The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1857-12-03
Correspondence of the Boston Post
Letter from Washington.

fTezz0tln1.
The weather has suddenly changed land
the air is delightfully."- cool and crisp. Es-
pecially is this so in the morning, when,
long before this sleepy city is up, and
while here and there only can one see the
sluggish smoke crawling out of the CHM
neys. Harry and take the saddle. There
are delightful opportunities for rides and
drives about the suburbs. The streets
and avenues are laid out with prodigal
disregard to economy of territory, and
there are the Soldiers Home and Column
bian College and Douglass new house and
the navy yard, and twenty other agreea-
BILE ternaini to the canter.
Washington aristocracy is the most in
congruous in the world. Neither family,
as in Philadelphia, nor wealth, as in New
York, nor brains, as in Boston, is made the
test of social position And yet neither
of these is entirely ignored here. And as
they are seldom if ever combined in the
same person, and as political station has
to be recognized, the result is that grand
party here is a hotch-potch.
These judicious reflections are the result
of my presence at Lord Napier's soiree
musicale, given to Sir William Gore
Ousley, last Friday. "Tommy dearly
loves lord, . said Byron of his brother
poet. And Tommy was not the only
tuft hunter. 1 do not blame the dispo-
sition altogether, for | am a little given
to it, l confess, and have large faith in
blooded animals, biped or quadrubed.
The diplomatic body was the attraction.
Napier is one Of the most unobtrusive,
unpretentious hosts in the world. Ousley
is bluff, hearty and portly, every inch an
Englishman. But Of all the " stars and
garters," Baron Stoeckel, the Russian,
is the handsomest man. | own that |
thought of Madame Bodisco, nee--some-
thing else-of Georgetown, and felt an
CRY at the autocrat for not continuing to
send us unmarried minister's The
Frezzolini troupe did the music, which
was followed by a supper. There were
intervals for conversation, some of which
was rare and entertaining. A tomboyish
young lady from the rural districts, who
split her gloves in dozen places applau-
"a SisRytemps, confidingly asked me
il Thought is quite "genteel'' not to have
dancing A young gentleman, who was
really fine looking person, apologize
for an incautions expectoration, and for
his I" use of the weed" by informing me
that he was Virginian, to which I could
conscientiousloy reply that | too was
double F. A middle aged man, older in
years than in heart, forgot himself in
regular parquette stamp and cry of
" ongkoar." These We're only out-of-the-
way incidents, not on the programme and
not generally noted. The affair was
brilliant and successful and the Bur-
gundy was choice Good save the
Queen"
The week has been filled with music.
Frezzolini's second concert came off on
Saturday night, before an OVERLOOKING
house, both in numbers and enthusiasm
The applause was the most frantic | ever
heard, and the cries of 'bravo" were
stunning" Strakosph was the same
stumbling Yankee schoolmaster as ever :;
Patti sang with more than her usual
grace and archness; Kletzer proved the
capacities of the violincello as an instru-
ment more rubust and hardly less fexi-
bic than the violin, upon which Vieux-
temps drew that "long bow" with which
you are familiar; mo reflection is inten-
ded; and Frezzolini, the sumptuous and
the velvet-eyed (''yeoG de ueloaTs') was
exquisite. May | quote the rhapsody of
my acquaintance, Mr.. Harley Quinn, who
is very young man, and reads Alexan-
der Smith? While she sung, quote he,
a purple and violet cloud seemed to fill
the house, out of which fell music, first
in showers and then in torrents. In her
last bracara in the Palacca, thought the
limit of human ability had been reached,
when suddenly up arose her voice through
another octave, full, pure and strong, in
food which swept away my soul like
the resistless flow of Homeric hexame-
tiers. dear knows what they are. y
And then came Thalberg, with that qui-
ct, subdued, sentimental style of his own,
like the moonbeams falling on the flood.
Leaving you to digest these juvenile
criticisms, am, as ever,
FAN FARoNNE.
N II