The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-01-24
Ripples at the CAPITAL.
WASHINGTON, Jan. I9, 1869.

JEFF. DEM.:--Mr. Cameron has re
signed, and Mr.. Stanton has succeeded
and you know just as much of the insae
II there is any, as do the lucRess sojourn
ers OF this midland mist. btleaguerec
Capital. The quaint, shrewd, iron. gray
faced, iron eyed, iron gray-haired
all.iron. gray man, who used to sit there
in that little, dingy. cluttered War office
with his heavy head dropping forward
and looking out peeringly and curiously
from under his shaggy, iron gray brows
usually speaking in low, confdontia
tone, though often petulanliy and pee.
vi,hly. has left. What for? Let anybody
tell.
To me, he was always weird, mysteri.
Gus sort Of man, quick and shrewd, with.
out great ability, and Of a rather poor
business capacity. For some reason,
there was au uhdefued impression OF u
want Of personal integrity, that followed
him about everywhere, and waggish
friend, the other day, on learning that he
was going TO Kussis, proposed to write
to the Gar, "to tuke lis things in," before
his arrival. There is not, presume, the
least foundation for any further changes
iD the Cabinet.
One OF The weekly ripples Of the Cap.
ital is Presidential Reception on Tues.
day evening. These. as you know, are
open 10 every possible thing human, or
woman, il there is any difference. On
all other days, and at all other times, the
Presidential Mansion stands open to all
corners that is, a common room below,
with passage way TO the East Room ;
and whoever wishes may enter SO lar, or
climb TO the Presidents ante rooms above,
On reception nights, the doors are closed,
at oast against coats and pants, tiIl the
] past 8, by which time an i'm.
mense crowd gathers under the large
por!ico, and, when the doors open, an
immense squeeze inward is accomplished
In the first room. goutlcmon may deposit
hats, ovcrcon,s, &c., &c.. or walk on and
in as thuy are. Passing another hail
you enter the celebrated Blue Chamber. :"
where, in tho center, above all. rise the
head and shoulders Of the President, who
as tho names reach him from d gentleman
in attendance, shakes each conner by the
hand, with an occasional word. Al his
right, and two or threo yards in tho roar.
stands Mrs. Lincoln, in whito satin, white
shoulders, and white things generally; al
WAYS grand, bland, gracious and tropical.
Past these centers, tho crowd surges for.
ward through another room. and so on to
tho East Room--the grand National Draw.
ing Room--of immense size, mado up of
carpets, mirrors, gas aud gliding. Sweeping
around this, one naturally turns to the place
of entrance, to mark the moiIey throng
that. oddying a moment at the Presidential
stand, omptios itself into this grand resor-
voir Officers innumorablo of overy grade.
from double stars to plain straps soldiers,
ladies, loafcrs, citizens, &C., &c, of evory
costume anG style. from foreign embassa
dor to the almost ooatless; from the grand.
est low and no.dress of tho proudest belle
TO tho attire of tho most modest, sweet little
miss from tho far-off village. nov for tho first
time, confused with the whirI and glitter
about hor. Curious il is. 10 stand near this
emptying place. with a friend who knows
every body that 10 above tho herd OF no.
hOdies who make up tho mass, and listen to
his running inventory of the leading great
and small mon, women and things, that
como crowding aud mashing promiscuously
in.
At half past 10 or l , the President i'm.
mortalzes some lady by giving hor his arm.
and mixing in the throug, which is signal
that tho thing ia most out. Out we un-
RnDhih tIcatpd citizens of tho f,ravnv
N1r'hern border 90. undor tho dark, silent
sky and catch glimpse of tho sweeping
tide Of tho sullen Potomac, and think of the
chilled and solitary sentinel at his lonely
post. and wonder whittier the dark and sui.
lon. and silent tide of time and events is
sweeping our country and its hopes,