New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-02-02
SOCIETY IN wASHINGToM.
GEN. GRANTS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. or TIE
PRESIDENT, MR.. CoLFAx, AND MR.. STANTON
CoNvTRs ADMINISTRATIONS AND RELIGION-PER-

INSTRUMENTATION AND REuGIoN-PlR-
sONAL.
From our Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1907.
1t is very difficult to stop long enough to sketch
life in Washington. 1t IS as much as one can do TO
live it. Event follows event, scene follows scene III
such rapid succession like the pictures in phanas-
magoria one can scarcely name them as they pass.
One slips into the tide-goes with IT, and wakes up
some morning 80 tired Yet the human tide rolls on
the same; and watching it from ones window, say,
is decidedly pleasant.
Its a reception day. All equipages move toward
the West End. The enameled coach, the Everied
driver the thoroughbred borses the fine ladies in
er1nine velvet and jewels. all move on toward the
West End. The "hack," with its tattered trappings,
its shabby driver its dapidated horses, and its la
dies in second-rate "fxed up" finery, jolts on to-
ward the West End Why mott This is demo-
cratic country, OF ought to be; and if Mrs. Clerk
wishes to delight her eyes with the sight OF Mrs
Cabinets latest costumes and refurnished salons has
she not as good right pray, as Mrs. COngressi AS
these rights necessary to her peace happy Tor her
that the Government of her country gives her the
privilege of enjoying Them otherwise society would
not Human nature is the same in Washington rs in
London and yearns to exalt itself by privileged
order by the escutcheOns of nobility and the impas-
sable bars Of caste These yearnings are manifested
by superior air." and an exclusive devotion TO
the Corps DplOmdtiQue.
Such aspirations are very amusing to impartial be-
holders and tempt one to probe little below the
snrface to see in what manner of soil the family tree
took root. The humble individual" is not the only
one of our public who from the smallest begin
nings has worked his way to place and power 1t is
the glory Of their country that this is true. we
doubly honor the man who against the odds of fate,
Ii l. hal
OH airs y then it is human nature also TO begin TO
take him down." The Hon. Mrs. - taught q dis
trict school once. And in her high estate she
scatters the gifts of affuence and of fame with
lavish hand. Simple, sincere loving-hearted, her
blessings fall upon lowly and lofty and if she is not
reverenced it is because she is beloved Another
Hon. Mrs - was n chambermaid in her youth.
Now this delicatcly nurturcd creature Is unable to
dress or undress herself even TO hang mp her own
clothes although perfectly able to endure any
amount of dissipation. She is very aristOcratc. She
appreciates Inverted coachmen and coats of arms. We
object to neither Only give the real family insignia.
Let the scissors the shOelast the brOomsck, flour
ish where they belong
Among the most popular of the day-receptions are
those of Mrs. Grant. Carriages crowd the street
for q block from the house, and gay cayalcades OF
ladies are seen aghtng and returning through half
the hours of every Saturday. The spacious parlors
are thronged with beauty fashion, and youth People
like 10 come here for they certain of a kindly
welcome. No matter how great tho crowd, nor how
brief the space allotted for words, they are sure OF
receiving something more than . merely conventional
welcome. Mrs. Grant does not receive with the
air Of martyr, or an automaton. She evidently
enjoys it. this elegant crowd of bright faced women
all Iayishing sunshine and kind words on her. She
is pleased with so much attention, and natural
enough to show il, in an unaffected wOmanly way.
Everybody feels kindly toward the Grants. An I'M
wOnted state Of mind for everybody to be in toward
a family raised from poverty aud obscurity to ailu-
ence and power. Yet this is true, tho spacious
house. the costly library the snowy coach and horses,
gifts as they are seem to stir neither enyyDor malice
! in anybCdys heart. The secret of this good VIII
does not lie wholly in the fact OF Gen Grants mill
tary renown; that, If he were selfish and exclusive
and "set mp would not make him socially popular
But the Grants have pleasant way OF sharing their
good gifts with Others If you see the carriage on the
avenue it is filled as full as it can hold and is eYl
IDENTIFY rolling about, not for state, but for good
time You go TO the house; that too is full 20 over
flowing and whoever chooses to come, is certain not
of an ostcntatous but q sincere welcome. lady
said the other day; 81 don't see how Mrs. Grant
open her house to everybody and receive people pro-
! miscuOuslyp
Tie ladys feelings were natural, but in connection
with the Graqts she forgot a number OF facts. Inc
house they inhab its very furniture, IS the git OF
for them the wealth and luxury of life They have
the good sense and the kind hearts TO remember this
If they receive largely. they share well, and make
/ many people happy. If they ntrenched themselves
in exclusive state to receive the elect and elegant
few doubt rir carpets would last longer, but not
their many friends nor their growing prospect OF still
! greater hOnOTs.
Tie second of their three evening receptions to be
! given this season occurred Wednesday evening and
| was even more crowded than the first. a mass OF
| spend0r il was too vast to be indivdualized The
Corps Dpl0mGqe in gttering court costume, officers
| of army and navy in full uniform, women reSpend.
ent with Jewels music and dancing, warmth and
cheer, crash and suffOcatlOn fading flowers, robes
dospOed, the old story, yOu know ii all If there
once; if not. can't tell YOU.
Speaker COlfaXs weekly receptions hold their
wOnted sway. Like the Presidential levees of palny
days, they include everybody, from the Chef-Justce
and Cabinet Ministers to the poorest ccrS who
in attic. No stranger visiting the capital IL
tent TO leave it without attending of these pOpu
lar receptions Mr.. COlfaX il emphaticay man Of
the people. Struggling up from u fatherless boy
hood 10 his present cmnenCe through all the way he
has kept with the people. He has not grown away
from them, stTivcn TO rise above them. He is
with them in sympathy, in aspiration, in principle
The people know ii, and regard IL accordingly.
The Presidents reception was given the same even
ing and called out array Of Southeners. such as
the White House has not seen since the days of the old
regime. This fact was cheering to the heart of the
humble individual" who observed that he was
very glad to many of his friends, ~ just at
this time he felt the need OF sympathy" Nobody
doubts that Andrew
Besides the public receptions elegant parties have
been already given by Gov. Morgan, Admiral Dahl
grcn, Chief JuStIco Chase and Secretary Stanton.
The latter issued 800 invitations limiting the hours
of fcStiyity from D. III. to ] O'Clock u. III. Nothing
could have been more recherche than this entertain
ment. The costumes were superb. and there was
space in which the Tegnant trains could move, and III
which we could behold them The Secretary, terrible
to favor and to offenders in his office is tho
most genial and cordial Of men at home
The house of Gov Morgan, one Of the most spa
ciOus and elegant in Washington, has been made
delightful by the addition OF splendid library,
bnit during the past year. lined with books and fur
nished with crimson leather and black walnut. A
at