Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-31
Written for the National Republican,
INKLINGS OF IDLENESS,

TELL us that We are to love our nc,ghbOrs as our
selvesl And, If we must love them, should we
not know something about them Call II silly
g,bble, If you like, old Nj. Stupidkesd bat you
are the very who ltkcS 10 hear smAll-talk, aye
and to read just such walls and cstgtys" ~ IN
my idle way, pick UP about town, even during
stormy weather. Had the snow only been bounced
upon by Jack Frost, so Ss TO have given US some
sleighing could have filled my notebook with
| accounts thereof but the clerk OF the weather
was ortunately in a melting mood, rendering
selghing out OF the question, while only those la
dies who are not ashamed to show the sizes Of
their gaiter-boots, have been able 10 pick their
way through the slush and the mud
ABOUT BALMoRALs.
| What time there was here two yeSTs ago, to be
sure, about the wooden kirtles which Queen Vic
toria had found convenient for walking In, dur
ing her sojourn at her Scotch retreat called Bilmo
| tai. Ladies' saw at once that they could avoid
wearing be draggled dimity and filming the lace
edgings thereof; but Queen Nictoris although e.
| tsemed as sensible woman and Defender Of the
Faith, not recognized as ENpOunder OF the Fash
| ions. BalmOrals were not rorr, and twas thought
that they would be bsnishcd with the Boomers,
when the Empress Eugenie adopted then and they
u once became all the rage, The sidewalks OF
! Pennsylvania avenue, on muddy day now resem-
! 5e5 a poppy-5od so brilliant and varied are the
hIes and the patterns Of the wooden krtles, and
| Balmorals have become an institution. Long may
| hey wave.
DISTINGUISHED vIsIToRs
While those who have faith in vigorous prose-
cution Of the war have welcomed Gen. Bullet and
have said "God-speed" TO Gen. Hooker, the pres-
| ence Of George Bancroft, the historian, has been
| marked by a round OF select entertainments, at
which he has been the hOnoled guest. Prominent
i Imong these was a dinner given on Wednesdhy,by
Mr., Rudolph Schlelden, the Minister Resident tIom
Bremen, who invited party Of notables to meet
| the leading American writer.
ENTERTAINING AUTHORS.
The good people OF Warrington have ever been
lavish in extending Inequalities to British writers
who have come here to see the Metropolis, yet they
have almost always been repaid BY abusive notices
| II tho city and Of themselves Thomas Moore
vas the irst OF these ungrttefu gucsts; then came
Captain Basil Hall, then Mrs. Trollopc; then Fan
| ny Kemble; then Silk Buckingham; and the cats.
| ioguc Is completed by naming Anthony TrullOPc
| Dacle Nizetelly, and Russell. The "diary" Of the
latter Ia just published, and II shows how little the
| writer was acquainted with the CourtegicH nj pri-
yate life, as he snobbishy chronicles his visits 70
he dignitiTiCs Of the land, even describing ladies
ireEscs In detail Il said Of the poet who
heads tho list Of these British hsrar who have
visited and described Washington, that Tommy
loves lord" and Russsll's great aim appeals 10
De to show his intimate Acquaintance with ambas.
5sdoFs and cabinet officers.
Clever American journalists pass years IN wash
hgton without ever being asked to pass the thICsh-
| Icld OF those great men whose praises they are
constantly lmplUTed and beseeched to put In PRINT.
Thank heaven, they don't regret this lack
| II courtesy, as the Qualification would not repay
| Tor the cost OF white kids and cab-hire But here
came an IRISH penny---ner and the biggest doors
IN Washington were 1ung back, while our leading
men invited him to paTtakc Of then public hospi-
lality, and 70 share theu family repSsts GlUTl-
ously has the Hibernian cheN alieT repaid them,
and his retaings Of what he saw and heard in phi
,ate houses even put old CuIowskis tattllng jour
| hal into the background. Some OF these betrayed
hosts are indignant but the public sAith guilty.
| and serves EN- right"
| HOTEL HOPS"
| The pleasant dances at the hotels Of this clty
arc one of the most agreeable Institutions Of the
| metropolis. Grave statesmen forget finance and
illibustcring as they minge with youth and beauty
| N social enjoyment; fond mothers are proud to
| (Dsent their daughters in scenes where their
oeauty Wall Be lustrous; the damsels themselves
arrange their most fascinating toilCttcs, young
officers purchase gorgeous shOulder-stTNrs, and It
IS amusing to see how many gentlemen are init
3 nately acquainted with the landlords Of the es-
Adjustments, from whom they hope to whcedle
Invitations. Great Institutions these hope.
LAST TUESDAY NIGHT
| There was one of these hotel hops which was,
| Of course, 4 most brilliant affair The ladies Of
the house WED with each other in the beauty and
iplendor Of their costumes, and a mere list Of
those worthy Of notice would be longer than an
rmy appropriation bill. New Hampshire and
I New York, IlliAols and Massachusetts, kentucky
and Connecticut, each had its especially notice
! Ible representatives.; while prominent among
them was one Of the most gifted lady-writers OF
0 our times. who will doubtless give a far more
readable account OF the gay scene than can an Idle
] fellow like myself.
AT wILLARDs' HOTEL,
On Thursday nightt there was the "hOp,n par a.
! tileHce, Of the season. Mrs. c, of Kentucky,
everywhere recognized the leader OF metropoli-
tan society, was present, with many other ladies
whose bright ey es rain influence on Capitol Ilill.
| New Hampshire contributed the iaiTest OF her
Iaughtersi Massachusetts was represented by &C
complished mntronsi lady from Connecticut,
whose pleasant face is familiar to the inmates OF
hospitals, was thereby none the less attractive;
e New York sustained its reputation as the Empire
7 | state by specimens Of the fair ones at Troy At
| Syracuse, ut Buffalo and at the great city; New
Jersey not in the back ground; brilliant dele.
/ | CATION from Pittsburg, PennsylI ania received the
exclusive attentions Of an ex-secretarJ Of General
: SCOTT neither was the Quaker city unrepresented
| the white and the red roses OF Ohio politics had
each Its fair championi Indlana's daughters never
{ appeared to more advantages even California con
trbuted It's share OF female attraction, and from
+ this city was one Of the most attractive golden
g threads ever woven in the Webb of existence.
, What pity that jenkins could not have been
there to have revealed in the magnificent COS umes
the diamonds real and false, natures pearls do.
DOL the laces, the head dresses the tue, the bro
cades, the pattern silks the moiIe antiques ant
II the more antique wearers Of some juvenile article.
"A Of attire. 1t was in truth, most delightful enter
= tainment.
THE HOSPITALS.
Brilliant are the scenes at the Capitol; tits