The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-01-10
kEOk u K:
Co rreEpoLdsnce OF the Gate
FROM WASHINGTON.
Washington, January 2, 1863,

usual ceremonies, soc1aDlhles, hospitali'
ties, and egg-nogg -erorums, at Washing
ton, except that there was much less
drunkenness than the like occasion used
to bring forth IN the happy times OF
Pierce and old buck, the blest. The
President had public reception between
he hours of IL and clock, having re-
ceived the foreign ambassadors, military
and naval officers, and distinguished char
acers generally, during the hour before
noon. The representatives of foreign gov
ernments appeared, of course, in court
costume, and, as the darby said about the
potatoes, presented very lively and
beautsome appearance. They (the am.
bassadors and not the potatoes) wore
cooked hats, tight unmentlonables and
knee buckles, and an amazing sight of
gold lace on their coats, which were in
the swallow-tail and not the canvas-back
style, The fighting cocks, both military
and naval, were in their gayest plu-
mage, whilst the judges Of the Su-
preme Court, in solemn black, and every
man with the judicial bell-crowned hat
in hand, presented 10 the President fine
array OF portly manhood. fancy (miser-
able sinner that be is, and miserable
old sinner is hard to bear) was not pres
ent. There is no special order of literati
in this ungodly. city, where. in fact, in
tellectual culture of high degree is con-
siderably below par. Hence it is that
your accomplished correspondent, in or
der to regale your readers with the fore
going graphic description, was compelled
to remain out in the cold all this while,
and, as love to be particular, in no very
comfortable predicament, to wit: a-s,rad-
die of very peaked panel on a panel
fence.
But the time at last came for the COM
moners, and we, the people of the United
States, went in on our muscle, and had a
nice time all around shaking hands with
the President. He looks watch worn
and weary-as though the yisiohs Of hap
plness which dance DER his mind are in.
deed the visions which appear 10 the
sleeper, and give way to oppressive
thoughtfulness and care when be awake.
to the responsibilities which surround his
real position, One cid joker WI he seemed
to be on free and easy terms with Mr.
Lincoln, and who, suppose, was from
sangamon county, Illinois, suggested
somewhat rudely that he got good horse.
doctor to cut off Bill Stewards ears 70,
him What was the Presidents witty
rspartee to this brilliant jeu-a' esprit,
could not hear, for the irresistible tide q
the incoming crowd bore me rapidly
knew not whittier.
A public reception at the White House
isa noble spectacle of jammed up human.
ity. The magnificent swell Of crnoine
melts into slatternly perpcndicuarity Of
toilet; loves of bonnets get knocked into
the chaos of their original elements the
natural curls of q week s longing melt into
frizzly stringlets; your stove-pipe beaver
comes out used up, useless roll of sec
ond-hand pasteboard; your dress coat
Is spoiled forevermore; you are be-sqeez-
ed and bejammed till you hollow outright;
and, generally, whereas you started in o
deeentiy dressed, respectable appearing,
good-natured gentleman: you emerge
(probabiy by jumping out NJ a window
miserable, ill-natured, tatterdemaleon
scarecrow. In short, a public reception
by the President on New Years Day i,
the sublime of going in lemons and com
Ing out squeezed.
Many Of the gentlemen now soiourn
ing here from Iowa paid their respects t
Judge Miller, Hon. j. +. Wilson. m
Hon. j. A. KAsson, at the rooms {
which last mentioned gentleman the
were treated with the gorgeous hospita
lily for which host and hostess are notice
1t was refreshing to see the word tIowA
on the luscious icing of their best an
greatest cake. Many of us had designe
calling on Senators Grimes and Harlar
but they both happened to be out Of th
ci'y-the former attending to public du
ties at New York, the latter, with hi
wife and Maj. w. p. Clarke, of low
City, on visit of kindness to the conva
iescent camp near Alexandra, where the
remained all day dispensing much needle,
articles to thousands Of soldiers who b.v
suffered in the cause of their country
Nav fha hapiupar<