Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-01-26
VOL. 5.---NO. %.
COURT LADIES ATwAsHINGToN.

I COURT LADIES AT WASHINGTON.
The n. Y. correspondent of the Springfield
| Repubiicda, evidently woman, writes:
When / think of Mr.. Douglass struggles,
| labors, anxieties, for the last few months, In
order to secure his reelection, l conclude
that he must have al least weary life Of it.
| So much was staked-his fortune, his fame,
his hope of the Presidency The time had
come when he must rise or set, brighten or 60
out in the political world. He sold his house
at Washington. mortgaged his large property
in Illinois, and during all the burning summer
sselectioneered' abroad, while his wife cleo
toneered quite as successfully at home. On
the Sabbath she attended the Catholic church
at Chicago, while during the week she grace
fully propitiated the Protestants. At the
Lake View House she exerted marked perso-
nal influence over the gentlemen congregated
there, who, as usual, were quite willing to be
led by q young, beautiful and brilliant woman.
Educated ut Washington. long sscopyist' for
the "House," she is thoroughly initiated into
the chcanery oi political life, and knows how
to touch, with sure and delicate hand, its
most intricate wires. That Mrs. Douglas will
do her part toward making herself sslady of
the White House," no one, who knews her,
doubts. Give her all wifely honor. She has
rescued Mr.. Douglas from at least some of his
low associations. He becomes drunk less Of
ten, and in social life is now admitted into So
ciety from which he was once excluded. That
he is to-day the great man of the political
world, he probably owes to himself. But is
only through the lowest sycophancy, the mean
est subterfuge, through the pools of craft and
falsehood, one is TO wade to greatness let
us all pray to be iifIe. Apropos of female
politicians, Mrs. Douglas is not Alone Mrs.
Conrad, a young, rich and iQvely widow, sswho
(another has s.id) has too good sense to mar
ry, is called the greatest courtiveer in Wash
ington, and exerts small influence over
state affairs. Her full-length photograph, with
those OF all the other beauties of graEdpapa
Buchanan's court, is to be seen at Brady's, in
Broadway. First stands Mrs. Douglas; her
physique is splendid-not soft and plant, but
proud and queenly, after the Roman model
dark hair, bright eyes classic features, brllli-
| ant complexion, with commanding rather
than winning expression. The picture does
not do her Justice. Her dress of black silk is
not becoming, and is made in q fashion which
robs somewhat the grace of her perfect form.
Next stands Mrs. Conrad, all grace, clad in
| black velvet with pearls. A willy, subtle, a
beautiful Greek, with tar-searching eyes,
peach-tinted cheek, and wavy, golden-brown
| hair. Beside her stands Madame lie Vert, of
Mobile, long an habitue of Washington, who
/ for her social genius is pre-emincnt above all
American women. Madame LIE Vert, without
being beautiful, either in form or feature, has
reigned as '.belle' since she was ten years
old. She has travelled widely, has visited
nearly all OrcIRH COufIs, can carry on con-
versation in six different languages at one tne,
and be equally charming in all. Yet not in
her talents, nor in her accomplishments, lies
her fascination, but in the genial sweetness,
naturalness, and perfect simplicity of her man.
ners, which seem to give her possession of all
hearts. Her clear, blue eye oyerfiows with ex-
uberance of kindness. while around the serene
| mouth all gentle affections seem TO have found
| dwelling. She wears dress of brown silk
| with gorgeous bordered fiounces, and GRIM
/ son rose in her hair. The sweetest compli-
ment l ever heard for Madame lie Vert, was
uttered to me by one OF her personal friends
| ssShe is like flower out in nature" Next
| her is Harriet Lane of the ssWhife House,
| Mr.. Buchauan's nIece-a blonde, cold and
statueSque, pure and passionless marble
ones very admiration gives them chill. She
stands in verandah, fhe Capitol in sight. A
| spray of flowers in her hair falls low upon her
| bare and beautiful neck. She looks q model
of repose the rery Miss Lane whom the pa
pers assure us 'sreceives with great dignity
And then, Lady Gore Ouseley, the Yankee
English woman, who had seen ft recently to
dip her fingers into Nicaragua affairs; who
rules not only her dear ssSir William, but
our lady-like old President. Well, she Is
coarse and homely enough; and, according 10
the notion of your Gown Correspondent" J" is
dressed in horrid taste. She wears string OF
jets around her head, Of the size of walnuts;
another around her neck, of equal rotundity.
| She does not seem to care for ample skirt,
and has utterly discarded the "line of beauty''
in its ssfail % for it is s.skimped, shorter be-
| hind than before, and the flounces curve up on
| the sides. But she has falcon eye, and her
whole bearing indicates, in even more than an
ordinary degree, the woman's penchant power
| to ssrule.''