Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-02-06


The charges for the labor of cultivation above
made, may be considered by some too liberal, but
from great experience consider them about right.
All of which is respectfully submitted BY -
W. R. HOLT.
From the Richmond South. ...-.-----
An American Jenkins-..SOciety in the Federal
..-. Capital. .... -4.,
The primitive Inhabitants of the rural districts
have no conception of the aristocratic refinement
which prevails among their Representatives in the
Federal Metropolis. If constituent from the coun.
try chances to visit Washington errand Of bus.
mess of pleasure, he is not particularly struck
with the artificial polish of the social surface In
the hotels he observes the same hurry and excite
ment with which he is familiar at his own cross road
taverns, and nothing in the strikes him by its
novelty, except the substitution Of champagne for
whiskey toddy. In the manner of his representa-
tive he discovers the Identical expression of unassu
ming good nature and republican simplicity which
captvated his affections and secured his vote in the
memorable canvass between Col. Smith and the Hon.
Mr. Jones. Accordingly he returns to the care of
his ocks and the cultivation Of his farm in profound
ignorance of the marvellous mysteries of dress and
dinner, of parties and promenades, which lie beyond
the reach of his vulgar vision.
But other people are more fortunate than our
homespun democrat from the remote provinces
There those to whom is given to penetrate to
the Utmost of the esoterc circle of fashion
and folly and to whom its beauties and wonders
unveiled in all the dazzling spendor of a supernatu
raj revelation. There are persons who have enjoyed
the distinguished honor of plate at diplomatic
dinner and the celestial felicity of Shottische at
soiree dansante. There individuals whose pran-
dial pleasures have been prolonged from sunset to
| midnight by artfu succession of dishes and
prodgal vicissitude of Wines Above all, there
| men before whom crnoline has expanded its i'm
! measurable circumference of rustng silk. and the
| crimson petticoat disclosed its blushing beauties
| Such heaven-favored mortal is the correspondent
of the New York Daily Nesos. Enviable individual
For not only is it his good fortune to bask in the
! sunshine of the best metropolitan society, but he
possesses an amability of disposition which impels
him to make the public participant in his privileges
| and gift of composition which enables him to de.
pict the glories of his terrestrial paradise with inm
| liable effect We propose to reproduce few ele-
CANT extracts from the choice correspondence of this
American jenkins, from which, perchance, country
| clowns and village madens may gather some made
Quate idea of the splendor that turks beneath the
surface Of society in the Federal Capital. We can
not introduce readers into the inaccessible bow
er, but, with the assistance of the magician of the
New York Daily Nesos, they shall have distant
view of its fairy graces and ravishng delights
jenkins proposes to furnish the world with des-
cription of "Noming Receptions by the Ladies of our
Secretaries" but, first, he INDUCES in rapturous
panegyric on society in Washington. Hear him:
ut may be well doubted if there is another city
|
| ly blend in harmony in our national capitol
| Life here is national kaleidoscope, in which the
fagmentary parts revolve in the order Of accident
but which, revolving they may, present both
| regular and agreeable objects to the beholder. l
have thought politics and society stole upon stranger
| here like pictures in disSolving views. When the
columns sohich support the dome Of State are Just
bursting into aceldefned outline and syanetry the
fair syren, aoi0 her many-hued drop'ries, tasunts
into the iusory picture oith radiant Beauties until
IL
| Society is charming goddess-her sovereignty
| undisputed. Though her votaries are legion, and
fame, wealth, talents conspicuous proeges still,
in all lands and among all kindreds, woman, adorn-
ed by refinement and intellect, is the Queenl"
After this ncomparaby eloquent outburst of ad-
narrative of morning receptions by the ladies OF
our Secretaries"
The adventures which he details are represented
| to have occurred the 2lst of January, 1858. At
o'clock he sailed forth under the agreeable escort
of my friends, the Misses C., of l street,, and
his first pause at the door of the Secretary of
the Interior OF his reception here he gives the fol-
| lowing impressions:
"Mrs. Thompson receives with great elegance of
manner and excited the admiration of party.
As is the custom of those ladies of Secretaries
to have one or unmarried lady, who is usually
friend relative, to share the honor and the
| labors of entertaining, delighted to meet
Miss Wiley, and to accord our humble compliments
in praise of her unaffected grace. The lady who
speaks of "the noble men of New York is worthy
to dispense the honors of society under the favor Of
a Democratic Secretary"
Jenkins next bows into the Postmaster Generals
parlOr, where for moment he feels slightly uncom-
Portable, but is afterwards restored to his equilibrium
by 1.-THE quick eye Of high breeding" and 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 distinguished
gentlemen and accomplished ladies surrounding her
that began to feel that both my entree and ext,
would prove a very French leave" affair; but with
the quick eye of high breeding party were es
pied, and the manner in which we were received
put at ease with appropriate conversation and showr
to the refreshment table, somewhat elevated my
previous ideas Of entertaining.
Miss Saunders. who l believe is a niece of Mrs
Brown, reflected the honors of this cordial recep
tion."
The reception at the Secretary of States is des
patched in brief but pregnant paragraph:
miss Cass received the honors at the mansion o
were of the chaste and classic ORDER altogether wha
you would naturally expect in the daughter of s.
eminent a statesman"
In 1.-THE order of accidents" Jenkins next d
homage to the lady of the Secretary of the Treasury
and in her presence the impulses of his ardent ma
ture warmed into glow of intensest admiration
He exclaims
Mrs Cobb is generous representative of tn
Empire State of the South" We always hinge
longest where the bland air and the sunshine gree
us, and the half hour in which this eminenty socia
lady and her friends, Miss Clayton and Mrs Craig
carried me back to the sunny groves of Georgia
with ten years. retrospection, left the most agree
able and enduring memories. 1t should be the prid
of nation that the ladies Of men high in pc