Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-04-14

number Of graceful walters, also in white gloves,
whose business is to attend to the guests. The Pre-
sideni takes his seat not at the head Of the table.
but on the side, exactly midway, Miss Lane acting
as his uis-a-Uis You End your name beautifully
written on card laid upon the plate. before the
seat You are to occupy, and the entertainment be-
gins. The cooking IS generally French cooking the
wines costly and rare; and you win soon have an
opportunity OF hearing the great man talk.
You need not be informed that Mr. Buchanan is
one Of the most delightful diners IN the world. He
has fund Of small talk for the ladies' variety Of
Old-tashiOned anecdotes and, as he is by no means
sparing Of the juice Of the grape, he grows more
easy, and more aflabe, and more agreeable as the
rePast goes on, calling out after The other OF the
company, and paying compliments to the ladies, oc'
casionally taking wine with them. You never ask
the President to take wine with YOU but wait to be
invited by him. After remaining in this delightful
society for several hours, al given signal from the
President, the company rise, return to the recep-
tion-rOom, where they are served with coffee and
liquors, or if they prefer it, with brandy, after
which you take your leave and 90 home TO remem-
Der the Inequalities you have enjoyed. Some of
these dinners are dull and stately enough, but l
have known them to be as delightful as the most ge-
NAL could desire.
If you are invited to dine with Mr.. Slidell, Mr..
Seward, or with the New Jersey Knight Of Gwyn,
Mr.. Speaker PennngtOn,) you are seated around :
large circular table and pass through nearly the
same routine Rave described at the Presidents,
Le Qluef6uce D6ll8 llab Llef6 - ulOlc 4LSSuollf
more fun, more jokes and sometimes harder
I drinking.
Great thing are frequently accomplished at these
reunions Combinations are formed. political issues
discussed public men reviewed and more than one
important idea evolved which carried to the Capitol
buildings makes the heart of the people thrill or
causes the Union itself to tremble to its center.
The Southern Representatives are, l think, your
/ best diners out Such men Colonel Keitt, Of
! South Carolina Toombs, Of Georgia; Bouligny, OF
/ South Louisiana; Pryor, Of Virginia Secretary
! Cobb, Of Georgia Secretary Floyd, Of Virginia
/ Vice President Breckenridge and Humphrey Mar
| shall, Of Kentucky, seem to be always prepared
with their best anecdotes and always ready for re-
partee They make the cold NOrtheIners state as they
detail scenes ofSOuthern life and sketch famous char
acters in Southern history talk about Culpepper Din
widdle Caroline, John Taylor, Nat Macon, General
Jackson and not unfrequently you are RECALLED by
some old Yrginian who tells domestic stories of Gen
eral Washington and the fathers of the Constitution
| Nearly all these men are connected with the old
/ families
! Some of these days l hope to give you a sketch
of the manner in which the great names Of Virginia
South Carolina, and Kentucky are related to each
| other by blood and marriage. The ease with which
these men enter the parOr, and the grace and good
nature with which they tell their Stories cannot DC
described. He who understands the arts of hospi
/ tally IN Washington always wieids large influence
| More greatmeasures are carried through Congress
/ by such means than by the expenditure Of large
sums Of money.