The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-03-04
Lights and Shadows at Washington.

Never, IN the most nigh ana palmy uays,
when those heightened, chivalrous, ardent
sons of the sunny South" ruled the State,
just as Great Buck fell, was Washington SO
full of life and gayety, fun, frolie and fashion,
receptions, matinees, balls and dinners.
The last week has been brilliant beyond all
former days. Lords Napier and Lyons and
the other diplomats, with Corcoran, Slidell, ct
ais Id genus, are passed away, and ARENAS is
writing SIN Memoriam." *
The most noted affair Of the week was the
grand ball of Mr.. Knapp, whose hand is as
ready to relieve the suffering and needy as to
minister to the qualification of those who de-
sire to see and be seen. His ball, or rather
Mrs. Knapps, was faultless, with one excep-
tion-more should have enjoyed it. Green
houses were emptied of their choicest flowers
to wreathe the walls-the best of artists to
discourse eloquent music for the fairy footed.
His High Mightiness of the Golden House,
with his corps of attendants, saw that all was
correct and proper. Commands raved over
the delicious morcedur. Bon uiUGns extolled
Madame Cliquot. The beaux sung con anaore
1--WE won't go home till morning"-and they
didn't, for when we left at five A. NJ, they
were still dancing the German.
Hardly recovered from the tax on digestion
aad nerves, we were called to the Ball Of the
.Mayor-every one who has visited Washing
ton knows Mayor Wallack-which was most
genial gathering, elegant In all its appoint
ments, and unsurpassed by any in all that is
required to make truly beautiful and agree
able affair. &c - ses = 5as
The week closed with Mrs. Lincoln's mat
inee, Secretary Stewards last reception, Mrs.
Senator Sprague's Bal Matinee, from three to
ten o'clock P. M.-giving all an opportunity
to be in fepose by twelve A ball room YVES
erected in the grounds adjoining the house on
the west, and was beautifully decorated. The
diamonds were brilliant and SO were the la-e
dies
We closed the week by paying our respects
to the greatest statesman of the age, and at
eleven we crossed, as one of our celebrities
remarks, the domicl of our residence, very
tired if not wiser and better man.
.Be} - .n JIG February 28. :
"Mardi GrGs"-Shrooe Iuesday-- Pancake
Ddy-the Last of the CdrniUat.s 4
Sunday was a bright and glorious day, and
all felt disposed to make up for any lacks of
the week by slight excess of devotion. We
attended at the Capitol. and heard the Rev.
Mr.. Charming preach for the last time in that
Hall. He thanked God that It had been his
privilege to stand up there, not as belonging
to a party, not as the expounder of sect.
but as the representative OF great principle
that of Truth, Justice, Freedom and Equal
Rights. His discourse was q brilliant one,
and fifty closed his labors.
Yesterday was glorious day. Congress
worked early and late ) passed the Enroll
msnt Bill 4; Committees of Conference met;
Loan Bill taken up; House adjourned at
eleven O'Clock. Many left previous, to attend
Mr.. Stanton's last otion, which was beau
tiful, brilliant and gay. alA n
To-day we sigh like Alexander that there
arc to be no more a matinee at Mrs. Knapp's,
fancy bah at Major Nicholson's, reception at
Postmastsr-G General pannnison's, hep at the
Seaton House-and more of the same. 4s2
Tomorrow we put on sackcloth and ashes
for silks and satins; eat eggs, oysters and fish
for boned turkeys, qualls and pheasants: drink
muddy Potomac for champaign punch; go to
mains instead oflsleeping of last nights ner-
vouspess; attend tespers instead Of waiting
for our turn to be enamelled. One must be
careful now not to touch too harshly the
bloom upon the cheek or brush the marble
neck and shoulders with rough broadcloth.
Strangers are beginning to arrive to witness
the Inauguration. How different from four
years agol Then every soldiers rifle had a
bal cartridge, and our orders were to watch.
II by accident, that day, pistol or musket
had gone off accidentally, the man who held it
would have been riddled with hundred balls.
Z Now we are jolly--fear no eyil-and don't
care abort going to Dixie this muddy wealth
or. Lee is fxed-so is Grant; Sherman is
on dry land, and the only one that can move.
We shall soon hear from him at Charlotte, and
then comes the lighting news. May the Lord
help them that fall s sa1a
grs MARCH /. :
March has made Ter appearance, not like
Mrs. Gargery, ION rampage" but sad and
sorrowful, as though grisyed at the follies and
frivolities Of her sisters, who in the dc en-
past buried; yet there is smile bet okening
q trusting confidence that the calm and medi.
tation to coma viii enable all with full hearts
to join on Eater morn, in that joyful shout.
"Christ Is risen' M4AQ ~
The House sat late last night; postponine
to some future period the Indefinite appropri.
non Of from four to twenty millions of dollars
'D1 sne relief Of the contractors of those light
prn' monitors, which, when built, no water
gu OUT coast was fond deep enough to float