millionaire, and said in the
vexation Of woman's heart, "What shall |
wear!" Mrs. Gregory Alrite, the fashionable
lady who for the moment holds me under
her protection, responded in this wise:
my dear child don't worry yourself No
one thinks Of dressing at that place Wear
anything, if you 90 at all. Mrs. Salton Soap
is only retired shoe-dealer.'
Remembering the proposed invasion of an
entire millinery upon our Chief Magistrate
at his own house, I could scarcely refrain
from smiling, and begged my friend to eX
plain.
'There is no explanation about it. Mr..
Salton Soap began life in a little shop some
where, and it is said at first made the shoes
he sold After while he sold the shoes
other people made, and then he married Mrs.
S., who is managing woman, and extended
the custom | don't know the details of the
shoe business, but the Soaps fourished. Some
machine, and by labelling his work with
French names monopolized the market and
realized fortune. Now, my dear, a peg
ging machine may make fortune, but it
won't secure a good footing in society, if one
has huge house full Of carved furniture"
Now for the Levee. We drove in hack
No. POI, and very nice hack it is, to the
Presidential mansion. The band was play
ing in the vilest manner the popular air Of
"Bobbin' around"-at least such was our
vague impression-and the clock told the
hour of s 10, as we rolled under the portico
which protects the entrance. This early af-
! fair terminates at 10. The present occupants
were strangers to me. | never saw Presi-
dent Pierce until this evening, but the house
is an old acquaintance. In this house many,
many years ago, had taken my first Gimp
ses of society. | had in these halls been
looked at by Calhoun. spoken to by Webster,
and made much Of by Clay. 1t seems but
yesterday when these statesmen were the
dgnitied guests at the house where they
should have been hosts; but each one has
wended his way for the last time down the
steps was ascending-gone out to the land
of shadows, to be forevermore but cher
loiio" ir1'ihe vi great people, ou see WnaC
a garrulous old lady am getting to be. And
| could tell you choice stories of those DAYS
days when Martin Van Buren,, that most
dignified, gentlemanly statesman, rendered
me wine at his own table-while giants we're
battling in the Senate and society was graced
by the presence of-but no-not now; Imust
deal with the present.
We passed a sea of hats, through the ante
chamber adjoining the dining-room, into the
dining-room itself-for the moment retreat
for ladies, shawls and overshoes. Passing
the hall we entered the reception-room