The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-04-03
Life at WASHINGTON.
111N w
From the New York Tribune

quette OF Washington is unlike that OF any
other American city. Strangers coming here
are expected to call upon persons whom they
wish to know. In return they receive
card, and if eligible, an invitation. The sec
retarles, the lieutenant general, the chief JUS
tive, and those senators who have fixed days
for receptions, issue cards which they send to
their personal friends, to those persons to
whom they owe civiities, and to recognised
public functionaries.
Then anybody who is on terms OF intimacy,
or who has an eminent social position, may
solicit card for his friends tarrying in town.
So 1t will be seen that the republican court is
not court of exclusveness, and that the
drawing-rooms of our queens Of society may
be achieved without diplomacy OF heart break.
The wives of the senators must be called
upon by the wives of the representatives. On
no account must this ceremonial be reversed
Or omitted. If the wife of senator Smith be
much younger than the wife of representative
Brown, and indebted to her, and often enter
tanned by her at home-aIl this goes for moth
ing in Washington. Mrs. Smith must exact
her pound of etiquette, or the social world
would mady crash off into space. Feminine
senators and representatives (why not our
great captains captain-Shakspeare,) how,
ever, must alike call on the wives of the sec
retaries and they, in turn with all the rest of
the world, on the ladies at the White House.
Then for the presidential reception no cards
are issued Everybody goes who wishes to
see the uneasy head that wears a crown, or
the somewhat startling upholstery of the ex-
ecutive mansion TO the reception of the
speaker Of the House, also everybody goes
who has q desire to peep at the most demo
cratic and characteristic society OF America
and to shake hands with the est-hearted,
blithcsomest, most overworked and most pop
ular good fellow in The land.
When one goes to make a call in Washing
ton, let him turn doWna corner of his wishing
card For should he send up that eligible
pasteboard unbroken, he will be held TO have
| left it bysa servant, and not to lave called in
person. And after investigating ones self in
ones best Clothes and taking much trouble to
be neighborly, one likes the credit of it.
And, by the by, since honoris The subject
| of nv story, Il refer to clothes, but a fresh
quotation, now and then, so brghtens up one s
pages, let me tell lie dear but unsophistIca-
ted virgin, who is about to make her trsL visit
here, what sire should put in the vast sarco-
phagus of trunk. 1mprlmis: walking
dress made for service, short as the tale OF her
foibles, for Washington mud is like the blood
stain on the hand of Lady Macbeth, and will
not vanish, though -adjured in her phrase
Next, black silk, and that is to be her din
ner dress through the ages if she stay so long
For if the walters at Wizards have a gift be-
You'd their fatal facility in Juggling you will
somebody elses spoon, unwashed, and pre-
empted napkin, it is their supernatural case II
enliycniDg ones side breaths with spIashes o
gravy, and scattering tomatoes OF ones mos
cherished pepIum. They set down naught il
malice.
F II the plate touches the table with concus
sion which produces a rebound, or, being tip
ped sends its contents down that inclined
blame, their ignorance Of the laws Of gravita
, lion and repu,sion rs clearly in fault, not th'
concrete Ethiopian So what can we do Blu
pass the military bill and establish free school
evcrywhere-and wear black silk dresses a
dinner? Plainly, it is not worth while tt
scold these dusky vassals, nor complain to thu
head waiter.
Then, besides these, our neophytc need
!, only pretty evening dresses. They may b.
= Just as natty, and just as many as she will, 70
f she can wear them al! in this curious game o
, society, where everybody is a teetotum ant
spins many sided, and exposed to all. Or,
. she has but one, she may be just as happy
q for she will hardly meet the same person a
= two parties, and if she do, they will have for
gotten what she wore the night before, such
: whirl and hustle is this curious life.
q III fact, Tom Tom of Tslington, who MAJ
:. ried wife on Sunday, brought her home 0
. Monday, went glad on Tuesday, scolded he
~ en- Wednesday, sick was she on Thursday
4 dead was she on Friday, sad was Tom on Sa
10 urday to bury his wife on Sunday-thls lng'
NOUS legend, say, is the apologize of Wasl
ington. Every day is the excitement OF til
20 debates at the capitol, and the duty of calm
S, on some respectable lady, And every ngl
there is a party. And every week TRACED
m and comedy jostle each other. And ever
d Sunday one begins afresh the same routine
And through it all one has vague sense
in unrest, of undurabiity, a dim fear that Il
ID shining coach will turn into pumpkin SON
midnight, because the pageant sochanges an
in shifts; YOU see so many new faces that shlr
l. upon you moment and then disappear; 70
are impressed by SO many personalities TIL
Sc you shall not meet again, that you pinch
m see if YOU are awake. But to return to II
receptions, from which, methinks, must ha'
t wandered.
N Mr.. Speaker Coliax receives on Thursday
from haIf-past eight to eleven. Three ]arG
ty rooms are open on the first floor, and the larG
a. dining room down stairs is cleared for dap
ing Yet when you reach the house-sure]
n, you think-a solid phalanx of American cit
s zens has possession of every inch of roor
By dint Of taking advantage of the departure
er you cork your way from the sldcwa
m to the dressing room in twenty minutes. Tht
in the wake of a reflucnt wave of guests, yt
lapse down stairs again, and the tide tax
r, YOU into the presence A familiar presenc
ls with eyes blue and sunny as baby's.
hit smile, vito a whole good heart behind it, al
" an arllesgncss so entire that it seems the hlg
est art This face all the country knows, f
r it is scattered in card photosraphs-which q
d, famc-throughout the length and breadth
he the land.
n An admirable officer in the House - cand!
~ judicial rapid, clear, he has yet such odd b
IS, homme (then why don't we have an Engli
s. word which means just that?) such gem
al e II tIlat oniprS how tn