The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-12-16
LOCAL INTELI.IGENCE.

fare, is crowded to-day, (Monday,) with beauty
and fashion. The aristocratic side Of this avenue
1.-THE North) is thronged, during the sessions of
Congress and the Supreme Court, every day-but
in pleasant weather, such as we have to-day, Qt is
delightful, II il crowded with all sorts of people
the rich, the gay, the thoughtless the poor, the
needy, the suffering-the honest and the dishon-
est--the upright and honorable-the five per cent.
shaver and his victm-the loafer and the man of
business--the Woodworking INTERCHANGEABLE idle
and the vicious, the tippler and the drunkard, the
gambler and the sharper, the employer and the
pimp--aH grades and shades Of society are repre-
sented here.
But it is about three o'clock in the afternoon,
that this noble avenue presents the most alluring
and attractive scene. Them the ladies', dressed in
gorgeous apparel encased in silks and satins, sur
rounded by crinofnes and bound in hoops, vieh,g
with the rainbow in richness and gorgeousness
and splendor Of color, come out for promenade,
aud from the Capitoi, as far as the eye can reach
toward the west it presents to the view Of the be-
holder, living, moving, glttering, dazzling stream
of human life, sparkling and scintIllating in the
rays Of the sun, and flashing with the brightness
emitted by the multitude of diamonds worn on
bosoms fair and arms with bracelets crowned.
Could we give our readers a report Of the con-
ssrsations going on between the parties composing
this motley throng, they would have no trouble in
deciding which predominated there, the intellec.
tual or the sordid-the moral and useful, or the
giddy, the gay and worthless nothings thrown off
at random, or studied and practised for this and
all similar occasions.
Envy, pride, jealousy, vanity, we fear, are the
prevailing concomit ants here.
VI Look at that lady--there--wi that excessively
fashy dress /" dressed to death as the boys say
watch her. How easy it is to see, through all her
assumptions Of gentility and ton, that she is in a
position which she cannot grace; that propitious
Fortune has elevated her above the sphere in
which Providence placed her, and which perhaps
she adorned, to one which she cannot fill with
dignity, and which cannot confer dignity upon
her. She losses her head and vanlyaputs on airs.
Listen, she is speaking
"Well, ! declare-do look yonder-do you see
those girls there. It provokes me to death. Do
you know them? See how they dress. It is
shame. They have no business here. declare
they are dressed ,.Slwell as myself-the brazen
things. Mechan;cs daughters to dress in that
way jouraeymen, at that. Why, do you know
that their father works in my husbands shop, and
they work too, am told, at folding sheets, when
they can get it to do! What impudence"
0 Labor how art thou maligned! Industry,
how art thou despised! The ways of Providence
are inscrutable. Up today and down tomorrow!
The poor man Of yesterday becomes the rich man
of to-day, and the rich SPECTATOR speculates him
self poor again.
why should the rich despise the poor
E@ Why should the poor complaint"
Who complains old Butter Nuts Not I-nor
I-nor l. As for these painted butterflies, it would
be well for them to remember that 4
"A butterfly, at best
Is but caterpillar drest!"
But what shall we say of the males! Why, that,
like those of Uncle Sam, they are very irregular
Cigars, tobacco and rum! Shawls, moustaches,
and imperials! Boards, ad i6ituml
Nor sense nor wisdom lodges there
One staple product-hair, all hair
Redundant crowns, guanoed Ger and Ger
With mutton fat and bears grease-pomatumi
Prolific soil, full of inhabitants
o. Who feelingy report themselves adsumi 81,
Boys, nowadays are men, (sans brains, sans
sense,) . f
Who strut the avenue at DADS expensel
"BurrER AND CHEESE AND I."-Wife, this is
miserable cheese, where did you getit9 .
In market.
You might have got bitter without travelling 60
far, I think.
Well, well, never mind, husband, III buy better
next time. How do you like that 6utter2
1t is excellent. i have seldom tasted better.
Indeed, do not know that have eusr eaten bet
ter butter. Where did you getit
Oh, in market.
You get every thing in market don't you?
oh, no. didn't get you there, you know.
That's fact But If / was not in the market,
you were, you know, my dear.
Thank you. Al trust you are satisfied with your
bargainl ...
Well, l don't know. Will you tell me where
you bought that butter?
did not buy il at all!
You tantalizng thing. Well, ! have great salts
faction in eating 1t, and If you viii not tell me
where you got it, I'll vent my anger on the butter
I'll eat II ALL
Eat away, there's more where that come from.
/ hope so!
Nay, will convince you. Sarah, bring that
roll of butter here.
You astonish me more and more!
thought should. There's secret about that
butter, but If you will promise not to tell any body,
I'll tell it you'll
promise, that will not tell any body
Well, now, listen. This morning, somebody
knocked at the door, and when opened il, 10 and
behold, ! saw bundle lying upon the door step,
directed to you. was afraid to touch it at first,
fearing 1t might be --a-a- you know.
Yes, yes. know. You thought il might be
budget of responsibilities
Well, called Sarah, and she came and picked
it up, and smelt it and exclaimed, why It is but
ter, declare" So we brought It in and unrolled
1t, and hsted II, and pronounced it the best but
ter VIC have had in the house since you brought
home that roll which you procured from that good
looking little man, what's his name2