The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-02-22
Bell Smith in Washington.

Bell Smith in Washington.
Bell Smith is writing very interesting let
tiers TO tbs CINCINNATI Gazette from Washing
ton We make the following eStract from
his last, under date Of Feb u:
The musty arena of political life in oul
| blessed country, SO pure and free, is consid-
erred improper for our sex, and l have ne
disposition to violate the ordinary regulation
by intrudng ! should be worried, were te
| do SO, to know where could stand | will
| have no doubt, shock your readers. as ,
have shocked others, by telling them that
! retain an afectionate regard for Franklin
Fiesee, end have the highest respect for Mr.
Buchanan. These arc only small specimens
OF the absurdities should be guilty of as a
politician Let me tell you, confidentially,
however, that being governed by my sympa-
thies like true woman, there are certain
! matters connecting themselves with the pres.
ent coatest that give me a very decided lean.
ing to one side, which side that is, the
mere announcement Of the proposition an
swers.
Society in Washington is peculiarly
Southern in its feelings. We all realize this
fact. The reason for it is apparent. 1t
is not so much that slavery exists In the
District, for it is now almost mere shadow
OF the former substance. But that Southern
politics isa thing differing essentially from
politics at the North. 1t makes part of
social life at the South The gentlema
holding high social position is selected to
represent his constituents in Congress-
With US, 1t is the style TO separate political
from social life Especially is this SO at the
West A man, eminent indeed in any per-
snit with us has given up, to accomplish
his greatness. much, il not all of the softness,
beauty and cultivation that spring only from
a cultivated and refined society. A great
wrong is done the North in this respect, at
our National Capital A wrong in more
ways than one. 1t is moderated in the eyes
of foreigners visiting our country, and from
an European habit, looking at us from the
point they esteem our great centre And it
brings about ugly results in other respects
Our eminent friend, the Hog Fogg, man of
more than ordinary ability, has, indeed,
been something of traveller, and if not pro-
found, has about him a certain little bright
ness that makes up in some measure for the
want of q heavier deposit lie is returned
by constituency, having at heart certain
principles which the Hon. Fogg il supposed
to represent; with these e.ecting him these
opinions are rs firmly fixed as the hickory
saplings that grow upon his district How
the Hon Focg has lost sight of all this, is a
matter Of history. The manner of it, his
unhappy constituents are not SO well aware
Of They do not know that he went down
ANONYMOUSLY before the Establishments of a
society, to which he had not been accustomed.
We must not be hard on Fogg. The iron
hand that led him astray was well gloved.
Nay, indeed, it was in white kid And Mrs.
Fogg, did she ever before receive such delicate
attention? What exquisite entertainments
they were invited to- What beautifully
dressed women and elegant men surrounded
her Could the Hon. Fogg and the Hon
Mrs. Fogg, venture to shock these refined
people by the expression OF law and slavery
opinions, or standing by the prejudices of
such vulgar people as their poor constituents?
so the Fogg family grow fashionable, and
with fashionables are familiar, and in time |
come to be spoken of-that is female Fogg |
As the elegan. dressed Mrs. f., in some jour
nal given to the fine arts, and the barber
shop.
So we live Hour by hour we rise and
-ise and then-but we must not be severe.
A spiders web stretched across the path OF
our rolling Earth would split it asunder
What little things turn and change and |
create great events, history is full Of
While the North appears, then. socially at
/ disadvantage ut our Capital intellectually, |
ioubt this, take your stand with me this |
~
collected weekly the wit and beauty of |
arge circle. It is such a reunion as we
read of in the records of the past. |
md often fondly dream over as practical, if |
NC could only find the discriminating eye |
md kind heart to call up and gather into a
,isible circle the kindred spirits Of the intel
ectual world Such magician is before |
you. Alas would that our Prospero were
what he once was Some Of US who feel al |
most useless in this busy world can afford to
90 invalids What matter if we are shut up |
Ia the sick room. We are not missed in the |
,ard contest where Might and Right contend
or victory. Butwhen one Of the great cap
aims has upon him the persistent heavy hand
If ill-health, we may well mourn. One char
no disease will ever change-and
hat is the hopeful cheerfulness, that express
ng itself in smiles and kind words, brings
unshine to to the darkest hour May the
lind breath of Europe, and the change of
Gene, and above all the absence of care,
ring health and strength to our friend L.
enough heart felt wishes viii 60 up with him,
o fill the sails oil that vessel that bears our
happiness abroad
That slender elderly gentleman SO earnest
y asking after the health Of our friend, is
William H. Seward Met casually in crowd
Governor Seward is not to the eye the man
'ou subsequently, look upon through the
nagnifying light Of his intellectual greatness.
The slender figure, the student.like round
boulders that are narrow too narrow for an
'rator depending SO much upon his lungs
be small compact head, clear piercing eyes,
ind long but not heavy or prominent chin,
70 to make up whole by no means striking.
How oil this changes, after ole mas once lis.
ened to his startling utterances in the SEN
ate chamber You are then, TO your own |
seeing in the presence Of great power. The |
slender, STOPPING figure grows sigdi6cant Of
grand occurrences. The eye before, only
cold and clear, seems to be looking down the |
linn vista Of the fnture-ncting the dim out
limo Of coming events. shall never forget |
The first time heard Governor Seward speak |