Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-01-27
sooial1ife in washington.
oorre,pondenee ofthe N.Y. E.pre...l


WASHINGTON, Jan. 21st
Washington Parties arein the full tide of sue
cess, and quite enough in number to crafty the
greatest devotees of pleasure. The crowds
which congregate at them areliterallY immense,
extending sometimes to the neighborhoOd of a
thousand invitations The men predominant
in numbers, but not in the space occupied in
the parlors, dancing and supper rooms. Ladies
complain, and justly, think, of the two and
three tiers of men at the supper tables, while
they are kept in the backgrounds crowded
from the room. Eating and drinking seems to
be the grand attraction of the Metropolis, in so
cial life, especially among the strangers, and i.
Secretaries and Heads of Departments were to
give out that only the company and the COM
panys wit, the spiritual and mental, rather than
feastng and drinking, we're to be the entertain
ments, there would be no such rush Of persons
as now throng every official social assemblage.
The Weekly Receptions and the Dinner Parties
are the exceptions and the only pleasant gath
erings ofthe city. The President has his Dim
ner Parties for Members of Congress once
week.-Mrs. Diplomatic Dinners occasionally,
his private friends at Breakfast, his East Room
crowds semi.monthly, withmusic by the Marine
Band These arc mixed assemblies, and con-
tinue for two hours, from eight to ten, and all
enter who choose to be introduced to the PreSi-
dent and his neice who also has her weekly day
perception. on which occasions tho President
Tcondescends to be present
AlIlOSJ everybody now nave their uayi ana
the way card visits are paid, and visits of pure
ceremony, visits in empty carriages and. visits
by proxy, is amusing to those who have an eye
for the ludicrous A book on Washington ETH
quette, with an inside view behind the scenes,
would cause the people to laugh at themselves
as we'll as each other. Some of the pleaSantest
of the parties are the Hotel Hops, one of which
was held last night at Browns Hotel, aud these
have become an institution.
Senator Douglas this week entertained his
thousand also at his new mansion East of the
Capitol, and one would suppose from the good
cheer offered and the good healths drunk, that
the Little Giant" yet has his troops of friends
In the District, the Senator from Illinois is
among the most popular members, and he was
welcomed with the booming of cannon and
grand salute at the commencement of the sess-
ion. He has always been liberal to the city and
the District of Columbia in his speeches and
votes, and hence the esteem and respect in which
he is held.
In this connection it may interest those inter-
ested in the improvements of Washington to
know that 1t is in contemplation to extend the
Capitol grounds one square in the rear and to G
street on the Est and West, with an extension
of a square towards the grand avenues. This
will make the public grounds around the Capt.
tol mngnificently beautiful, and as the Govern
ment is the largest owner of the waste lands the
expense will mot be great It viii take eight or
ten years to perfect all this but once done, the
American Capitol and public grounds will hard
ly be cxcelled in the world. D. MN.