Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-16


that it is the absolute property of the Govern.
ment Of the United States, just under the eyes
ito ssy nothing of the nose) of Congress We
never saw this Mr.. Wolcott, nor did we ever
hear of him before be gave proof by declining
to answer in this case, that personally. he has
misused this missing money in some way or
other. Nevertheless, having sworn that in 50
doing, it (the misapplied money was in no
manner used to influence the legislation of
Congress, (which question the committee was
alone constituted to investigate, if we are not
mistakenly whence does the House derive the
"Star-chamber" power it has assumed to ex
ercise over his personal liberty?
TIE APPROACH OF LKNT.-As Lent approach
es, our fellow-citizens Of all positions in life,
and the multitude Of pleasure-seekers now in
Washington, are making most of their time
Thus we are in the midst of our carnival,
Last night was celebrated In Washington
with four or five balls, each charming enter.
tainment in its way.
The enterprising and liberal proprietors of
the n atisnal Hotel gave their second such enter
tainment Of tho season, which was attended by
the guests of their house and the guests of the
latter, in all numbering 600 or 700 ladies and
gentlemen in fashionable society. Among those
present were most Of the corps diplomatic per-
haps half the Senate, all the members of the
House addicted to dancing, two Cabinet minis
tiers, host Of army and navy officers, legion
Of sojourners here for the season, and citizens
of Washington of both sexes. The array of
nd hao
as the display of diamonds on the persons of
ladies of suitable age to be thus embelished to
advantage, was dazzling. At midnight, the gay
company proceeded to supper in the great
dining hall, where everything necessary had
been prepared for their entertainment in pro-
fusion and with unexceptionable taste. The
report of the conflict of small arms appropriate
for that occasion-ths topping of champagne
cOrks-camc echoing back from that chant er
for hours. Day broke, we hear, upon some of
the most enthusiastic votaries of Terpsichore
present, still indefatigaby engaged in her wor
ship.
The Odd Fellows Reception and subsequent
dancing party at their hall on Seventh street
was also most delightful affair, we hear, be-
ing attended by many hundreds of the sub
stantial citizens Of Washington with members
of their families.
The bal masqne of our fellow citizens, ma
tives of La Belle France, that came off at Mum
der's hall, was, perhaps, the most delightful
entertainment of the kind that has so far taken
place on this side of the Atlantic-certainly in
all its appointments and concomitants the finest
fancy dress and masquerade affair ever wit
messed in our Federal Metropolis Strictly
speaking, it was almost q private party of
French residents engaged in business here
many OF them humble people-all, evidently
persons of highly cultivated tastes in such mat
ters, capable of making each other happy under
such circumstances as few native born Ameri-
cans can do that thing.
There were not more than two hundred per-
sons present, all told for the sale of tickets
was strictly limited. One of the finest cotillon
bands of the city discoursed the music, and
the gay participants evidently designed (got
up) their own costumes, which were immeas-
urably superior in style, richness, taste and
perfect appropriateness to those displayed al
any other fancy dress ball We have 80 far wit
messed Washington contains a strong corps
OF GTtiSfSS de c"S'hie, nearly all Of whom were
present, and, as though by concert, habited as
Messieurs POnchinellOs. One, however, came
as Partisan exquisite Of I Anc1enne Regime
of the era of l799--far more artstcally made
up and acted out than our pen can describe
gay little frien Of ours personated rafting
postillion. as none other than Frenchman NAV
be expected to do His capital judgment in
the preparation Of his costume and his not less
artistic persOnation of the character, mark
him for II man destined to make his fortune in
due time in his business of decorative arti-
san-an upholsteTer. We found ourself sur
rounded by scores of Italian counts Spanish
dukes, peasant women, ladies of the court. and
Neapolitan sirens, old and young The cos
tune OF an Arab (whO, by the way. sang the
Marseilles admirably in the course of the even
ing) was so universally admired for its rich
ness and striking effect as to make US long-for
the benefit of our friends who desire to be well
dressed-for the time when be can open mag
astne d's moaes for our sex, ON his own &C.
count, instead Of delving as at present on jour-
neyman tailOr's wages.
The Goddess Of Liberty was nagnffqur
She was, appropriately, American, 1.-THE adopt
ed daughter of a celebrated French cuisiuier1
her amplitude of proportions fairly represented
the expansive principles of Les Flats Unis
while the grace with which she displayed them
in the dance, was typical of the serene regular
ity of the movement of American affairs under
the auspices of liberty, as we interpret the
phrase. Another Goddess of Liberty scarcely
in her teens, represented that (the liberty of
France under Louis Napoleon, we presume; for
she frisked about all the evening, like the
Dutchman's hea-put your finger on it, and it
amt there-ana when fairly caught, there is
far too little Of it to be held by nervous hand
the hand Of the French.
bewitching little widow, with eyes sparkling
like diamonds, personated the Milkmaid of
Paris. Her unexceptionable and SO exquisitely
tasteful costume turned half dozen heads in
the course of the evening, evidently She
should have an elaborate sign out in the most
conspicuous part of Pennsylvania avenue; for
ana ghnn 1ras