The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-26

forced from her retirement aud reluctantly
yielded herself to society and-Jenkins. She
imagined, poor lady in her s. nplicty, that she
could have enjoyed, undisturbed, few days
respite from her iatgues at Washington. She
unfortunately left out Of her calculations the
ubiquitous jenkins.
1t is the penalty Of high station that those
called to it belong to everybody but them
selves. They must not eat, drink or sleep, ex-
cept under the eye Of TIE public. Neither Vic
toria, in her Highland retreat, nor Eugene, al
the Pyrennean Springs, is allowed for momen'
to delude herself into The notion that she can
escape her particular Jenkins. Every move
ment and incident of the daily life of these
royal ladies is flashed over the wires with in
exorable fidelity. They would give, no doubt,
a great deal for q few weeks Of the privacy
! enjoyed by the humblest of their subjects. 1t
cannot be theirs. Like the Inevitable skeleton
at the Egyptian feasis, they are ever conscious
Of the presence of their Jenkins.
| 1t would be supposed that the wife
of republican President would be exempt
ed from this penalty of greatness. Mrs.
Lincoln evidently went to Long Branch I'M
! der that impression. Like a sensible, unpre-
tending woman as she is, she kept to her apart
ments for some days, thinking that, the first
impulse of curiosity past, the crowd Of fashion
able oilers assembled there would cease to oc-
oupy themselves with her movements. Vain
/ expectation Jenkins had preceded her. For
a week previous to her arrival he had been
filling the city journals with all the gossip he
| could gather regarding the preparations made
| for her accommodation, the number of her
suite, the length of her intended stay, &C., &c.
| The result was a sensation such as jenkins only
knows how to get up. All the other watering
places were empted of the few visters that the
war had left them to swell the throng of cxpec-
tant toadies and Office seekers at Long Branch.
They quilted the mean tables and bcggacly ac-
commodations of Sharon, Saratoga and New
port, TO starye at the meaEer tables OF the New
jersey lotels, which, bad as they always are,
were never more squalid than this season-and
hs merely to show their loyalty. How cruel
must have been the disappointment felt when it
WAS announced THAT Mrs. Lincoln intended to
keep TO her own rooms. '.What am l to do?"
ENORMOUSLY writes Jenkins 'am TO penetrate
into the sdnctum of the lady, as the Times man
did into that of the Prince of Wales. and give a
minute description of her comb, brush
&c?' Fau!e dc mieus, he devoted his
pen to daily record of the sayings and
doires Of Prince Robert and his associates
the 'uliane McConhey,' "the sportiye Forbes
and the 'dashing Halstead." He has never been
happier tlan in his description OF the fishing
party, at which young hopeful caught cra1''-
just such crab as was caught by his venerated
parent in the unexpected result Of the battle of
Bull run.
After few days passed in the vain attempt
TO maintain the privacy that size coveted, the
great little lady, to protect herself against for
chile intrusion consented to mix freely with
the festive throng jenkins few into ccstacics.
lie could benceforth give the rein to bis bril-
liant flights Of fancy. The occasions were at
hand for him to exhibit to advantage his pecu
liar Sits. First came the visit of the Presden-
ta parry to the liie-saving station on the coast,
under Tie guidance Of Governor Newell. There
az extcmpore reception by Mrs. Lincoln of the
ladies and gentlemen OF the party furnished the
opportunity for delicate bit of tattery to the
Presidents wife. ''Iler comparatively youthful
appearance; writes Jenkins, "strikcs every one,
and | have heard it frequently remarked
how much younger she looked than those who
see her for the first time anticipated" How art.
iul of you jenkins, thus to assail lady's weak
side!
Tut it is III the description Of the grand ball at
tue Mansion House that Jenkins shine ont in all
his glory. He gives US a minute description of
the toilets worn on The occasion, ard tells us
that "Nrs. Lincoln, looking like q queen in her
long train and magnificent corcnct OF flowers,
stood near The centre CT the room surrounded
by brilliant suite, bowiug as the ladies were
presented to her, Around her stood the ladies
who accompanied her to the Branch, and whose
dresses have been already described. Before
her, forming sort of semi-circie, were a num-
Der Of gentlemen dressed en- regie in all the
glory of fine black suits and heavy white neck
ties. Beside her were Mrs. Lester Wallack,
dressed in white silk, RULED, and with an over
dress Of white carleton, and Mrs Hoey, in al ele
CANT blue MORE antique, with q founce and
shawl of houiton lace"
This reminds one OF the circumstantial clo-
res of Queen Vctoria's coronation, as described
by an Irish witness =
There the Quecnheaven bless her Oh how they did
dress llerl
All in her purple garments ard her golden crown
Ike Ike Venus or Hsoe, or tho tc 2. :. .. .p46a,
With sj4 yoenS l,a..,4 noding up her gown. Fe-'
Thor. mo l2JlS and ladies' and III. Hiss OGradys
AN et,nd,y round about ihe Abbey door;
& sS te swee pee The rd Of works
Aud Mahcnlct Ali said quite t'enteely,
Oh II be proud to the like uiongst the Turks.
Is it to be wondered at that amidst "this glare
of lights, this blaze of jewels this soft rustling
OF silks, this cloud Of rich and elegant laces"
to say nothing Of the elegant champagne, Jen-
kins should abandon himself to the illusions so
ppnprallv Drevailinp south Of Mason and Dixou'S !