The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-02-18
Our Washington Letter.

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Our Washington Letter.
[sPEuM CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DAILY NEWS.
LorTEREns ABOUT THE CAPITAL.
WASHINGTON, February 1S.-There has been a
remarkable influx Of visitors at the capital the
winter through, and at no time more conspicuous
or in greater force than nov. Two things have,
undoubtedly. been the leading Inducements Of this
honor from abroad One in the fact that the sensa-
tonaized correspondence Of score Of leading
Northern journals establishes, as it ia perused in
families and over the matutina1 coffee, the idea
that Washington is the continuous scene Of great
political intr1gues, always discovered to the world
and the opposition just before the hour fixed upon
Tor the grand coup de main. Society Immediately
jumps at this presentment Of the case and re-
solves that where there is SO much plotting and
oountar- plotting, the beau monde should not be
without representation land down to Washington
forthwith comes the delegates Of fashion, in ones,
twos and squads, all athirst for the promised ex-
citement, and willing to add fuel to the fame
Wheresoever opportunity Offers. I am guilty of no
exaggeration when assure ypn that more bril-
liant concourse Of opulent id1ers from salons of
fashion the country over, with not few Of their
titled cousins from across 'sthe pond,n cannot be
found congregated in any city in the Union than
such as is now gathered in daily upon the
debates OF Congress. They put up at and take
possession Of our hotels and play the qrandees
until the town-folk and the common habuues of
Congress are quite distressed, in the realization
that their plumage, either as leaders of Washing
ton ton or the representation Of official notnbiity
is quite overshadowed and forgotten. Between 12
and o'clock each day these people are charioted
to the capitol; for an hour or two saunter about
the rotunda and in through the galleries OF either
House. Thence they wend their way to receptions
OF officials advertised for that day and finally be-
take themselves to dinner and the intricacies OF
an evening toilet for some orc " the many balls
routs, dining affairs continually on the tapis To
the capitol they go, garbed in the latest Partisan
jauntness, exhuberant in spirit, and, asar as the
weaker vessels are concerned, determined to make
conquest and fspoon" Of every unwary. moder-
ately-aged member that may come in their way or
chance to direct his gaze towards their conspicu-
GUS places in the galleries over his head, And the
Will Of the irresistible creatures is not often
crossed in this respect. You may note. during
their seductive scrutiny Of national legislation.
that scores of congressman, attracted BY the love
iness that looks down upon their inconprehensible
endeavors, are continually absenting themselves
from the Representative Chamber only to turn
up moment later for introduction to the
enchantress and her sister nresistibles. Under
such charming influences it is scarcely to be won
dered at that the House often fnda itself without
quorum, while its galleries represent nearly the
full Representative body. It should be understood
by the country, also, that full one-ha of the ora
tory now drawn out in such volume upon every
RT1h thaf ,,,f
z great part, to the desire Of members to parade
their eloquence before the ssareaaid ocoupants Of
tho galleries. need not Say thar ar this IS de-
moralizing, and that under such sway, soft
gushing and enhancing though it be, the minds Of
members at large is more given to white crayats
and swallow tails" than to any one Of the ques-
lions over which they talk so much, and examine
so little,
OUR CITY COUSINS CUTTING ANOTHER FIGURE.
VI course the advent of such multitude Of fash
ion leaders from other spheres OF the beau monde
has more or less agitating and enlivening effect
upon the sehead centres" Of social iolifcation
hereabout. The 6 locals vie with each other in
extending the freedom of the CITY," and the hos
pitality Of their consequences are dscoyerable in
the Bis Of Bristol board and with tinted envelopes
continually on the wing, bearing the com piments
OF Ms-ord and Ml-lddy, and the usual at home
for 3 dehnitedate OF series. And then follow
the briGance and sparkle Of these entertainments
in such rapid succession, that they represent sere
sort of social pyrotecAnios that bring out every
one to note the display andinwhich those Il agile
little moths Of upper tendon are constantly scorch
ing thel- gossamer wings. The supervision and
consTa Of these drawing-room fireworks has been
thus far in such unexcep able hands as those
Of senntEs MoRaAN, REvERDY JOHNSON SpnAauE,
and congressman DoDaE- In this little coterie is
represented millions Of treasure, in excess perhaps
OF the pile" OF any simi|ar number Of gentlemen
that can be taken from either House Each one OF
thsm maintain magnificent establishments, and
live royalty. Their respective entertainments
overshadow IN cost and perfection anything hith-
erto attempted in the Capital and even now remain
days source Of wonderment to every fashionable
denizen in the District. Here again, the good peo
pie from abroad shown resplendent, and crowned
the triumph Of the feast. Not merely in numbers
was this distinction acquired, but in superb toilets
stTown with jewels beyond price, and whose every
shred came from beyond the SEAS ~
THE 'tIlrrlE HARMLESS GOSSIP" THAT GROWS OUT
#3 OF ALL THIS FuRnRE #@
OF course, under the circumstances. gossi o and
bon znois something on the Partisan order. are &c
plenty and entertaining as possible One Of the
prevailing rages" among the beautyhood o
Washington is In mad and most dernonstrable
endeavor to marry foreigners. The 1narriaseble
portion Of the sex, with not a,few who have anter
ed the sacred compact, are in one grand scramble
to entol everything in the similitude Of importaf
m anhood. :.:$% N M s5t f,}}ssE
The several foreign legations are besieged and
sraotheredia the aighs that come from our domes
tic femininity. The latter is continually induleins
in tho audible plea Of Desdemona, sewould kini
Heaven have made her such q man. as one or t1,eaf
SHARP. booted, bob-tail-coated immaculatelv-oIov-
ed Whlskerandoes, Who strut q brief season in the
CaRataI snd then are seen no more forever The
!nas1a, am inclined 70 think, ia induced BY the
fact that several Of the Foreign Minister'S Maruu;s
number OF attachees, have, in former years: When
quietly. ien TO note the incompatible bloom and
perfection o. American womsn, led to tho alfar
some OF the loveliest Though by no meslsI tEe
best born( daughters Of the District Of CoIumbia
Indeed it ia quite the thing, under the present
regime, Tor young ladies to throw off the ordinary
and commendsble rrudismess of the seq. Not 8
and nearly ,sefnla1sgS6ls attaches o2 ths seyers
legations figuring at the OPERA theatre, or bowling
along some fashionable drive, alwaye chapeyosaee
by 9 lady. and receiving, not administering, the
cyiGHes Of the situation. " 4"s. Z.
Dowagers who have finally disposed Of thei,
manageable stock, shake their ponderouD head,
dresses in wen-imed exec stioq to the general laxi
y Of etiquette now il vogue, but those wide awake
ambitious heads of families who have determined
to marry SARAH JANE to S .sprince," !" even fhouef
he be In danger Of transformation to a,t'garaaneTe
son" consider the risk and hold their materna
breathSs In anxiety for the result OccasionsIl,
some proud little beauty is brought to grief ans