New-York tribune., 1867-02-25
TTFE IN WASHINGTON.

Prom Our Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON Fob. 81, 1861.
Washington is the concrete of seedinesS. 1t is
oor relation of prosperous cities 1t is out at elbows
shabby ut toes generally dngy and neglected, while
the snowy public buildings shine upon its poverty
ike pinchbeck jewelry. Founded as a land specula-
ton ID bears Its hateful birthmark still. Nothing
here looks thrifty Smart and forced gentiity nudges
dirty and detected poverty. Occasionally sturdy
threestory brick house pushes itself mp in rash
moment but it soon has fOrlOrn and deprecating
ar az asking pardon of the surrounding wrecks for
having disturbed their dOlefu harmony. The plan of
the city will remain mystery till the end OF time
Why Fifth-st. should at right angles with
SeventhSt and parallel with Est which is at cross
purposes with D-st.-why, when you think you have
conquered the labyrinth, and convinced yourself
that the avenues have some purpose in existence,
and follow the same system, you should be cheatedot
your faith in the wisdom of our venerated Fathers,
by learning. at much expense of muscular toll
that Pennsylvania leads to Venezuela, and New
jersey to the HobrideS-why every object of inter
est should persistcn,lv turn its back on every
other and refuse 20 know that 1T exlstS-
why the front door OF the Capitol should studousy DO
hidden behind the building lunless, indeed, 1t were
In a laudable effort to conceal the statuary "hch
adorns the steps and above ALL and beyond ALL why
the sun should rise in the south, and set Ill the east
must remain a puzzle 10 the casual mind wmle Ihe
world is The very names of the streets betlay 'ne
poverty of the city. Not whole numeral is al
lowed to all of them. FOnr-and-a-haf street! 1hnk
of that. in a land which has as good an alphabet as
any other, and the Roman system of notation and
numeration with the Arabic TO fall back upOnI
Streets ouOth | But to speak IN bondage TO tne
trutb-tere are no streets. There are vast, dreaTy,
nninhabited tracts, destitute of verdure and roamed
over by herds of hoIse-carS and hacks So distant
from the sidewalks are these Inconvenience that the
cnrbstones are lined with waiting people, each pos
sessed of an Opera-gaSs and spealng-trumpet; the
rst TO descry the approach of the vehicle the Secohu
To hail it, SO wide are the avenues that the very
Language takes on new meanings, and if you say you
are writing to friends at distance, you are supposed
uoless YOU explain yourself 20 be in correspondence
with the gentleman over the way. In all the hotels
IL against the regulation of the house to send wait
ers across the street unless you remuncrae the pro
prietors for one days loss of time and az you must
fee the servant beside old residents do all their or
rands themselves, rising hour or two carrier lor
the purpose.
The blocks-but there are no blocks there are only
augregatons of lath plaster capbOards, and BRICK
rise like so mauy dirty and superannuated Nenuses
rom sea of mud and if it is not mud, 1t is dust
Giving binding choking. inflamng, and irritating
lust For Washington has no knowledge OF that nau-
The Capitol stands on hill in the center OF the
desert of Sahara Ii was placed on this bad emnence
that il might not be submerged in mud for in wet
time Sahara itself lquefies aud encroaches. AT
the other extremity of Pennsylvania avenue-but
whether north south, east. west from the Captol
not Tycho Brahe could tells the White House Its
ste differs from the former in that IFS bad emnence
rises inside the building believe, however thar II
stands on pretty hillOck of its own The truth Is
have MT seen it; but as all great works OF travel
begin with the geography and topography OF
country thought mine must.
The social etiquette of Washingtonis 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 Secretaries the Lieutenant Gen
sral the ChefJustice. and those Senators who have
fixed days for receptions issue cards, which they
send tn their personal friends 90 those PERSONS to
whom they owe civilites, and to recognized public
functiOnaries. Then anybody who is on terms OF III
timaoy or who has an eminent social position, may
solicit a card for his friends arryng in town. So il
will be seen that the Republican Court is not Court
Of excusivencss. and that the drawingroomS OF ouI
queens of society may be achieved without dlplO
macy or heart-break.
The wives of the Senators must be called upon by
the wives of the Representatives. On account
must this ceremonial be reversed omitted. If the
wife Of Senator Smith be much younger than the
wife of Representative Brown, and indebted to her,
and often entertained BY her at her home, all this
goes for nothing in Washington Mrs. Smith must cx-
act her pound of etiquette. the social world would
radly crash off into space. Feminine Senators aud
Representatives (wly not our great captains cap
tain-Shakespearel however, must alike call on the
wives Of the Secretaries and they in turn with all
the rest of the world Oh the ladies at the White
Ilonse Tbeu for the Presidential receptions cards
are issued Every body goes who wishes to see the
uneasy head that wears q crown, or the somewhat
startling upholstery of the Executive mansion. To
the receptions OF the Speaker of the House, Also
everybody goes who has desire TO peep at the most
democratic and Characteristic society of America and
to shake hands with the kindest hearted, blithe
soonest most over-wOrkcd, and most popular good
fellow IA the land.
when one goes to make cali in Washington let
him turn down the corner of his visiting card. For
should he send up that eligible pastebOard unbrOken
he will be held TO have left it by servant. and not
10 have called in person And after investing ones
self in ones best clothes and taking much trouble
10 be ueighOrly one likes 10 have the credit of it.
Aud by the by, since honor is the subject OF my
story n refer to clOthes but fresh quotation, now
and then brightens up ones pages let me tell the
dear but unsOpbisticated virgin who is about to
make her first visit here what she should put in
that vast slrcoplEVus of "A trunk lmprimis:
walking dress made for service short the tale Of
her foihles for Washington mud is like the blood
stain on the hand of Lady Macbeth, and will not
vanish though aCjured i'll her phrase. Next, black
silk ard that is to be her dinner dress through the
ages il she stay long. For if the walters at VIII
lsrds have a gift beyond their fatal facility in
Juggling you with somebody else's spoon, un-
"a yt. - - Xh1.ir