Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-08-12

worship me for having been SO kind as tc
make them for him. Heigbo, leave us girls
alone for managing you gentlemen; the
younger ones among you, ut least.
just after had finished my first letter
q member of Congress called upon aunt tc
tell her TINT the army was on the marcel
for Fairfax. Oh, how my heart leapet
1 into my mouth when thought of deai
Gustavus, aud the bullets, and the cannon
balls, those nasty newly invented sabre
bnyonets, and all those things. And be-
sides, who would take me to the Presi'
dents levee? And wouldn't al the other
handsome Young officers be gone, too, with
the arny2 Aud was it worth while going
at all now? But my aunt WAS bent ou my
going, and she asked her visitor to escort
me, which be promised to do. About ten
O'Clock he called for me with carriage,
How very gallant aud free in their man
ners some of those Washington gentlemen
are. | enjoyed the ride very much, but
was little afraid of my coifitre and Grim
oline. But that is entrenoug.
Didn't Aunt Morrison fix me up nicely
| could see she was proud of her niece,
and SO was !, for l did look real handsome.
/ wore pale blue silk dress, with white
lace everskilt olped up with flowers, and
wreath OF forget-me- e-nots with pearls.
A lady NJ the levee was, oh, so Jealous,
because she was dressed nearly like me,
without pearls, and the blue did not suit
her complexion, while it suited mine so
sweetly that aIn not afraid to say that
was the belle of the evening, But it was
most provoking that there was not beau
IN the whole crowd that was even. worth
flirting with
l,ol; -yt III L.;
ington go TO President Lincoln's levees.
Why, Pre seen more intelligence and good
breeding in small drawing room in New
York than I could see in the reception and
ante-rooms together, that evening at the
White House. Mr.. Lincoln is a good man,
I'm sure; and n modest man. Between
ourselves, if he were my husband and
President, too, shouldn't like him to be
quite SO good natured aud free-and-easy
III his manners. | should want him to
look and act the Chief Magistrate little
more. Nay, you need not put on that
grave face. Arabella Smith will speak
her mind or she wont speak at all. If the
good man at the White House has nobody
else to tell him the truth will; and if you
don't like it you needn't print it. There,
my dear old friend, you find "Bell' to be
the same sancy girl she always was; and
until somebody tNtnes mel should like
somebody to try the experiment at an early
day don't think there will be much
change.
I'll tell you just what l think. The
President is Abraham Lincoln. as honest
and upright d man as the world ever saw.
But Abraham Lincoln, in one respect, is
not yet President. His speech, his bear
ing, and the society he seems most at home
with, show him to be still Mr.. Lincoln ou-
~. He has not yet appreciated, socially.
the position he has been called to occupy.
There, do not believe that ever before
wrote such grave criticism. But it is
Just. The other evening / was present at
the presentation of flag to the Elmira
Regiment. The President wns there in his
morning costume, a suit of grey that very
obviously needed repairs. Two othis car
| riage companions were gentlemen; the
other had neither the speech, tue appear
ance nor the manners of one. Yet he WAS
the Presidents familiar, and they banded
silly jokes with each other. I'm demo-
cratic enough for II woman, as you have
often told me, but I should d.gredtiy prefer to
| see Presidentidt manners accompany the Pres
dental o6fce. Wouldn't you2
Did see no one Mt the leve by Mr.. Lin
colu? OF course did, But have little
patience. Didn't tell you should ram
ble in my talks just MS much us liked?
l saw Mrs. Lincoln, and l don't think if /
had been the Presidents wifeI should have
dressed exactly as she did. But, then,
tastes differ, or | should not have been a
spiuster at this day. And wouldn't have
talked quite SO freely in prOmiscuous
crowd about my husbands nffuirs. Mad
am is u smart woman, however, with an in
domitlblc spirit lurking behind her bright
ewes, and will not live four years in the
While House without makingher influence
felt.
Well, tired of the levee before it was
over. With the exception of the polite
gentleman who escorted me, and one or two
others, there was scarcely a person there
with ordinary Conversational powers. Even
the Secretary of State, who was present
and is reputed to be good talker, seemed
to take no interest in any body, and had
not even always recognition for his per-
sonal friends. don't think shall ever
put myself to the trouble of dressing for
another Presidential levee. But had a
very pleasant ride home to Aunt Morri-
sons, and my lively friend the member
told me many things about Washington
which may perhaps repeat to you.
Yours truly, ARABEILA SMITH.