Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-04-20

Even the President and his daughter
graced the occasion with their presence
an unprecedented proceeding on the par
of the occupants of the White House
whom the etiquette Of our republican
court prohibits from making calls, attend
ing parties or receptions save their own
The presence of the President at thi'
reception being without precedent and il
violation of Presidential etiquette, excited
much remark and surprise. "Why is he
here n TWhat does it mean ?" was re
peatedly asked. a shake Of the head, s
shrug o the shoulder, and II don't know
we're all the answers that came under my
observation. As we passed in, about ter
o'clock, he was standing between the
General and Mrs. Grant, receiving the
first salutation of all, looking pale, but
cheerful, notwithstanding the joyful con
CALCULATIONS among the many Senator:
and Representatives present over the pas
sage of the Civil Rights bill, constantly
uttered in his hearing, such as, "a gloriou.
work ~ 1.-THE Lord reignethr' "Liberty
and justice have triumphedr'
General Grant looked worn and weary,
and as though he would much prefer the
1 free and easy retirement of Head Quarters
on the tented field or on horseback SUI
perintending lines of battle, to that OF
host on such an occasion, exposed 70 the
consolidated batteries of curious eyes, and
the many s~harp-shooting glances levelled
at him from all directions.
Mrs. Grant was dressed in a low necked
corn colored silk, trimmed with black lace,
and, although no beauty, doubtless pos
sesses social and moral qualities more
than compromising the absence of those
"~skin-deep' requisites for general admira-
ton. Her eyes, are closest and crossed, and
in strong contrast with those of the Gen.
eral, which are unusually wide apart,
direct and unwaveringly steady. No one
can look clearly into those beautiful blue
eyes without being inspired with a pro-
found confidence in the integrity Of the
soul looking out therefrom.
In the same room, not far from the Pres
dent and General and Mrs. Grant, stood
a small MISUNDERSTANDING man, with
| piercing blackeyes, finely shaped head, and
with long limp hair, once black but now
turning gray, in earnest conversation
/ with a groupof listeners, striving to catch
every word which was uttered by the
small squeaking voice of the stranger.
"That is Alexander Stephens, Vice Pres
ident of the Southern Confederacy," sal d
myfriend, evil you be introduced ?" mol
1 do not care to give my hand to a trail
tor, nor do 1 believe in this way of 'mak-
ing treason odious.'" And yet I saw no
shrinking from this man, but 1 did see
loyal radical men giving him their hands
as they would a friend.
Passing along, was introduced to Thad-
deus Stevens BY my friend, who said,
"This lady prefers an introduction to you
rather than to your namesake over there
"Well, she is sensible;" he replied, his
usually forbidding face beaming with
hearty good nature, shat concern has col
lapsed, and this one is r~ejuvenated by the
triumphs of to-day" =" 1.-THE Lord reign
eth" said my friend, laying his hand
squeezingly OF the arm of the invincible
old radical. "Yes,' he replied, letting his
large broad hand fall heavily on the
shoulder of the other, "and we will help
him finish up this job on Monday"
General Banks and wife, General How
ard and many others with single and dou-
bic stars, some visible and some invisible,
were passed with the usual Introduction,
slight grip of the hand and look in the
eye as we went the rounds Of the brill
liantly-lighted and crowded parlors.
General Howard givesayou his efthand,
for the right sleeve is empty. He is of
medium size, with light hair and grayish
blue eyes, lighting up a very kind and
pleasant though not particularly n~oticea-
bic face. His voice and manner bespeaks
the Christian and gentleman, and you like
him at once.
General HeintzlemAn is decidedly i'm
pressive and Teutonic, has a white and
black beard and uncommon width be-
tween a pair of keen black eyes, and
though not a handsome man is much bet
ter looking than his pictures make him.
Colonel Parker, the Indian officer on
General Grants staff, attracts much at
t%ention, -promensding about with q white
oma on his arm. 1 have seen many a
whittier, better looking and appearing ne
gro that this fat, swarthy Indian, and yet
the former would not be tolerated by those
paying court to the latter. Surely it is
not color but race and prejudice that
make the distinction.
The familiar face of Phoebe Carey, the
poetess, affords US a pleasant surprise in
this throng of strangers. Time has dealt
gently with her jolly face, which looks
scarce a day older than it did two years
ago. In this large assembly / saw very
few, if any, beautiful women. There
were many that we're good looking, we'll
dressed, and stylish, but not beautiful,
while among the men there we're a dozen
or more whose fine faces would attract
attention in any assembly, and which an
artist would take pleasure in trans
forming to canvass, particularly some with
long flowing white boards and CORES
pOnding hair, always a picturesque and
glorious setting to a noble, manly face.
The truly estimable wives of the Repre-
sentatives of the 18th and 18th Districts, |
in looks, manners anddress, were quite the
equals of any l seen there, and like the
Honorables, their husbands, a credit TO
their constituents.
You can scarce conceive how like 8 /
dream last evenings scenes seem to me as
1 try TO recall them now. How many,
many times 1 had visited that house, onSe
a part of the Douglas Hospital, under far
different auspices. How many times 1 had
passed up those stairs and turned into the
rooms right and left looking ~anxously
from side to side to see if the skeleton
had been there in nv absence, or
if his approach was foreshadowed in any
Of the pale, suffering faces that greeted
me. Passing into one of the beautifully
carpeted and furnished dressing rooms,
where fingered few ladies in snowy at
tire, adjusting a ribbonor comb o. stray
lock of hair, putting On gloves and CLAN
cling in mirrors for a last self-satisfying
look before descending to the gay throng
below, visions of the past fitted before
me, when these floors were uncarpeted and
with cots filed with wounded
and dying officers fresh from the battles
Of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court
Coal Harbor, Petersburg and 9TH
srs.
There, in that corner, where stands an
mirror-crowned bureau, lay the
New York Captain, whose much
talked of and long desired transfer came
70 Unexpectedly for another home thar
he ms among the hills he loved and
pinned for. Here, quite under the shadow
IF this marble mantle lay the young Lieu
senant, who, when dying, kissed the fow-
srs that my friend put in his hand as she
wiped away the tears oozing from his
siosed erehds. Thera where stands that