The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-10

hundred or more who never move, but, IN Sumner
expressive language, seem To 'stickn there as II
fascinated by the performers or fearful to
bulge lest Others should gain possession q their
positions. Outside this inner ring there is larger
circle OF well dressed ladies ana inderently aired
men, VINO keep revolving and revolving like little
planets round the central orb Of attracton--the
music stand. IL IL In this circle one hears and sees
most. The politician talks that you may heaf
MIN; the beautiful lady with the expensive point
may examine her complexion and draaery and bril-
lants without the least apparent ir,pertinence
Doubtful II she would consider 1t impertinence any
now she Is got up to be observed. she sweeps
over the grass with her capaci0us traini inviting
your attention, and evidently gratided when she OBJ
tains 10. II you are q sometime resident assd are
posted you will remember to have seen thAt lady
before. While Congress- sits she is an admitted
power al che Capitol Shs has the entree OF all the
rooms a"t can DO found In the committee chaIRpers
In confidential conversation with Senators or mem-
bers, as well as In the corridors or galleries.
the galleries dedicated to- foreign ministers
ana their families. Her profession. however, re.
CURES the upost diplomatic skill and she Is sharper
than the most cunning Talleyrand Of them all. You
must have already guessed that she Is one OF that
class OF seductive and dangerous creatures called
female lobbyists As she passes you Oh this musical
AFTERNOON she has the ear and arm Of some member
or official dgnitary- But she keeps neither long, for
as she moves about she recognizes dozens of nascu
line acquaintance and nirts from one to the other
with abruptness and caprice quite refreshing and
charming. You hear people talk about her know
ingly when she is beyond earreach.
"Iliats L., Charleys the woman who got five
smart woman, that S0 knows the ropes, tell you.
Bet your money What she can't do no one can"
Bnt les the charming ma j.. pass WIN her legion OF
present and there are plenty OF them worth noting;
for this city is the place where congregates the most
curious Dlstan0e of humanoddities and remarkableS
OF every kind and degree.
The next person YOU may see may be foreign
Mnster-perhaps Edward Thornton, the new and
popular ambassador from England He Is
a quiet unObtrusivc geutlemany parsonage,
plainly dressed and moving about with none
nf N
upper crust In tact, Thornton Is quite
democrat, rides on the street cars. talks with
drivers and conductors, stands on the 'front.' plat
form particularly when colored passengers are
inside, and altogether is very much liked and re-
diplomat YOU May see on the grOund-the Hon.
julius Augustus Bungheimer tf you like, OF eminent
Teutonlc presence and very large pretenslons.
Where julius Augustus came from originally Is per
haps better known to Julius Augustus than to the
rest OF the world. But he s character in Washing
ton--a sort OF diplomatic Paul Pry-wh0 goes from
legation to legation, gathering up the gossip poking
his nose into every place and seeming out whatever
may be spicy and wicked to repeat over ana over
Therefore julius Augustus is worth few sticks full
in passing. At one time he Is Secretary OF
DISCRIMINATING being hard up and willing
to descend to furnishing his brilliant thoughts to
ton. He knows thing or two OF diplomatic move
ments, being In the ring himself, ana when minus
sponduix ready to reveal this information In ex-
change for hard cash pure Havanas, for Augustus
smokes muchy, and rather thinks he Is good Judge
of the weed. Augustus Is stout, always wears
black swallow tail coat or linen buster, and displays
on his pedals shoes that might be converted into
small sized gunboats critical friend of an ento-
moOgical turn of mind says Bunghemer's shoes are
certain death to all creeping animals" Bung.
heimer is not beauty, but nevertheless considers
the ladies greatly admire him for MS arstocratlc
would say, 81 know you are dying for
has perfect right to. On all public occasions he
exhibits himself to the largest possible extent and
at this Saturday afternoon concert he is as largely
prominent usual.
Leaning against the music stand in an distracted
way is an old gentleman, who by his dress and
general appearance at first might be mistaken for
returned California miner or discharged volunteer
soldier He Is carelessly dressed In a common sack
shirt Collar COLLAR fastened n sort Of sailor fashion by
black necktie. He has heavy irongray beard, and
fne clear, intellectual eye and benevolent express
sion OF countenance, which make you curious to
learn his name. Instead OF q miner or discharged
it is Walt whitman, author OF .Ieaves OF Grass, V
poem remarkable and eccentric as the poet him,
self who by OF the abest critics In France and
| Germany has lately been pronounced the most orig
nal poetic genius OF the day. Whitman Is clerk
here In the Attorney Generals ONCE, having the un
| poetic task OF copying dry legal opinions. When
Harlan Secretary OF the Interior whitman nlled
position In the Patent ONCE, but on the appearance
Of one OF his extraordinary poems was discharged
Harlan. 1t IL said, objected to immoral passages In
the poem, and told Whitman he would not have in
his department an obscene writer. Harlan, you
must know, was Methodist preacher at one time,
and Whitman never enjoyed such an advantage.
But whman's friends stood to him in his need and
procured him new appointment after his discharge
by Harlan. From this you VIII infer that, Ike most
poets he Is G IN 1sTt NJ Ws his ouers
are dipped in the law and his soul wrapt IN meta
physics. la, 49,
coat buttOned up TO the neck ana an Enthusiastically
military bearing. That Is General Henningsen, an
a1yentlirer whose life Is full OF romantic interest
aud would furnish material for half dozen volumes.
He has travelled all over Europe and America; has
been in the Spanish army, the Austrian army, the
English army and the Hungarian army He was
with Walker sithe gray eyed man OF destiny in
Nicaragua and In fact the military mind OF all
lion he was brigadier on the Confederate side, but
quarrelled with Davis and threw up his commission.
Now he is quietly residing in this city, waiting Ike
| Micawber for something TO turn up.
| There il another tall gentleman, straight as an
arrow, sharp features and small, keen eyes.General
Of that name. Over twenty years ago the General
was himself power at the White House. but now he
only one OF rhose VINO go 20 or MEAN e c =
| among those who have been ruined Dy the REBEL
| lion. . , 49,.
tans ex-gOyernors some bogus foreign mobiles, Jour
nasts and In short representatives or every PROBES
cam citizen. with his sweetheart Is to be seen in the
full efulgence Of his new estate. lie Is perhaps the
| least modest In the crowd.
| Were 1t some three or four weeks earlier In the
! season, the interest OF the scene would be
! heightened by the presence Of Burlingame and his
Chinese colleagues, besides numerous raulcai Sena'
tors and Representatives, some OF them fresh from
the Capitol after blackenng with the f0ulcst tongues
| the character and motives OF the President. Such
is The legislative lcense-greater, far greater, than
tina; OF the poet. A senator member may call the
! President traitor, thief tyrant, drunEard or any
| thing else that Is bad and few hours later
| call upon the President TO shake hands OIL
| pernaps to demand more substantial favor In the
| shane Of an appointment for some needy friend and
| supporter. ] have seen this thing often and mar.
Yelled at the cool cfrrontery with which u was car
| RED out.
During the music the Presidents family sit on the
| spacious balcony, formed by the colonade on the
| Potomac front OF the White House. and are gener-
I ay Joined by members Of the Cabinet and theii
| families. Sometimes the President himself appears
for a short time, and sits in his quiet way viewing
! the animated scene before him.