The evening Argus., 1866-01-11

of fat and streak of lean" or rather two sreaks
of black to one of white. for our colored breth-
rem by particular request, waited outside till the
'scitizens generally" went In and went away
There were a great many young people, youn
and stunningly got up ladies especially, and for
all the president had hearty handshake, and
thanks for their New Years greetings
In every respect the reception was success
gratifying to the people who are proud Of their
president, and evidently gratifying it was to the
president to receive, for the first time, throng
of visitors who came neither for pardons nor
places, and not to advise, but to congratulate
him. Every one looked pleased and satisfied,
even the 40 policemen who now aud then dlsap-
peared in twos and threes through door lead
ing to the lower regions, and reappeared shortly,
redolent with flavor of cold ham and hot coffee.
And the Marine bandmen, who played their parts
well during the reception, played ard Piled
their knives and forks over a jolly good presi-
deptial dinner when all was over.
Passing from the people present to the preml-
ses 10 one could look about the house without
being almost shocked at the downright shabbi
ness of the rooms and furniture. To be sure,
| more than 100000 have been appropriated"
for furnishing and fixing the executive mansion,
within four years But exactly ninety boxes were
furnished by certain official for packing up
curtains, carpets, vases. pictures, and "knick-
knacks," of all sorts, that were carried away not
many months ago. The $500, 900 appropriated
l
will scarcely pay the outstanding local bills of the
former occupants, leaving the president now
nothing to start with in the way OF refurnishing,
! unless the committee on appropriations recon-
| mend another and Immediate expenditure. This
| whole matter might be considered as private, in
some degree, If a recent resolution In congress
| had not called particular attention to and made
| public property of certain information about
| White House expenditures beyond and above the
enormous appropriations made by congress-
| When Long John Wentworth wanted to make a
special $25 900 donation full $l00 900, he stated
| that if the house knew ''all the circumstances
| they would approve his resolution. But the
| house did know all the circumstances and,
| perhaps for that very reason, WeEtworth was
the only man who voted for his own bill
| There IA large lobby interest from New
| Y ork urging this very appropriation; and that
the lobbyists not wholly disinterested is
instaneed in Long Johns sudden question to one
| of the patriots who said that the country fairly
owed this magnificent donation to the bereaved
be fciary. Wentworth heard the long rigma
| role of the pathetic patriot, and then asked him
| "how much is your bill ?" about So 9,O0o, said
| the man. 81 thought So, replied Long John
and there has been considerable thinking about
this and similar bills The shrinking hereafter
however, will be confined to the lobby, and Ii
| not likely again to attract the attention Of con
gress.
| But these are small matters, in these days q
millions. 1t is quite proper, though, that the
party which makes no pretension to economy II
anything should least make the executive
mansion habitable and respectable, and new
appropriation for furnishing the White HOUSE
ought to be one of the first things done after th'
Resembling next Friday. Next New Years, i
tion viii be as agreeable as the reception itsel
was to-day.