Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-02

Mn Parker, Of this city, bore her |
blushing honofs with the same elegance with
which she disPenses them a. her own entertain.
certain artist is said to have remarked, bore
catering resemblance to the Empress Eugene,
was attired In the most tasteful white illusion,
with trimmings Of violets and green leaves, and
danced most divinely. Miss Stewart, OF Mary
lac d, was lovely in white Grape, on another
occasion when in her cherry robe she quite stole
her Haire simplicity Miss Jones, of Iowa in
her usual French style, adorned dress Cthat may
have been Parisian) with the superior manners of
an American lady
Georgia was not alone represented by the fas
cinating Miss c., but her honors were divided
by Miss Ii. NJ, most charminglys attired in
cherry colored silk, white Grape trimming, Gre
clan lace bertha, with head dress Of coral and
pearls. Miss McD-, of New York, q have most
forgotten her name, but not her pure inelfacable
memories, y with her superb tout ensemble. and
eyes that Outshone her diamonds, was a "talking
belle" that even Chesterfield may have coveted
for tete-a-tete. Miss Wiley, of Mississippi,
was the cynosure Of all eyes.
Miss Lane, the ever charming entertainer Of
the Executive mansion, in simple black, with
was imperial In her womanliness 1t IL a very
honor to our nation that lady of so rare accom-
plishments is decided by the fates to preside over
The metropolitan nightingale in song, Miss
My, and that gifted poetess, Miss We, of this
city, represented the arts most creditably.
mere were scores Oh Otner ATTRACTIVE maldenS
whom 1t would honor even more gallant writer
to PartculaTize, but lest get the reputation of
firt for continuing my compliments, i must
leave the bright foreground Of this picture to say
PEASANT that the brave hearted beaus were a
worthy set Of fellows, and must permit them
selves to be pushed into the background in this
brief sketch. Honorables, Generals, Editors,
Artists, and young men with no ostensible pur-
suit but pleasure, who find their way to every
place and eat themselves into distinction; ali
these, "friend and foe, must In one oblivion be
blent, at least for this time.
The supper, the music and the good cheer, the
pleasant wit and the genial humor of our inter
tainees, the welI-timed compliments of the fair
hostess,-all these and nameless pleasures-made
the easy winged hours fly by, until O'Clock
a. m. thus found the devotees Of Terpsichore
tripping the light fantastic toe. in the fascinat-
ing rounds Of the Waltz, the Redowa, and Les
LancerS.
Long will the recollection of this brilliant ball
chase away the dull hours when the guests of
that night from their various homes recall the
generous and genial lady in honor of whom 1t
was given. EXCELSIOR.
DEBATES rs. EssAYs.-An observing friend
has called our attention to the marked differ
ence in the popular influence at this time Of
the speeches delivered in the House and Sem
ate-his opinion being that the country, just
now, "lOok to the Senate" with absorbing in
terest, so far as the proceedings of Congress
are concerned. We agree with him, and at
tribute it to the fact that the Senate legitimate
ly debate the great questions that agitate the
country, while the House content themselves
with the delivery of abstract essays under the
name of hour speeches) upon questions not even
nominally being considered by them. Judging
from the published debates of the body, it is
evident that the Senate of the United States
was never composed of ADLER sta tesmen and
more sagacious men, than at present The two
speeches delivered in their Chamber yesterday.
for instance, illustrate that fact most forcibly
We question whether ADLER adverse oratorical
efforts were ever spoken in q single day on a
great question in the Senate Chamber, than
those of Messrs Green and Collamer, made
yesterday.
Though the latter makes no pretensions to
popular oratory, he is evidently man of deep
thought and research, capable of defending in
terests committed to his charge in a manner to
make his oratorical efforts live long after him.
The speech of the former, on the other hand, is
universally hailed by the other side in the
Federal Metropolis, the advocates for the i'm
mediate settlement of the Kansas imbroglio as
anational question, as an argument upon which
they would be perfectly willing to trust their
case to the country, were no more to be said in
justification Of their views. But we allude to
the subject without thought of these particular
speeches. As in this case so has it been through
out the session; while the House has been, fer
the most part, the theatre for the delivery OF
abstract political essays, the Senate chamber
has been the forum of legitimate debate, not a
single speech having been delivered in it, that
we are aware of, upon a topic not officially be-
fore them; and each succeeding speech on a
subject has been a legitimate reply to some
speech previously delivered.
The distant public should not understand us
as intimating that there is any lack of ability
on the part of the present House to acquit them
selves wOrthily in actual debate. The fault
lies, on the contrary, in their rules, which per
NIT the members to discourse dnring the time
nominally assigned to debate-when in com.
mittee of the whole-upon any subject but the
one officially before them. The race between
them (the members of the House) is apparently
as to who can make most personal capital in his
respective district; and they accordingly dis.
course in the main particularly on topics where.
upon they are most likely to strengthen them.
selves at home. As it is rare to find the inter.
ests and prejudices or affections of any two Con-
gressional districts alike, the consequence il
that most of the speeches, however able, deliv-
cred in the House Hall in Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union, fall unheeded
on the mind of vast majority of the people
being intended, as most of them are, only to
affect that (the mind) of a very small fraction
of the American people.
The glazing difference between the popular
influence Of the current scussions in the two
Chambers must in the end, it strikes us, have
due weight in bringing the House to compre-
bend the folly of continuing in operation their
rule under which . member may discourse in
Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union upon every topic, however foreign to that
one that may be formally before the body.
PENNsYLvANIA.-Recently the Democracy