Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-04-12
WOE is ME, ALBANIA!
social Life at the White House and
the Schurz HOuse COntrasted.

macious Senators, the mud-slingers,
etc, etc, had lost all social status in
Washington; that they came home every
day with nobody to speak to on the road,
and atetheir porridge in silence, crying
in it meantime. These journals enter
tain the notion of the old theologians,
that the White House is surrounded by
cherubim and seraphim, is under the
full rays of the shining sun, and that,
gathered around it, the mighty Republi-
can host are waving palms and singing
hymns in particular meter. Ii is sup
posed that, gathered together there, are
the Indian Ring and Peace Society, the
American Manufacturer and the Metho-
dist Church, William D. Kelly, and the
Genius oi Liberty, and sich," and that
drumming, fling, and Hosannah singing
ascend perpetually, as if Gilmore's new
opera were doing duty, and the cannons
lot Appomattox and the Wilderness
chimed in the chorus.
| live two or three blocks from the
White House = although | have not
lately been in it, except to one recep-
place of abode. Few people 60 in or
come out, and the daily printed list of
names of callers does not show well for
eminence or conviviality. People tell
me that the reporter Of the New York
Times gets as much cigar-smoke puffed
into his face rs Mr.. Dana, and is dis
missed with the same humph and nod
as the rest Conversation is not said to
be very logical, or behavior very i'm
pressive. Once every day, pair of
fine horses come up from the new stable,
covered all over with blue blanket armor,
circus fashion, on which blankets are
emblazened such imposing names as
Egypt, Egypt being a good name, in
view Of the darkness existing in those
parts. The carriage seldom takes any
but ladies'; but the Chief Magistrate,
along toward evening, with pocket full
of cigars, strolls out, wearing that pecu-
liar look of a man lost in a strange city,
and puffs slowly down the avenue. The
office-holders turn out and peep at him,
and say, after the fashion of Captain
Cutie: He never made clock, but
if he had made clock, Lord how that
clock would gol
VISIT TO WRETCH.
From this sort of supreme happines,
l turned few nights ago, to the home
of one of those miserable, railing Sena-
tors ttcr-s, who get up investigations. Il was
missionary visit, with no other object
than to help the poor man concerned eat
his porridge and console him on the
termination of his career The lights
were streaming from the windows of the
good bulky house of Carl Schurz. There
were lights in the first story, and the
second story. Lights burned at the
door-steps, and carriages were rumb
ling and crowding all round about.
Heavens" said |, how the wretch
brazens it out He hires these car
riages to come here, and runs an extrav-
agant gas bill to make people believe
that he has guests. "
When / entered the door negro took
my coat and hat. igt
e Here, said l, "is hypocrisy in an
other form. This enemy of the inter-
ests of the black man has found one
chap of that race degraded enough to
enter his service. 1t is put-up jobl"
Entering the parlors, saw pictures,
and reflected on the power of art to re-
main with us after ambition is gone and
we are "busted." The house belonged
to Mrs Dahlgren, the widow of the gun
making Admiral, aud her paintings were
scattered among Mr. Schurz s. The
emissary of all the monarchs of Europe
played it very fine in the matter of pic
lures He had some of Kaulbachs
drawings of Marguerite at the well, Me-
d .histopholes counting old Martha-and
which probably Mr.. Mast saw VIXEN here
on visit to this house and carried
away as an idea for cartoon. The de-
ceased Republican Admiral, however,
did have a pretty heavy taste for digni- |
taries, and i noticed one enormous por-
trait Of Marshal Soult, covered all over
with blazonry. 1t was almost as big as
that fireboard picture of the illimitable
Executive Dent family at the White
House.
In the back room i met the ruined |
man and his family assembled around
the piano. He was playing duet with |
his wife, and, although know but little
about music, somebody told me it was
an extraordinary good performance.
"Alas" said l, o woman, when pain
and anguish wiring the brow, a minister
ing angel thou" or words to that effect.
The man who had missed his career
got up and then we shook hands all
around with the children Tears were
nearly in nv eyes; but those deserted
folks PLAYED thcir part superbly, giving
the best imitation of laughter ever
heard in all my life," as Samuel Pepsy
might say. There was Agatha, the eld-
est, fine young lady, educated az Ham
burg, speaking English with that mar
velous ease and skill which distinguish
her father. There was Mariana, another
pretty girl, not far up in her teens, whose
horid hair and profile were as spiritual
as Schiller's; and l was told that, up
stairs, was a new baby, aged thirteen
months, bearing the name of Carl Lin
coin Schurz. ] could scarcely believe
my ears when the mother said:
II hope he will be as good as his
names.
After a while--evidently on the same
mission Of consolation ! came fora
large number Of people dropped in, as
If they had been in the habit of doing
So There were a couple of Senators,
two or three artists and as many musi-
clans, all known to the country as well
as in Washington. These were accom-
panied by ladies of different ages, some
young and handsome, and others bear
ing evidence of quiet, serene, reposed
lives; and at last-I knew ] should find
him outl-came nearly the whole Of the
Foreign Legations at the capital. There
was Kurd Won Sehlozer, of the German
Empire-s fine, energetic, perfectly
democratic little man, below the middle
and animation all over him,
aud making the most courageous at