Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-02-25

Society. vi Ss'
Before the rebellion, Washington social
life was southern in its characteristics and
Influences. The government was in that
political interest. Most of the prominent
permanent residents were of Virginia and
Maryland. Rich southern senator's and
representatives were glad TO exchange their
barren country homes for the broader and
fulIer social contact of the capital. Many
of these people had culture; they were
generous in their hospitality; they had
Deculiar elegance and grace and fascination
ia their social manners. Through this-in
the absence of counterscting northern in
auences-they gave form and fashion to
Washington society; and they confirmed
and strengthened their political power
Washington in weakness aud strength-in
sioveuIiness aud unthri6t, in generous ia.
bles, in beautiful, bright women, in chivalric
mannered men-Was peculiarly southern.
The political revolution, followed by the
rebellion. made sudden havoc with the ma
terial of all this. The first families of the
South retired over the border, or went in
to zpiteful privacy. The northern barba.
Tians came on 10 an avalanche OF soldiers
and coniraCtors-eager for glory, iusItul |
for money. There was no time or thought |
for the graces of socisl life. A country |
was to be saVed-a treasury was to be rob-
bed There was lamentRtion over the despO |
liation. The diplomatic circles, that could |
not fy, were in mourning for the departed |
dinners, the elegant parties, the dear friends |
sympathy, an occasional English noblemau
in search of adventure, and frequent vis-
its 10 Fifth Avenue, the New York hotel,
and the Clarendon. The White House was
peopled by those who did not care for fine
manners or did not know what they WERE
Cabinet ministers were too busy organizing
government, and restoring nation TO
give dinners, to hold receptions, to cult.
waite the RraCes. The city was a vast
camp. Soldiers swavmed, contractors con-
spired. The coarser passions of men were
10 fullest exercise. Lust and license
reigued. Tho finer elements of life were
thrust into the background, or were alb
HOTbed in their cOarser outward work of
force, or found sweet exercise in solaciug
siCk and wounded in hospitals There was
no "soCiety" per se, but Of the cOarser and
more vulgar character, seeking through it's
indulgences selfish ends. This was sad,
but natural and inevitable. II was the
fret stsge of revolution. II was not the
fruit or the flower OF northern civilization,
and those who thought and said it was
knew little Of the northern character and
life. Or &
Now begins to appear, however, in
Washington the capacity of the North for
social reorganization and life. The new
Washington suggests itself The national
capital has never had such elegant draw
ing rooms az northern men are now begin.
ming TO present there. Real estate has
more than doubled in price. New stores
and dwellings are spriOging up on every
hand. The fact of slavery is gone-its
ideas and its results are passing away. The
soclal entertainments of this season are
more numerous and more elegant in char
Rcter than we're ever given before in Wash
iugton, The weekly receptions at tho
White House and OF the residence of
Speaker Colfax have been naturally the
most democratic and the most popular
They have been crowded with men and
women from all paFts of the country !; and
the fashions OF dress have been less mex
Orably enforced from their attendants. The
weekly gatherings at the residences OF Gov.
DennisoD, the postmaster general, Mr..
Welles of the navy department, of Senator
Morgan of New York, who has tho finest
residence in Washington, of Senator Sher-
man Of Ohio, have been gay with crowds
and costumes, combining alike popularity
and elegance iu a high degree. Those off,
Seward and OF Mrs. Sprague (Mr. Chase'O
dRughter) are perhaps more select, more
like private parties, and carry along With
lesser numbers more OF fashion and style,
Other residents give less frequent enterI
tRlnmentsi aud at the hotels the bOarders
offer occasional balls to large numbers and
in an Rbounding fashion of Hospitality. AT
these gatherings besides the resident pop
ulatioR and Congress, and the departments,
there are always prominent citizens from
every state, and women distinguished for
beauty or talent from as vide range.
Notorieties are as plenty at q Washing on
reception as bees in a June clover field. A
major general or two always; brigadicr
on "A crutch, and another With a vacant
sleeve; authors and poets; governors to be
counted on your fugcte; bishops aud D.
DIS, with uucommonly surprised eyes:
women lecturers and preachers; bellies
from Vermont aud Rhode Island, from Min.
nesota and Ohio; and an occasional sweet,
sad exile from the sunny South. There is
NO such social eoleeticism as you see in a
party At the national capital, no such va
rieIy or number Of marked and remarka.
BILE peoples no such range, such depth or
hight of beauty, Of costuming, of fashion.
You get nowhere such q realizstion OF the
sttAinmsnts, the probabilities and posi-
biliiies of American republican, society.