The evening Argus., 1866-01-11
NEW YEARS AT THE CAPITAL.
THE PRESIDENTS FIRST FORMAL
RECEPTION.
SHABBY CONDITION OF THE WHITE
HOUSE.
What Has Gone with the Furniture.
Washington, Correspondence (Jan. u of the

New York World
The contrast between the orderly well-hehsy-
ed weIl-d essed procession of people through the
presidential parors this New Years day. and the
miscellaneous menagerie of white and black
solicitors of favors, the passing panorama of
patriots with place papers and contracts sticking
out of their coattaii pockets--the visitors Of
other holidays~-was altogether too marked not
to be noticed and commented upon to-day.
For "peeple will talk" Not even the tragic
circumstance that removed so suddenly the last
occupant of the White House could prevent peo.
pie from commenting upon the immense differ
ence in the mere manners of the recipient of so
many congratulations to day and those of the
| "centre OF attraction in the same house last
year. And without sketching, even in pencil
the family group in the blue room, (this even
ing's local journals have Jenkinsized the scene
down to the japoncas and jewels,) there comes
to mind thought which ought never to occur
that H. which never should have been necessary
-t,.at at last the country congratulate itself
upon :he fact that the home of the chief magis-
trate III no longer the scene and subject OF coarse
and contemptible gossip about tie "stores" of
the elders, the tricks of juvenile "Tads" and the
general milinlnery miscellany and dirty linen
laundry business of the whole establishments
Perhaps it was because this the first formal
reception OF the present president that the whole
diplomatic corps presented themselves in so
strong force, and took their ladies with them
And warrant they carried home with them i'm
pressions other than reminders and "reminiscences
of something "heard' out west. These diplo-
mats apt to have certain regal q for dpni-
ty well "a decency.
But WY on sach occasions, and in this demo-
cratic country, does the diplomatic corps cover
itself with such extraordinary and peculiar
"ieel?" The cooked hats gold lace, and "an
immense amount OF mau millinery" suggest the
idea of fancy ball. while the funny swallow tails
clinging closely in the rear, and Che tight-6ttng
breeches sticking closer than brother make
one imagine that these are more than
''court costumes"-say, for instance, court pias-
ter costume.
But theBrItish, Belgian, and other foreign
butterflies looked brilliantly enough, though they
scarcely attracted so much attention as our own
full and appropriately uniformed army and navy
officers, who went in and out and were greeted
by the waiting throng outside, if they had
done great things in the last four years. as in
deed they have. And punctually at IL O'Clock,
according to the programme, the reception of
diplomats, cabinet, senators and officers was
ended, and the people citizens generally" the
invitation called them-were admitted.
There was wonderful Improvement this year
in the method of admission and reception
Care was taken to consult the comfort as well
a. convenience Of the in-pressing crowd. A we'll
arranged plan permitted people to pass in at the
door, proceed orderly, without crowding and
confusion, to the reception room, then through
the east parlor, out of IL window, over a tempo
rary bridge, and out by another gate into the
street. There no hard Saxon cursing over
crushed corns, or mild ejaculations about col
apsed crinolines. Once inside, the procession
seemed to float through mixed atmosphere of
delicious music from the Marine band, and the
fragrant perfume of heliotropes and choice ex-
otics AT least, so said n small school girl lust
behind me-and the music was good, and there
wonderful display of hot-house fowers-
The callers presented general sameness of re-
spectability-there was not, this year, "a streak