The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-02-26
Our Washington Correspondence.

WASHINGTON, Fob IL, 1864.
THE Presidcnts s-.fbandonea Plant
dtions-Om Relations witk Great Brit.
ain. s....
Levees and Receptions have become the
prevailing fashion. The President. Speaker
Colfax ond several Men, bers ct Congress have
them on stated days; othors hold them oc-
casionally. The levees of the President arc
unlike any thing else of the party kind. A
principal object of those who attend them.
is either to sec or bo seen that kind Of en-.
joymont or social pleasure which is the at
tractive clement in ordinary parties, is not
q constituent of the levee. At the Presi-
dents levee, the plan of operations is some.
thing like this There is suite of rooms
leading into the East Room. In one of
these stand tho President and Mrs. Lincoln,
the latter at his right, and a short distance
back Of tho line where he stands. Upon
the arrival of the hour, halfpast O'Clock
p. NJ, the entrance doors are thrown open,
and in como the crowd. Hats and coats are
left with servants in charge, the ladies ar
range their toilets in the dressing room, and
policemen. standing at proper places, direct
the way, through tho hall, into and through
the rooms, where stand Mr.. and Mrs. Lin
coin, every one shaking hands with the
former. who greets them with "How do you
do, sir 2" or "Madam," or "Miss," as the
case may be, and, waiting for no other con-
versation, pass on to give room for those be.
hind. After reaching the East Room, the
injunction to "pass on issuing from the
lips of policemen, ceases, and al. seek such
methods of enjoyment as fancy dictates,
within the limits observed, which are these !
to converse, if you havo an acquaintance,
to criticise the moving multitude. or to join
it, and be carried along by it. At IL o'clock,
the President takes the arm of some lady,
and some gentleman escorts Mrs. Lincoln,
who march around the East Room few
times, and retire. This is the signal for
dispersion.
The levee is perfectly democratic affair.
Everybody who desires may 60 there. No
form of costume is required. Indeed, there
is no prevailing style, for all tho modes of
dress that are to be found in all parts of the
Union meet here, forming medley of sash
ion unlike anything to be met with in any
other city of the country. Tho man with a
wamus and cowhide boots, with bis panta-
looms turned up. and perchance mud on
them, may precede Fifth Avenue dame,
sparkling with diamonds. Lord Lyons may
stand in juxtaposition with man wearing
homespun suit, who is on bis first visit to
Washington, and who says, II say, neighbor
Abe, didn't them British fellows haul in the
horns of them rams pretty rapid, when Bill
Seward told 'em, if they didn't, he reckoned
they mout get 'em knocked off ?" The per.
fumed exquisite, with white necktie, and
fancy. .coIored gloves, stands at the elbow Of
the countryman, who, carrying his hat with
him, lest he should lose it, is familiar with
no other perfumery than essence of pep.
permint. The private soldier has the same
privileges as the Major General the la Dor.
or, as the Minister of Russia. Tho high
the low, the rich, the poor, the titled and the
untitled, meet together, and Mr.. Lincoln
unassumipg as at bis own home in Spring
field, is President equally of all. The levee
10 peculiarly an American institution f; fol
in no other country does the head Of the
nation receive informally all classes of the
people to social gatherings. Here. also, the
abject aud desplsed class are beginning tt