The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-01-21

be divided between keokuk and Mt. Pleas
ant. This proposition meets my approval.
More anon on these last two topics.
W. W. M.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE NoNPAREiL.
WAsulScroS, d. c., Jan. 4th 1860.
1t seems to me that Uncle Sam don't hurry
up his mails as be might, l have just receive
ed letter from Douglass, dated at Fl.
Kearney Dec. 9th, 1859, which you see has
been nearly month coming-but just at
this. time in view of the dissolution of the
Union and everything going to smash! ]
suppose we must make every allowance
for the old gentleman. But, hurra for
Douglass-not Stephen A.-for he isforev-
er "gone up, but for our own Council Blufs,
Pixies Peak Douglass. Ipresume that long
ere this he is safe and sound in Denver with
a single stuck out and pitching in for the
foundation dollars Of that "pile" he is
bound to make. see by his letter that
they camped out every night except two, on
the road to Kearney, and Dug. says that
some new principle for making cold wealth
or will have to be found out before they get
frozen to death. When he adds, 81 am
writing on feed box in our tent by fire.
Light. it calls up old memories and here
in the thronged Metropolis of the great
Yankee nation, l feel that l would like to be
with him on the plains. Icxpect to see him
at the mines early in the spring and take a
hand in common with the eager thousands
in the grand scramble for gold.
We have had cold weather here for near
ly week "snapping cold" If Christmas
was comfortable, New Years was the re-
verse but. cold as it was. the masses turned
out for calls, and general running about
After calling on our Iowa delegation, ! call
ed on the President, and on two of the
heads of departments, Secretaries Cass and
Cobb, and by that time got tired Of it and
concluded that it wouldn't pay to visit the
other Secretaries during such cold weather
and such rush. 1t is only a word, grip,
and pass on to make room for the next one.
At tho White House the visitors were ad-
mitted between two long files of the city
police, stretched from the outer entrance to
the door of the reception room, the officers
being near the door. Ipitied the President
condemned as he is by custom, to shake
SO many hands. If the ladies slender palms
were the only ones he had to take, it would
not be so bad, but here are all sorts Of
hands Selling hold of his tender old digitals
many of them no doubt giving them too
much of squeeze for comfort, not so much
from affection, perhaps, as mischief. Well,
l went in with the throng, took the old gen.
tleman's hand, bid him "good morning."
and passed on into the famous East room,
which, by the way is ga nice place."
judge it to be about As by 100 Feet, and 20
feet from floor to ceiling. There are eight
magnificent mirrors ranged around it, each
about five feet by eight; and three huge
suspended from the ceiling,
which, with their almost countless cut glass
pendants must throw dazzling blaze Of
light over the dignity and beauty sometimes
assembled there. The carpet was covered,
as it should be, or tho "trampling troop"
would have left in pittiful condition. The
room was warmed to just the right temper
ature, and the crowds seemed 10th to leave
it for the cutting air outside. The Pres-
dents head is very white, and he looks too
ripe to run again, but no doubt he is eager
for the Charleston nomination. From the
White House, went over to General Cass'
a few steps from Lafayette square on the op
positsQkie from the Presidents taking an
other look as went, at the Jackson eques-
trian statue, in which one may see some-
thing new to admire the twentieth time he
visits it. found General Cass erect and
stalwart in appearance, although his smooth,
auburn wig fails to conceal the evidences Of
his great age. lie has rare collection of
curiosities, and some very fine marble stat
uary among which, the venu, De Medici,
Venus and Cupid, and the winged Mercury,
are exceedingly beautiful. A glowing coal
fire in the CRATE, made warm appeal to the
visitors in behalf of the Generals hospital
ity but the custom which has heretofore
reigned, among the heads of the depart
ments. of keeping tables spread, with eata.
bles and drinkables on New Years, was very
wisely dispensed with this year. Secretary
Cobb looks as though the dcarth of money
in the strong box had not been productive
of any serious effects upon its keeper, phys
ically or mentally. He is rather young
looking man, and apparently takes life easy.
My sketch Of these calls has been short
as | am aware that such descriptions are
generally drawn out till they weary the
reader. The time for calling upon the
heads Of Departmental from 10 o'clocktill
night, although most of the calls are made
between IL and 8. At tho White House the
foreign ministers call at IL o'clock, the
Judges Of the Supreme Court at III, and
the officers of the Army and Navy at a / to
II. The doors are then open for the "peo-
ple," from IL till 2, when the reception
closes, and the tired old President has a
chance to rest. With the exception of the
cold, the day seemed to pass off pleasantly