Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-02-12
Correspondence of the spy.)

WASHINGTON, ID. u, teD, Z, 1891.
Messrs Editors The fourth levee at the ex-
ecutive mansion, took place last evening, and as
usual, the beauty, wit, and honor of the nation
were represented on the occasion, to see, and be
seen, to hear, and be heard. We enter the White
House on the North side, or main entrance, and,
passing through the large hall, enter the dressing
room. Here we divest ourselves of our hat and
overcoat which we take particular pains to crowd
as far under the sofa possible lest they take to
themselves wings and fly away. We then arrange
our dress before tie mirror, tie crayat in the
most exquisite tie, and brushing hair into its
most attractive position, we draw on our white
kids and pronounce ourselves ready. Taking the
arm of "a friend, We pass through the hall, and
through the bedroom to the door of the reception
room, where we meet the Marshal of the District
of Columbia, to whom we give our names, and he
introduces us to the President who advances to
meet US, and gives us cordial shake of the hand,
and says he is glad to see us. No doubt he might
have added the word ''leave," internally but we
did not hear it, we thank him, and pass 10
the East room, which extends across the whole
Eastern end of the house, where we find the gem
tlemen and ladies promenading in two circles
around the room, in opposite drections--a wheel
within a wheei-both revolving, one, one way; the
other, the other way. We step into the outside
wht el and reyolve with the rest, and look at the
different animals, in this almost regal menagerie.
Here we see the little "iron man" who presides
over the House, the observed of all observers.
Every one wishes an introduction, and must
be introduced to "Mr. Speaker" He gives us a
cordial shake, and we pass on admiring the ladies'
who appear in full dress. The band from the
Navy Yard, consisting of thirty-one musicians,
Zone to represent each State,) play the national
airs and fSlpgh. Ride Polka y and al
o'clock thunder out ''Yankee Doodle" upon which
they leave We find the company leaving, so
wander back to the dressing-room, and commence
a search after wearables. We finally find our
hat just going out of the door on somebody else's
head, and our overcoat playing door-mat. After
long while, we succeed in getting out of DOORS
inwardly declaring that the resident will not
have the happness of seeing us at his next leyee.
The whole Of the male portion of Washington
have been out to-day, TO the "long bridge"
across the Potomac, carried away by the ice. This
morning, it was evident that the river, or rather
the ice in it, must soon break up--and at an early
hour, the bridge was covered by dense mass Of
human beings, all eager to see the magnificent
scene. After waiting about three hours, our Gu
riosity began to be gratiied. The ice above the
bridge gave way, and came tearing and crashing
against it-pieee after piece, and pile upon pile
causing all the posts that support it, the upper
side to give way, and mounting even on the
bridge, threatening TO carry all before it.. Pres
emily, portion of the bridge about one hundred
and fifty feet long, gave way, with crash like
thunder, and the ice rushed through, as if glory
ing in its freedom. Above the remainder of toe
bridge the ice is piled to the hight Of twenty or
thirty feet, threatening to oyerwhelm the entire
structure. 1t presents scene of awful sublimity,
impelling one to seek safety in fight, and still
enchanting him to remain, or even to venture
further on the bridge
Congress is doing nothing very busily. ex-
pect the committee on bribery will report soon,
when we shall have high times.
Yours, truly, QUISsIGAMoND.