The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-01-13
THE RECEPrIoNs.


THE RECEPTIONS.
As usual after the holidays, the Presidents
receptions will now be resumed, as will also
the afternoon receptions of Mrs. Lincoln, and
the weekly entertainments OF Speaker Col
far. Sevcrel un-oticial gentlemen have also
announced that they will receive their friends
and the public at regular intervals during
the session OF Congress. So the season OF
gaiety has Just commenced; and Washing
ton people will improve the time. for in two
months more oil signs Of life in the Capital
will have become extinct. In this connection
| cannot forbear to notice the weekly enter
tainmen,s in which many readers of the
Journal will feel an interest, and which are
always offered to the friends who visit
-r "PRosPEcr COTTAGE" |
High up on an eminence in Georgetown,
ID. @. on the shore Of the Potomac, over
looking the Virginia hills, commanding u
fius view for many miles up and down the
noble river, and in plain view Of Arlington
house. once the residence of Washington.
but more recently the home OF the rebel Gen.
eral Lee, stands " Prospect Cottage" possess
ing an interest to many thousands of Ameri-
can readers as the homs Of Mrs. E. ID. Z. n.
Southworth. who, from her cosy, homelike
library, as contributor to the New York
Ledger and similar publication in London,
addresses larger weekly audience on both
sides Of the Atlantic. than any other writer
in England or America. Cast upon her own
resources at time when woman most needs
assistance, she chose the pen as the instru-
pent with which to support herself and lit
tie children, and ut tho end Of little more
than fifteen years is unsurpassed by any liv-
ing writer in the department of literature
selected as her means Of support. while she
has the satisfaction Of feeling that pecunia-
rily she is above dependence.
The weekly receptions Of Mrs. Southworth
have an interest to all who attend them and
Prospect Cottage" particularly when Con-
gress is in session, is thronged by strangers
from oil parts OF our own country as well AZ
many of the representatives Of European So
ciety, who are drawn thther by the fame of
the authoress. But the friends who know
her best lose sight of the authoress in the
charming character of the woman. With
an inexhaustible fund Of anecdote and con-
versational talents of the highest order, Mrs.
Southworth never fails to magnetize her lis
teners, and the destinations OF Ledger story
which some acknowledge, are always success
fully rivalled by the witchery of her conyer-
sation.
One evening last week. on the occasion Of
her birthday party, she was presented with q
beautiful gift. The preventative was made
in song sung by two ladies Of Washington,
the words aud music of which were composed
expressly for the occasion. The enterprise
was 50 happily conceived, and so well con-
Quoted, that not one Of the many who heard
will soon forget it.
CONGRESS.
Congress meets again this week and will
commence the business of the session in good
earnest. II lives but two months longer, and
will see the necessity Of working diligently
to accomplish whatever business must neces-
sarily be disposed of.
The circle Of victories eliminating in the
capture OF Savannah has established frmer
feeling Of security-always firm in Washing
ton, ,-and the secessionists here, though they
"couldn't see it" few weeks ago. have re-
Gently received revelation-and now candid
ly confess that they can SEQ the "beginning