The Chattanooga Daily Rebel. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1862-1864, 1862-11-28
nnin teresiine

Northern society, illustrated by the last
summer holidays by the seaside, and the
opening winter gaieties in New York and
Washington, is as noisy and corrupt as ever.
Nothing seems to cast a shadow over the
glare of that brand, which, ike the ca
duces of Roman lust, is waved far aud wides
lighthouse Of moral infamy. The puri-
flying fires of war, the Christening influence
of prevailing malady of blood, and the
more substantial checks of hard times aud
empty pockets, are alike Intellectual, and
leave the mis-named beau monde no better
than it was in the days when Mrs Dan
Siekles q iirsed', with Philip Barton Key,
and Madame cunningham put that inexo.
rable spider Ia the dumpling of DR.. Burdell
There are runaway matches. and "pistpl
matches, - aud" elopcments for the ro-
mantle and the rakish ). there are balls and
balletS for the bon ton AMI for all, there Il
giddy vhiFl of excitement and folly. Iii
We can not say that we much envy them
these displays of dcpravity and pride. The
routs " of Mulison Square, the q hops
at Willarl's, and the rouscs at johnny
coylcs, have long since descended from
merDiment 10 iindccenry. Even those pin
acles of go1d breeding hospit ,lity all
.ul.ure, the ..levecs I If Ny Lord Lincoln ),
would not be able to make Us violate the
timed mirth rather shocks aud disgus,s tae
more refined sense, and resembles most the
leer of the drunkard by the solemn bel Of
death
There was a day when these things, if
corruptins, We're yet fascinating Flora
McFIimscy, and her attending train Of wait.
ing women aud courtiers, was real per
sonage, and If false and tickle, as still in-
teresting, if for no other reason than that
she and they !" had nothing to wear" WheB
the bright Southern element was infused
and injected into the social system Of the
great metropolitan cities, and especially that
named after the first citizen, givingto il its
body and brilliancy, and restraining at least
part of its immodesty, the West End and
the regions ar ound Lafayette Square,
For smiling age and vhispering lovers made
were famous resorts fqrold and young, grave
and gay. Life then was truly made up of
golden days and uoctes aaibrosiaad- 1t was
one brig ht dream Of wisdom, wit and
beauty. With the festive cheer which
evolved round 4" club . not inferior to the
Z Monks of theScrew, ? and an aarray of 'sfe-
male loneliness Of Cabinet, Congress
and the world at large, it was not sur!
passed by the royal time of the Mcrricst
of Monarchs, i" when the utmost stretch of
a mornings study went no farther than the
choice of sword knot, or the adjustment
ofa side curl; when the soul spoke out in
all the pleasing elegance of dress; and
besux and bellies, enamored of themselves 10
one anothers folly, futteredlike gilded butt
terfies in giddy mazes through the walks Of
ST. James Park
But these days are over. Their old hasnts
are deserted. The riot of power and the
ravages ofwar on every hand, choke up the
sunshine, and shut out the past. Highway
and byway are traversed by new mea and
women, bearing the sharp and peaked char
acteristics Of the Yankee visage, or I'M
eouth grossness Of the Western hoOsier- Old
Washington is no more. Its brilliant,
fascinating, unprincipled society; its grand
assenbIage of wit and wisdom its { feast
# reason and flow Of soul; !" its roaring,
soaring ocean of humanity, high aud low,
w;tb its quiet, exclusive little world Of
culture and grnce-sll, all are gone neyfr'
to be again. Albert Pike viii never sing
his q Fine Arkansas Gentleman nor BE-
walked" more. We shall never hear the
aGood Saint Anthony from that frinqe
e ,.;ts and oood fellows, John Savage.
Roher. = oula has given mp all imitation.