Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-04-07
WEshinRsen soeEeIy-ChanKes WrouEht
by lhe Yankee .Re9lnac.
Irre1pondsncs Of the journal Of Commerce.


trouble in detecting, in almost everything. diff
fsrenees hom what existed when visited the
oapitsl many years since.
Daring nay present short sojourn here, 1 have
enjoyed frequent opportunities for observation,
and nothing impresses ons more than the
changes which have been wrought in Wash
ington society. The infusion of particular
portion of Northern and Western element has
tended to vary, rather than Improve, the char
Eeter of these social gatherings from which one
is prone to judge of the character Of people.
Washington was formerly much more Paris
ian than at pTesent-not in its costumes, for as
great eKtrsvsgsnce in attire prevails, perhaps,
as st any former peTiod-but there is less of
genuine taste, and Of the simple elegance OF
manner and dress which indicates redasmeut,
if not sff0rding evidences Of wealth.
Formerly there existed en- unusual charm
in the frank and polished ease Of manner which
seemed to pervAde socisty here, and which rem
deied il 90 attractive to sojourners nom al paris
of the world. This, TO = great extent, has de-
parted, and its place is occupied by stiff formal
ity, owing, doubtless, ia part, to the fact Of
many persons now being brought ksre and into
position by those Suddenly acquired gains which
may add 70 the bFillisncy of dress, bat cannot
contribute intellectual gils or endoW with social
gTaces. The consequence is g considerable de-
gree of show and display, with that GOODNESS Of
manner natural TO persons who have net enjoyed
those advantages which inspire confidence, cor
dislity and ease. Is is state CT society more
easily realized thsn described, and extends as
well to one sex IS to the other.
do not mean that there are not many psr-
sons resident here who would lend = charm to
society anywhere, but the number of which is
not proportionally IS great as formerly, and is,
IN large company, 80 ouinumbeTed By DIFF
faTent class as to diyest Washington society Of
what was ones lis peculiar distinction Many
persons continue TO mske this city their resi-
dencs, whose families for many yssTs have been
conspicuous for their high standing, morally, so.
cislly snd intellectually, and to these few have
been added, who will in measure compensate
for the losses occssioned By time and the pres
eat revolution, but they are not in proportion to
the new comers Of different character who are
met in assemblies of Washisgt0n society. I do
Eot GllHdo to the weekly gatherings at ihs Presi-
dents, which have become so ordinary that re-
fued persons seldom appear there more than
once in q season, and then for a few moments
3 sacrifice which is deemed necessary Is a ra-
speet TO the Chief Magistrate, or as indicative
of principles of Loyalty to the Government and
friendship to the Administration.
Here the change is more evident, perhaps,
than in any other place The gay, elastic, in
telligeDt and intellectual sssemblsees, which
you and l, in our earlier days, went to the
drawing room" TO enjoy, are, fear, to be alto
gether affairs Of the past. do not see how the
character of these gatherings is now ever to be
changed, unless in their disuse for a tirne, and
their TeestAblishment upon some new principle
which shall render them ct least pEsssble, il not
attractive, to persons of cultivated manners and
refined tastes.
The character Of he nan and woman who
he 81
course, to q gTsst extest, influence the style of
visitors who frequent their receptions; but,
having assumed so different an aspect from
what they presented within even 8 very few
years, I fear it Will not be an easy matter 10
restore these levees," as they are now tanned,
to 8 moderate degree of Tespectsbility, and l
imagine q few years will witness their Rbate-
meRt. Even foreign society here has under
gone great ehasge recently, and the capital
has lost, in this respect, soma Of its most at
tFsctive ornaments The charming family of
the Prussan minister, so popular, so refined
and good, are in Europe-their absence Is a
great loss to the society of the city and to those
visitors who enjoyed their proverbisl hospitality.
The family of the Brazilian minister, less
known to our people generally, because Of more
recent residence, have gone to Europe, pTepsT-
Gtory to a years sojouTn in Bfs8il, much 20 the
regret of their American friends and to the sor-
row of their associates diplomatic. The French
minister and his wife are also absent; so that,
in consideration of the number of bachelors
who form most Of the other members Of the d.
plomstic corps, the sbeeRee of those mentioned
creates a wide vacuum among the mos. clever
people of the city. Stoeekl fills popularity and
gracefully the place Of our good old friend Bo-
disco. The Danish minister has not the heart
to bring his wife here, as / am informed, 90 he
makes New York his place of residence. The
bachelor minister of Spsin did all q single man
could, last week, TO make up for the absence of
SO many of those who have been accustomed
each winter to add to the pleasures Of social in
tercour5e; and Lord Lyons contributes, to
moderate extent, in the way of attractive din
ners to bis friends, male and female; but
bachelor can never renew the attractions Of the
British Legation under Lord and Lady Napier
If anything could compensate for the ab-
sence OF many of the ornaments 10 society here,
il is the presence Of Madame BorredA, the wife
of the Peruvian minister, a model of female
loveliness. Were Raphael here, be would steal
a copy of her features, so expressive of beauty
and beDevolenee for 8 Madonna. Her whole
private character seems in unison with her man
ner and appearance She il native of Seville,
in Spain, and, if her native country produces
many such females, il must be blessed beyond
any other portion of Europe. Apart from the
of these digRit1ries and q lin
tied circle outside, there has psrvsded of late &
custom connected with socialities illustrative of
the fallen tastes of the people, and that is the
publication in detail Of the character and styles
Of the dresses Of the female guests-a prurient
habit, one Indicative Of = declining state of
morals.
1t would seem as If tho most wealthy and
sristocratic entertainer judged his eompsny in
complete without the presence of = reporter to
descsnt upon the mAgnifeence Of his guests
It is TO be hoped that ehsck may
be put upon practice so subyeYsive of modes
ty, 80 inceatiVe to display. Il is worse than
the jester CT harlequin Of our ancestors, for
they contributed to the mirth Of the guests,
while the reporter puts modesty and delicacy to
the blush.
When was hero many years since, so sensi-
tive were the people TO such publicity that, du-
ring a certain series of subscription balls, or
"a assemblies" one Of the subscribers was dis
covered to descant on the dress and personal sp-
pearonce of certain private individuals, in q let
ter to the New York or Philadelphia press, and
SO inceused were the company that the mana
gers returned his subscription, and he was re-
quested 10 suuepdeT his admission ticket
That man is now one of our diplomatic repre-
ssntAtives in Europe. No wonder that it has
become popular and proper to describe ladies'
hppdicA ~ pAifAto p1Llob- Hno kuONB Dut
prsferment will follow similar i'm pertinencef
But 1 hsve run into morAlizng, in place of 70.
plying to your questions. l am happy to recog-
nze yet here many old and valuable friends,
whose ability, experience and excelIencs, would
make them priced in any community. Here yet
reside BEche, Totem, Henry, Wilkes, and that
prince Of the press, Seaton. Blair seems vigor-
ous and hearty, with one son In the Csbinet,
and smother, with military lsurels, in Congress
RsYerdy johnson, too, resides here-now no
longer youthful. PleAsanton is represented in
his son, the general. Gales left no children.
Force sits month after month among his musty
valuable books, over which, as he talks, he
casts bis eye with al the pride Of q monarch
over bis possessions. Coke, / have not seen,
bat hear of him as connected with new code
for the District of Columbia.
Thus are some of our old friends. Younger
ones, who will doubtless shine in history, sci
ence and with the press, are coming on space,
Al -