The New York herald., 1870-02-21
FASHION IN WASHINGTON.
General Discussion OF Social Affairs In
washington Romantic Preface
Pierre BOnaparte and the Saddler's
Daughter = Receptions During the
Week-The Presidents Leyee--
Madame Catacazy's Entertain.
ments-Lively Picture Of the
Franco Russian Belle-The
Belknap and Fish Evenings.

Ments-Liycly Picture OF the
Franco Russian Belle-The
Belknap and Fish Evenings.
WARRINGTON, Feb is, rg7o.
One day when Prince Pierre Bonaparte was driy-
ing 10 the races part OF the harness gave way
Fortunately saddlers shop was near by; and while
the broken harness was beng rcpained the Prince
regaled himself with glass Of water and discovered
how marvellousy pretty the sadHlier,s daughter
who served hiM and curtsied 80 modestly to his
Royal Hghness. True, be had seen beauty In its
most artistic and cultivated forms, bewitching and
dazzling enough to turn even q princes head
score OF times. But this roadside newer captured
the Prince wsth the strategy Of l0veiness and hs
heart was LETT behind him "a nc rode TO the
The Prince, ike other men, found It difficult to live
without heart, and he was not long in winning
thai Of the sadders pretty daughter. The story can
hardly be repeated too often, as what succeeded
WAS 30 knghtly snd true and wfthal 80 rare. Tho
Prince decided 70 marry her, and 80 placed her at
school from which sne emerged with the
necessary acquired graces. She was quick and
apt, and 80 extremely good looking that
when Prince spierre presented hts wife to the EN-
peror hs Majesty WAS gracious enough fOrgeJ ner
origin ana reserved her c0rCtally. 1t would finish
beautifully TO add that the Empress mitated the
Kmperor In his reception OF her. But aasl Eugenie
who II the most charming bigot in France drew her
robes about her In scorn at the presumption. But
for all thas the wife Of Prince Pierre graces the
court circles OF Paris or cid until Auteu and the
people take pride IN her.
But what has French saddler's daughter TO do
with Washington society, or how does her romance
attach itself the interest OF the cOurt circles OF
the republicr 1t viii do for preface quite AZ we'll
sswousd the true story OF well known lady here,
who dresses elegantly, gives magnificent dinners,
entertans charmingly, and now and then numbers
. guest who remembers very well tfor itwas not so
very long ago) when she presided at the counter Of
lager beer saloon in the interior Of Pennsylvania
Society everywhere in America. save perhaps In
few OF the older towns Is too new, unsettled and OF
TOO transient character to be purely aristocratc.
season in Washington win give a stranger. in the
shortest possible time and In uhe best and truesr
form, the most correct type OF American So
ciety. Democratic enough Tor freedom, It IL
invariably well tempered sud modulated by the
estnetic elements In Its lesdere. A few families
here who take pride IN being 'eN and well estab-
iished," maintain somewhat rigid degree OF caste,
but when one comes well inr0daced he Is made tho
recipient OF such cordial ard generous welcome as
to feel that this element or society most delighs
ful one.
But what interests the people most is OF the
people and open to them They feel sort OF per.
sOnal pride and Ownersasp IN the magniicence OF
the Capitol and the various public buildings: but as
human faces and human forms forever possess In
terest beyond architecture, the ruling passion tr-
nmphs, and the reception topic gains full possession
OF the senses AS society here differs in Its organi
zatiOn, system and operation nom that elsewhere It
fs an easy matter for one TO comprehend the stua-
ton. The Presidents receptions are public, not
curing at regular intervals but always duly adver
hold frou otUht
70 ten in the evening. Mrs. Grant receives every
Tuesday, from two until four r. NJ. Her receptions
are open to all, and from three until four she
b usually assisted by the President. On every
Wednesday, after two In the afternoon the
ladies Of the Cabinet receive ana all persons are
liberty to call On every Friday evening, from nine
until eleven, Speaker Blaine receives his friends pro-
miscuousy. Thursday ana Saturday the recep-
tion days Of the ladies OF the diplomatic corps
Aside from these numberless receptions OF
more exclusive character, for which cards are
issued.
THE PRESIDENTS LEvEEs.
There no prescribed rules OF etiquette dress
imposed upon visitors at the Presidents levees,
except those OF decorum and decencv. One would
think all the people Of Washington turned out en-
ndsse to swell the throngs bound for the Executive
Mansion. At about nine O'Clock the accession is
perhaps, greatest. People get there In all of
which the people out West call "Foot Il Walkers
express"-are brought Into lively use. Al the en-
trance gentlemen are ordered to the right and ladies
to the left II the evening is propltious ladies' md
their dressing room altogether too small. wrappings
are laid aside bundled up into the shape,
checked and disposed OF by the waiting maids In
attendance Women who entered hooded ana wrap
ped like MONKS with their dress skirts pinned up
about them, producing magniaed Grecian bend
:. emerge full blown and radiant A woman skilled In
the preservatlve toilet art gains the dressing
serene and undisturbed. The uninItiated Ind re-
pairs necessary; stray tresses restored
and cosmetlcal damages attended to- Gloves are
drawn on, Duttoned, and the lady is ready for her
escort. II he iS acquainted with the topography OF
the mansion he joins her in the dressing roOm ana
they fail into the line Of march for she Blue Room
where the President receives But II Is like gong
through the eye OF needle, or being put through
Hedged and hemmed IN by mass OF human beings,
you are secured as by wise. Heated, sufocating,
you conld faint there space for falling, and II
not exceedingly good humored the mildest wish
mounts your brain Is that you could be suddenly
metamorphosed into steam engine. Pushed, en-
braced, ebowed and josted BY broadcloth and burly
shoulders ON one side, and bewdered and dazed by
bare shoulders and arms, towers OF hair and the
multitude OF odds and ends and middlngs III the
make up OF women tnat render them even r1arves
OF mystery 10 their own sex, the last straw seems
being added, when there is break In the crowd and
In the respite you gather strength for the next
advance.
on one side moves a solid phalahx Of men IN an
opposite direction, proceeding with true cavalier
fortitude TO JOIN their ladies' Every inch Of their
way Is won by sturdy. unrelenting effort At inter-
vals their progress is impeded by the
force OF arms. A pair OF guards tie their
righ, arms together with hand grip. forming
barrier which to break down seems 10 be the
ambition and salvation Of those In front. BY bril-
liant and sudden coup de grace now and then one
.stoOps 10 conquer' and darts through underneath.
he wipes the perspiratlon from his glowing face,
Tevives the dropping spirit OF his dickey with Jerk
and q snruQ espies his Miss Nancy wheels aboux
and l0Lna the prpcedslon. Tho Red Room. Led