Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-03-06
Idle Life in Washington.
Views OF Men and Things.
WAsHIsGToS, Feb. Il, 1865
sTRRET goRALrztsGs.

n sTAQe OF mhE0OlC nOuOT8 ana BOuQu
martial music the funeral cortege of Sena-
tor Hicks of Maryland. Only few weeks
since ! saw him about his usual business in
the Senate chamber; now be was being
borne thither for bis burial. The local
papers describe with painful minuteness bis
dying hours. His body was palsied but his
mind unclouded, aud he is said to have
been upheld TO the last by Christian forth
tude and resignation all possible honor
was awarded 70 the dying aud dead patriot,
who amidst much temptation, stood by his
country in her hour of need. But, after
ell. pageaBtry Of burial is of little worth,
and II seems 40 unnatural manner of going
TO heaven by the way of Washington no
tel. Death aud eternity are far off things
here. The pressure and excitement of
eveots, the crowniug of sensuou5 allure
meu's upon leisure moments, the utter alb
sence of the toning quiet of private, domes.
tic life, tend to fasteu the thoughts and
desires upou things of time, to the putting
out OF sight of concerns whoss Issues are
eternal. Christians come TO Washing
ton in official capacity, but of bow much
worth is the epistle of their daily liVes2
believe that woman may dance aud
be fond of the drama and go to heaven;
thai man may be politician aud love
Christ; but such gregarious society as we
have here aiways deals in extremes. Do
zee Christian men and women oftener
holding fast to their integrity, or being
borne down by the stream? One does not
publish and propagate a faith by TRADES
against so called vaniiies, but rather by
the appeal of consistent and beautiful
living. Religion is not made enough a vi
talizing sentiment for our daily lives. rs
virtues are too little iugrsined into our
hafv I,ro a
IL IL too much holiday garment TO be put
on at will. We never tire of talking about
things which pertain to the ptrishnblo
body, but if we talk in n drawing room Of
what Coucerus the welfare of the immortal
soul, we are apt to do it in 4 whisper. True
faith wraps abOat and keeps the soul like
u sacred and lamhicnt flame. II wilt not
flourish without tender nursing. Our re-
ligious ObservanCes are the framework ups
on which We hinge our daily Alterations
We cannot neglect them without spiritual
harm. II we think too little of heaven we
shall dwell TOO much on earth.
THE INAUGURATION BALL.
Time fies The Ides Of March arc near
ct hand The inauguration ball winds up
the fashionable season. One might sup
pose from tho display during the winter Of
costly and beautiful costumes that every.
body wac ready for the occasion. but one
finds from daily complaints and daily pro
pRrntions that nobody has really anything
10 wenr. twill be, like all other similar
nssemblages in Washington, vulgar Jam.
few indies, distinguished for position or
beauty, will be noted al tho time and after.
wards for the cOstliness or becomippoess
of their attire. All others will be gener.
allied into one bcwilderng mass of silk
g4uze, jewels, frizzled hair and whit,
shoulders. But costly crowd is conta
gIous, and almost everybody who eau will
go, TO be pushed about and drizzled owe
with oyster broth and ice cream, AMI I,
come homo tired, hungry and cross
FASHIONABLE LIFE.
Life is mixed here. There is no form O
society SO obnoxious to me as the commo,
hotel hops. cannot stand them. Iwoul
not have the taste of my daughters educate
to eujoy them. | do not believe in tbi
conserving Familiarity on festive occasion
with people, whose presence you wou,
ignore in the social intercourse of ever
day lite. II you are born refined and mad
sliil moro 80 by culture, your aiIiuities ar
with refined people. IL you hate what
course and unCOuth, aud vulgar if "a lou
laugh, rude jest, and upgrnceful move
mcnts CRATE upon your nerves If men VIII
eat and drink too much and have coarse
animal natures, women who dress too Iittl
and talk too much displease you, you ut
untrue TO yourself II you do not act up I
your tastes and your Instincts. You ar
better than thoso whose coarser organize
tons are below recognition of tho deliCat
proprietics of life, aud you let down YOU
dignity and purity when you consent to III
intimacy OF an evening dance with conrs
grained interiors, Gail Hamilton, in vii
tuOus wrath, ignored the familiarities of th
dancing boys and girls at Harvard II wa
no credit TO the training aud practice of he
VltuPeraiOrs that they failed to Gppreciat
true, wOmanly delioHcy. wish that he
lsgie aud her eloquent indignation nigh
be bought to bear upon these batbari
hops III Washington, where the careless
abandon Of beautiful women keeps pact
With the license of wine anu gaslight.
The public receptions arc vulgar things
from theirsorowds aud consequent lack o
oxygen. They seem to be necessary evils
however, and as such are eudurabie. Tn,
private receptions given by high officials
which have been numerous this season. ar.
tue mostuneXceptiouabls Of purely eliauet-
teal entertainments. They allow ribnv
ana breathing room, and at them one is
sure 10 meet Rud appreciate maay olessan,
people There is much extraysrance in
dress and little 10 diet one can sin y
cream and note a costume with positive
comfort.
HOW THE LADIES DRESS.
cannot say that the costumes alvavs
give satisfaction and pleasure. The Arr ~
dressing well issomewhst silt of culture,
more OF nature; and oGleutimcs pretty.
faced, lean pursed woman, with an eve tor
eject, and creative finger tins. viii out.
shine The monied belle with her fouuccs
aud tntbelows. This, however, is a sweet
sixteen sort oftbeOry, aud in nine ages out
oil ten carleton unadorued is u humbug-
As iar as my observation goes it takes fae
"atnSts 10 make hne birds, aud muct
money 10 buy the tiue feathers. Few PEG.
pie understand the law of adaptation, wha
eo!ors, what forms, what combination.
suit their own shade, figure snd style,-
Your style Is your Individuality, which di