Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-02
THE GAZETTE.
TUESDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY ,, 1855
"HIGH LIFE" IN WASHINGTON.

the best metropolitan society, bu, he posses
ses an amiablity of disposition which lm-
pels him to make tue public participant
in his privilege, and a gift OF composition
which enables bin to depict the glories of
his terrestrial paradise with inimitable effect
We propose to reproduce few elegant ex
tracts from the choice correspondence of this
American jenkins, from which, perchance,
country clowns and village maidens may
gather some inadequate idea OF the splendUr
that turks beneath the surface Of society in
the Federal Capital. We cannot introduce
our readers INTO the inaccessible bower, but
with the assistance OF the magician Of the
New York Daily News, they shall have a
distant view Of its fairy graces and ravlsh-
ing delights,
jenkins proI o,es to furnish the world
with description of "NOrnf"g Reeepf'o"s
by the Ladies O oar Secretaries" but, first,
he INDUCES iu rapturous panegyrc on
society in Washington. Hear BIN:
1t may be well doubted if there is another
city under the sun where politics and society so
frequently blend in harmony as In our national
capital. Life here is national kaleidoscope,
in which the fragmentary parts revolve in the
order OF accident, but which. revolving as they
NAV, present both regular and agreeable OBJ
lects TO the behoIder have thought politics
and society stole upon stranger here like pc-
lures in dissolvirg views. When the columns
which support the dome of State are just burst.
ing into well-detned outline and symmetry, the
fair syren, with her many.hued draperles
faunts into the ilusory picture with radiant
beauties, until the mutable tracery OF politics Is
lost in obscurtty.
Society is charming goddess-her empire
is universal and her sovereignty uLdsputed-
Though her votaries are legion, and tame,
wealth and talents are conspicuous proteg"s,
still, in all lands and among all kindreds wo-
man, adorned by refinement and Intellect Is the
Queen!
After this incomparaby eloquent out
burst of admiration, Jenkins proceeds to
give q circumstantial narrative Of morning
receptions by the ladies of our Secretaries.
The adventures which he details are rep
resented to have occurred the Dist of Janu-
ary, 1858. AT o'clock he sailed forth
'under the agreeable escort of my friends
the Misses C, If street." and his first
pause was at the door of the Secretary of
the Interior. Of his reception here be gives
the following impressions"
Mrs Thompson receives with great elegance
OF manner and excited the admiration OF our
party. As ii is the custom OF those ladies OF our
Secretaries to have one or more unmarried iady'
who is usually a near friend or relative, to share
the honor and the abors OF entertaining, we
were delighted TO meet Miss Wiley, and 10 &C
cord our humble compliments in praise OF her
unaffected grace The lady VINO speaks OF "the
nobl. men of New York" is worthy to dispense
the honors of society under the favor OF Demo
cratic Secretary.
Jenkins next bows into the Postmaster
Generals parlor. where for moment II
feels slightly uncomfortable, but is alter
wards restored to his equilibrium by the
quick eye of high breeding" aud sight OF
the refreshment table. He must tell the
story for himself
Mrs Gov Brown very much interested me.
When we arrived there were so many dlstin-
guished gentlemen and accomplished ladies sur
rounding her, that | began 10 feel that both my
entree and exit would prove very "French
leave" affair; but with the quick eye OF hlgh
breeding our party were esped, and the manner
in which we were received put at ease with ap-
propriate conversation and shown to the refresh
ment table, somewhat elevated my previous
ideas OF entertaining.
Miss Saunders, who, | believe, is niece OF
Mrs. Brown, reflected the honors OF this cordial
reception.
The reception at the Secretary of States
is despatched in brief but pregnant par
agrapb
Miss Cass received the honors al the mansion
OF our Premier. Her style, dress and CONVERSE
ton were of the chaste and classic order, alto
gether what you would naturally expect IN the
daughter of so eminent statesman.
In "the order of accident" Jenkins next
did homage to the lady Of the Secretary Of the
Treasury, and ~ her presence the impulse
of his ardent nature warmed into glow
of intepsest admiration. He exclaims:
Mrs Cobb is a generous representative OF Inc
empire State of the South We always I'm
ger longest where the bland air and the sun
shine greet us, and the hall hour in when tins
eminently social lady and her friends, Miss
CLAYTON and Mrs. Craig, carried me back TO the
sunny groves OF Georgia, and a ten years re-
trusnectlon LETT the most agreeable and endu-
ring memories 1t should be the pride OF our
natio, that the ladies OF our men high in polI,l-
cal power can do so much by their ugh tened
courtesies 10 keep the Union together
Iuprovident eulogist! For he exhau SITS
tb o language of. panegyrc before he reaches
thu climax of admiration, and Is then com
pelled to repeat compliments already apprO-
nr;ated or to vary the moDotopy OF praise
by ridiculous extravaganza ana lnperuneht
copceits. After such safety OF adulation,
what he writes of his visits to the ladies
of the Attorney General, the Secretary OF
War and the Secretary Of the Navy, strikes
us as absurd bombast or insipid common
Mrs. Black and daughter have had their prais-
es named so frequently it were the work OF use
less repettion 10 say one WORD OF praise YIN
Saturday last was presented TO MISS biack' a'
the Presidents, and lady so lovely and accom-
plished could have only attained these merits
through maternal gu dance so pure and eIeSa-
ted as to-day learned to have been hers The
ouiet style OF dress, the intellectual and easy
flow of conversation the perfect ease with which
all strangers met and mingled in the group
that surrounded both Mrs. Black and daugh-
Ter, placed, as it ever must upon the brow
of a true American lady, the wreath OF highest
honors
Mrs. Floyd is the American type OF what un-
derstand to have been a Roman matron, pro'l'
ded that they were elevated socially to the htgh
nositiops of their lords. Her reception was dig
ni6ed and agreeable, and her fair young friend
most entertaining auxiliary IN promoting our
brief pleasures. ,
NJ Toucsy,s was the last, but by no means