Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-08-17

Asooeooo oDoeAse To0k oooue . psoes.
aesssa1 lsves.
The 0sv York1 Cbmmlveial hes .
locale e4rsspospsos who, Us attended
: !svss . the White Hose. end "bo
~ don't believe 6,st class people in
Warrington 60 to President Lsoolo's
levees. Why, I've en- more 'uteli.
geDce and good breed ng 10 asuaaA
d'a~iugroom 10 New York than Icould
see in the reception and snte-rooms TO-
getber that evening at The White Hoose.
Nr. L'ncolo IL > good mat, I'm sure,
and modest man. Between ourselves,
II be were my husband and Presidsns
too, shosids's like bin 70 b % good.
oatured and free and essy in HI. mas
ners. should want him TO look and
sot the Chief Magistrate little more.
Nay, you need not put on that grave
face. Arabells Smith will speak her
mi"d or che won't spesk st eli. II the
good man at the White House has no
body else to .ell him the truth, will
and if you don't like it you needn't print
il. There. my dear old friend, you dod
'Belr TO b the same saucy girl she 81.
wsys was; and. until somebody tames
mel should ike somebody e try the
experiment At 40 early day. don,
think there ~,ll be much change.
"l'Il tell you just what l think. The
President, Ab,ah Lincoln. is ~ hon.
e., and upright man - the world ever
saw. But Abraham Lincoln, in one
respect, is not yet 3 President. Hs
sueech, his bearing, and the aociety be
seems most 1t home with, show him to
be s,ill Mr.. Lincoln only. He has not
yet appreciated, socially. the position be
has been called 10 occupy. There, l do
no, believe that I ever before wrote
such grave criticism. But it 10 just.
The other evening wss present At the
presenting Of . flag to the EIm'ra regi-
ment. The President was there IN his
morning costume, . suit OF gray that
obviously needed repairs. Two Of hi.
carriage companions we're gentlemen
the other had neither The appearance,
the speech, nor the msoners Of one.
Yet be Was the Presidents familiar, and
they banded silly jokes with each other.
I'm democratic enough for . woman, a.
YOU have often told me. but I should
greatly prefer to see tie R+eside"ti"l
manners accompanying the hesidential
office. WonIdu't you?
"D,d SEQ no one 1t the levee but
Mr.. Lincoln? OF course DID. Blu:
have little patience. Dido't l tell you
l should ran'ble in my talks just as
much ~ liked? saw Mrs. Lincoln,
and don't think if / had been the Pres
,dent's wife shonld have dressed exact.
~ as she did. But, then, tastes differ,
or | should not have been . spinster at
this day. And l wouldn't have talked
quite so freely in q promiecuous crow ]
about my husbsnd's affairs. Madame
is smart woman, however, with 40
indomitable spirit lurking behind her
bright ewes, and will not live four years
10 the White House without making
her 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 q
person there with ordinary conversation
al powers. Even the Secretary OF State,
who vas present, and is reputed to be .
good talker, seemed to take no interest
in any body, .nd had not even alwaye
a recognition for his personal friends.
! don't think shall ever put myself to
the trouble Of dressing for another Pres
ideut's levee. But l had . very pleas
ant ride home to aunt Morrison's, aud
my lively friend, the member, told me
many things about Washington, which
lmay perhaps repeat to you.
"Yours, truly,
ARABELLA SMITH,.