The Hickman courier., 1871-02-25
Terms of Subscription to the
HICKMAN COURIER.
81 90 PER YEAR rxADvANcR.
Address, Publishes aHIokxAs cOUnE,"
Hickman, KY.


and young--attend them, and the snenn-
est man and woman present, 90 far as the
personal right to be there, TO see and be
seen, is concerned, is, if presentable
dress can be obtained, ss well OF IS the
military gentleman who supports stirs
upon his shoulder-straps, the gentleman
in the civil service who bears the insig-
MIA of nobility on his breast, or the high.
bred lady who glitters in gold and cia-
monds.
We had heard and read many dcscrip-
tions Of these levees, but we're neTer
present at one Of them until Friday even
ing last. We propose to give our ex-
perience there, although We feel con-
scious that the space allowed us in this
letter is inadequate 10 anything Ikea
full description of the affair.
Under the escort Of our friend G-----f.
Of Louisville, aud his charming daugh-
tiers, at o'clock p. IN. we arrived at the
vestibule of the White House end we're
tushcrsd fnto tte eDfrance hall, Hdich'
was already crowded with persons Of
both sexes. The ladies were directed to
the ladies' dressing room, the entrance
to which was at the far end of the hall,
and ace were instructed to deposit our
hats, oVercoats and umbrellas at 1he
check room. This VIC did with great
difficulty, for we had to ''take our turn'
behind hundred or more persons WHO
were pushing forward, clamorous to be
waited on by the three or four servants
on duty there, and who, in their hurry
to get to the reception line" caused
much unnecessary confusion. Taking
t.a1 h~
crowd behind as great as that before, and
when after about half hour, We did get
our checks, we found nearly as much
trouble to get out as to get in. We
soon discovered that modesty had moth
ing TO do with the matter, and in ap-
proaching the door Of the ladies' dress
ing room, partly by main strength, wo
inside good progress until we got noar
the entrance of the principal ball, where
the line of march was formed. Here
was jana regular sqreeze-in which
many a beautiful toilette was ruined, and
many long train of rich silk and lace.
converted into carpet or foot mat.
Once in a while We would come across
some big gentleman, or fat lady, with
whose strength we could not cope, and
for a time of course we bad to give way,
and it was another full half hour before
We again joined the Misses Or, and
fell into the line Of march around the
suit ofrooms which led to the Blue Room
where the reception was being held
The crowd now was oppressive in the
extreme, almost snaUcating, and we more
than once heard the expression "If l
ever get out Of this, l II never come here
again" To one of the unsoTtaDates who
made this remark, some one answered
that that was what every one said, but
that everybody came back azain, not
withstanding the suffering they knew
they must undergo.
| Once IN, We were forced TO accept the
situation and push ahead. Just as egery
one else did. We were constanuy met
/ by policemen in full uniform, who check
ed or advanced our column as the neces-
sites in front of US required. We final
ly reached the great Blue Room, one side
of which was filed with large number
of ladies and gentlemen, who were hedg
ed off by row of persons, standing close
together. Along this row of persons VIC
were hurriedly pressed, aud, as we came
to each, a sort of pautomime of shaking
hands and muttered words took place,
and in a moment more we found oursel-
yes in the great East Room, in a tbroDg
of thousands who had gone over the same
road as ourselves Here, finding little
more space, we took breath, and asked
who those persons were, with whom We
had shaken hands
why, don't you really know? That
was General and Mrs. Grant, and the re-
eeiving party"
The devil they we're" we involuntary
answered. "
The introduc'ions had been conducted
in a tone SO low that we did not hear the
name OF single person in the line, and
although we had often seen General
Grant before, we did not recognize his
features. Concluding to have one more
look at the receiving party, for the i'm
pressions made on.us up 10 this time
were anything but satisfactory, we avail
ed ourselves OF our reportorial capacity,
and appealed to the main usher, Mr.. Fox,
who allowed US TO be admitted through
side door from tile main hall directly
into ihe Blue Room. Here, from a good
poiut for observation, for full hour, we
looked on at the swarmiDg mass as it
passed the reception line, going through
the same routine.
Ii appeared TO US that the practical
good sense of General Grant attached
Just as much importance to the occasion
as it deserved, and that he regarded the
whole thing as a huge humbug, for he
stood there. seldom saying word 20 any
person, coldly shaking hands with. OF
rather handing his hand to be shaken,
10 the persons received" with much
the same apparent feeling as il might be
supposed would be manifested by a WE'LL
ordered German automatoD; and all the
time he seemed 10 be excessively bored,
and sick of the ordeal, and wished the
thing well over Mrs. Grant manifested q
little more interest, and said aword or so TO
all; but she, too, apparently felt that twas
q matter of necessity, not choice.
Weattlibute TO the patience exhausted,
tired, bored appearance of General Grant
our failure te-reeognize him. The mar
shal of the district, DR.. Sharp, introduced
to General Grant, aod General Miehley
performed that duty for Mrs. Grant. In
the reception line we're Mrs. Secretary
Fish. Mrs. Ex Governor Morgan, Mrs.
Cramer, sister of General Grant, and
pretty little Nellie Grant. and many 9TH
er ladies notable in Washington circles.
After Ieavipg the Blue Room it wss time
to retire, and here We we're met with the
difficulty Of again getting our hats, &C.,
for the crowd at the check, room was just
as large and clamorous as before. Still
we came out all right, and left, thinking
we would not 60 to any more Presidents
leyees.
Gov. ALcoRN DECLINES THE SESA-