New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-03-04

i fashionable lady who for the moment holds me under
her protection, responded in this wise;
any dear child, don't worry yourself. No one
thinks of dressing at that place. Wear anything,
Won 90 at all M. SaltOn Sesp is only retired shoe
dealer"
Remembering the proposed invasion Of an entire
millinery upon our Chief Magistrate at his own
bopse could scarcely refrain from smiling, anibegged
nv friend TO explain.
"There IL no explanation about IT, Mr. Salton Soap
began life in little shop somewhere, and 1t is said at
6rst made the shoes he sold. After while he sold
shoes other people made, and then he married Mrs'
s. who is managing woman and extended the Gus
tom. don't know the details Of the shoe business
INT the Soaps Hourished Some say he was part
owner in a patent peggiDg machine, and by labelling
his work with French names monoPoized the market
and realized fortune. Now, my dear, peggng
machine may make fortune, but 1t won't secure
rood footing in society if has huge house full OF
carved furniture"
did not ask for history Ofthe successful merchant
II was the same of many others, | am proud to say
in this enterprsng land of ours, and woe betide US
when such incidents become rare. But an nconsist-
epcy struck me and was laboring for explanation.
not only remembered that the White House was open
10 alias have stated-but had been introduced
a few evenings previous TO the Member of Congress
who represents 10y native district in New Engand
Now the Hon Lycurgus Brick is not considered good
society at home, because his habits Of rather
unhappy character; indeed respectable member of
an established family would rather hesitate about
casual acquaintance; but here, if the bury Lycurgus
tsd his influence from his political position, Mrs
Sslton Soep should have hers in right of her upho
stery. II struck me that one was ennobling and
entertaining as the other But did not pursue the
Improbable discussion.
You will observe my dear s., in this two elements
directly affecting society in Washington-One the po
litca the other the result Of Slavery. The one
recognizes laborfor labor goes to the polls in shirt
sleeves or ragged coats perhaps, but there it s Great
ing politicians and politicians create WashingtOni and
the other deTades labor owns it, beats it, and Of
course can give it place in the socalled society.
by observing these facts you will be able to clear up
s,ine apparent inconsistencies in the heterogeneous
mass of active life in and about the corporate limits Of
our capital.
You must excuse for thus taking up so much Of
my letter with such phlosophizing but it is trick
have for which you may scod as you will; but 1t
seems as if cannot come out OF it.
Now for the Levee. We drove in hack No. ~, and
very nice hack it il, to the Presidential mansion
The band was playing in the vest manner the popular
mir of Bobbin' around"-at least such vague
rnpresson-and the clock told the hour of y, a. we
rolled under the pOrtcO which protects the entrance.
This early affair terminates at TO- The present
pants were strangers to me. | never saw President
Pierce until this evening" but the house is an old
ouaintance. In this house many, many years ago,
had taken my first gmpses of society. had in these
halls been looked at by Calhoun, spoken to by Web
ster and made much of by Clay. 1t seems but yes.
Law when these statesmen were the digned guests
at the house where they should have been hosts but
each one has wendell his way for the last time down
the steps was ascending-gone out to the land OF
shadows to be fortvermor but cherished name OF
preat people. You what garulous old lady
am getting to be. And could tell you choice stories
al those days-days when Martin Van Buren,, that
most dgnifed, gentlemanly statesman, rendered me
wine at his own table-whie giants were battling in
the Senate and society graced by the presence OF
hut no-not now must deal with the present.
We passed q sea Of hats through the ante'cham-
her adjoining the dinng-rOom, into the dining-roon
j,sel-for the moment retreat for ladies, shaws ana
oyershoes Passing the hall we entered the reception
?, ON where small man Selling us, we were presented
IN President Pierce. This my first look at gen.
teman whose name fills large space in the pollt-
zeal speculations of the day. Now, l am 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 opm-
ion for what it is worth. In General fierce was
apreeably disappointed. lie is gentleman and I'M
less msread appearances, large-hearted, generous
man. Now am well aware this will create quite an
proar in our little household, and father, who would
NOT let poor james complete his unique portrait gal
,ery of the Presidents by bringing that OF General
Pierce into the house, and threw out overs and sun
dry MS that made us think for the moment he would
forget his stad habits and punch something or some
body. will have no doubt, dsown me- Wen, ABIDE
nv my assertion and when history comes to clear away
the rubbish of daily papers and windy speeches TINS
bump backed tyrant who murdered those babes IN
the woods Kansas and Nebraska, will be found far
nroportoned gentleman / say so, and relying upon my
womans instincts, assert, regardless of contradiction
that General Pierce is kind hearted generous, i'm
pulsive gentleman. Nothing could exceed the ease
and dignity with which he received our great crowd
Another gentleman seized us-not small one this
4me-and p,esented us to Mrs Pierce She, too, had
sile or us but il was so mixed with WEAKNESS and
sorrow that turned away panied. 1t brought up the
past. real and papable before me. Power had come
almost unsought to those Inmates of the Presidential
mansion. but, affection came too. And to them these
halls are desolae and dreary and by their side all the
while walks shadow which says, "Nantyo OF vani-
"ties-all is vanity
So we passed on TO the east room How time, a6e'
md expcrence work changes In my girish eyes this
seemed once vast hall magnifcenty finished and fur
Dbed hut how il has dwinded it is respectable but
NO more. And the crowd-what heterogeneous mass!
Men women and children, for haligown girls and boys