Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-02-27
Society I'm Washington.
TUT I"J
WASHINGTON, February :


WASHINGTON, February 81.
EDITOR LEADER: The last week has
witnessed the closing of what is called the
gay season in Washington, the early ad-
vento of Lent having made it a muyh shorter
one than usual. For this reason the "fash-
ionables' have been crowding as much
gayety as possible into the short space OF
time allotted to them, till, at last, during
the few days preceding the commence
ment of Lent it heightened into a perfect
carnival. Saturday evening came off the
grand ball at the French Minister'S. Mon
day, of course, everything gave way to the
eulogy in memory of President Lincoln,
Cabinet members who had issued cards
the Lieutenant General and several Of the
for receptions that evening, having de-
ferred them out of respect for the occa-
sion. But on Tuesday the pleasure seek
ers had their choice between the levee at
the White House, the reception of Sena-
tor Harris, and the party given by the
ladies of the National Hotel many, no
doubt, attending all these places. The
ball at the latter place was one of the most
brilliant affairs of the season, the display
of dresses and diamonds surprising any
thing 1 aver saw before. There was every
available style in dress and " couture u;
hair braided, frizzed, curled, and worn
straight back, falling over the shoulders.
One of the acknowled bellies of the even
ing had her hair arranged in that manner.
The favorite style seemed to be quite plain
in front and gathered into a heavy coil be-
hind, worn very high. 1 noticed but very
few beautiful faces among the ladies
present. This city cannot boast of many
1 believe. There were many notables
present, among them I noticed General
Butler n daughter, who is a very lovely
blonde, Secretary Harlan, wife and daugh-
ter, General Banks and wife, George
Francis Train and wife, Speaker Colfax
and sister, Gov. Bross and daughter, of
Chicago, and Major Generals Curtiss and
Doubleday, with the usual complement of
Senators and members, with their families.
Monday, the day of the grafton, was a
never-to-be-forgotten one. The rush for
tickets was very great, some offering fifty
dollars for a single ticket. Owing to the
excellent arrangements of the committee,
the Hall of the House of Re-presantatiEas-
WIS rITeu, Dur mo- uncomfortable crowded.
We were obliged to go as early as ten
o'clock to secure seats, and as the Grafton did
commence till twelve, had plenty of
leisure to look about us. We were so for
tunate as to be very near the seats reserved
for the invited guests. Among them we're
the Presidents family, Mrs. Daniel Web
very digni6ed old lady, Mrs. Foster.
the wife of the Vice President, and the
wife of the Lieutenant General, Mrs.
a very plain, sensible looking lady,
dressed very c~onspicuously and IN
questionable taste, in a pink velvet
bonnet, a red scarf, and black gloves. On
the floor of the House, Generals Grantand
Butler sat rather nearer each other than
their respective sentiments warranted.
General Butler being directly behind HE
officer. Both were greeted
with applause as they entered. The Pres
ldent, however, was received in silence.
1 amused myself during the Grafton by
watching the English and French Minis
ters, to see how they would receive some
Of the Speakers illusions to their respec-
tive governments, which they certainly
could not have relished. They seemed TO
listen intently. 1 could Lot discover
whether they betrayed any feeling or not.
Probably not. The English minister is
a perfect Englishman, red faced and port
Y, has white hair and whiskers, and like
lis predecessor, be is a bachelor. The
French Minister is, on the contrary, tall
md thin, has sandy hair, and wears a
yery heavy moustache and imperial. The
Russian Minister evidently enjoyed his
'art of the Grafton, and made no attempts
0 conceal it.
The Grafton was very Lonesome one
as said that "any story rightly told ought
D commence with the creation of the
Iorld"-and Mr.. Bancroft evidently in
to that opinion, for he went back a !,
reat way. Some of the Senators, L be-
eve, were offended at his plain speaking.
nd thought he ought to have smoothed off
rough places, and suppressed all of the
npleasant truths for the sake of the "dip-
mats " present our cousins abroad have
ct to show any such considerations for
If feelings.
A few evenings since l attended one of
lie receptions of Speaker Colfax. Likethe {
residents, they are open to all, and (
e generally crowded. His mother and F.,
ster receive with him. The Speaker is
lie of the most popular men in Wash I
gton. His great charm consists in his t
'nial, pleasant manner and cordial greet
which he gives to all, andhe is a great
vorite with both parties in the House. 5
mong the guests present were Major t
eneral Crook and wife, Senators Wilson 4
ID Chandler and their wives, Senator C
'ade, Mrs and Miss Wade, DIR. Adams
d daughter from New York city, also
r. VIM. Z. Dodge, Governor Fenton Y
d daughter, VIM. Lloyd Garrison, Mrs. =
d. Gage, Thaddeus Stephens and Sec. i
arlan. These receptions will be con q
lued for some time longer-also those of 4
of the leading Senators, being good /
and not having the fear of n
mt before their eyes-so there is still a i
tie gayety left for those who wish to 4
n
Aside from the gayety just now, politics Y
the all absorbing topic. The feeling h
ainst the President and his policy is n
~ strong, especially since the veto of a
Freedmen's Bill. He is considered n
to have gone entirely over to the a
The bitterest Democrats in Com @
and most rabid Secessionists sustain y
In the Senate yesterday the vote h;
5 taken on the passage of the Bill over :.
veto. We went up early, but the gal Of
es were crowded. Through the kind W.
5 of some friends, who had some "
cial influence with the door-keeper. Ist
obtained seats in the diplomatic gal Ii
:, an honor seldom awarded o ple5eianS. RI,
subserviency to diplomats in Wash br
on is, to say the least, Illuminating. ali
best portion of the Republican gal f.,
in the House and Senate is rallied off n,
n the rest and kept securely locked, ON
g but diplomats are allowed to enter; ssa
e times this rule is broken over, but
no matter how great the crowd
be, the wives and daughters of the
lbers will be obliged to stand, while Co
g 'attache" or Representatives from full
e petty German or South American rep
e can have a whole seat TO himself. goi
7 a short time since, one Of the former, ma
ntering the gallery in the gallery in pril
House found a lady present whom he and