Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-24
For the National Republican.
InkIIngs Of Idleness.


sALuTAroRT.
II Is somewhat awkward to make my bow,
aud 10 commence series OF gossiping chats,
after the readers Of the Republican have
been informed that they were to be edited
10y professional quill-dryer. | suppose II
should be considered ao a compliment; but .
really, II appears ridiculous to me that these
"lnklings OF ldlCncss," (Which have, for some
! years past, been occasionally published by
Washington editors when they lacked time or
inclination TO write something bettcr,) should
be ascribCd to one of that prcos.gang who so
industriUusly and regularly record Washington
Newsstand who, when they cannot End their
needed quantity OF reliable Information, manu-
iacture 1t. Believe me, kind reader, when
Introduce myself to you as mere metropolitan
lounScr possessing neither the inclination nor
the ability TO give you the news of the day, but
willing occasionally, to pick up what waits and
estrays may lind floating in the eddioS of the
current Of gossip, and lay them before you in
an idle way. That's what's the matter
MuTATIs MuTANDIs.
Times have changed since first commenced
idly to chronicle my thoughts, and were seri-
ously disposed, might go into more than one
drawing room, which has been the scene of Gu
tertainmonts which have underworld TO dc
scribe, and there moralize, as did Marius amid
the ruins OF Carthage. Provost marshals,
quartermasters, medical Inspectors, aides-de-
camp, and other military dignitariCs, Of whose
rank am Ignorant, now tie up official papers
with red tame. where the NOulheTn 1afr
grave and maidens fair used to figure four or
i've years ago. When they left the metropolis,
after the election OF Mr.. Lincoln, they expected
soon TO return, and to resume their places as
leaders oil society In Reconstructed govern
ment'" But thus lar, the conspiracy which
they AIDED IN shaping, has not been successful,
ana 30 they nave 10 remain IN Dixie" sadly
denclen' III 'noir supplies OIL kid-gloyeS' and
terribly punished by not getting sight at the
latest fashions until they arc week old In
the places OF those who then composed "the
White House circle" We have true-hoarted wo-
men, who Visit tho camps aud the hospitals,
mlnlslerlng TO the wants VI the suffering, and
encouraging those who arc brayely battling in
defence OF the Union. selah
THE EXECUTIVE RECEPTIONS.
Let 1t not be thought, however, that all the
ladies now at Washington pass their entire
time in emulating Miss Dix, aud are continually
acting as volunteer NURSES" plainly dressed,
without hoops, JeWelry or curlS." Not at all, |
as Is proven at the receptions at the Executive |
mansion, now held every Saturday afternoon.
To be sure, the daylight is trying to some COM
plexions, nor can much lace or Jewelry be worn,
but Gloves Of bonnets" can be displayed, and
there is not that horrld crushing and crowding
that there used to be in the evenings, when the
closing Of the Departments, the workshops |
and the stores enabled all the good people in |
the District, with the strangers within their |
gates, to pack themselves, fig fashion, into the
east room. No wonder that our visiting friends
from across the water were wont 10 make merry
over the mosaic Of humanity which they used .
to sec in the state apartments, and to humor-
ously describe the vVrdant visitors from the
rural districts, the spruced-up clerks in ready
made clothing, the old maids with corkscrow
curls, the offiee-seckers, the harkmou, the doc.
tors of divinity. the inquisitiye secretaries of
legation, tho red-cheeked damsels of tho Hiber-
ulan persuasion, the broken down congress
sional claimants, and the gentlemen who had
dlnod out, and we're consequently unable to
say " National Intelllgencer." The day rcccp-
lions arc an Improvement.
THE METROPOLITAN pnAwlsg-uooMs.
Although the stern resIItIes or war p,svsnt
much gaicty, Washington is by no means dole.