Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-03-21
Our Washington letter.
WAsHINGToN. March 10, 1872.

public American taste, and succeed il
mingling with our respect, our hones
admiration for the race, and our willing
ness to benefit the same, a small de-
gree of national policy and public curl
osity. We don't know why it is 50 we
leave the reader to his or her own con
illusions as to whether this trait of ours
be inherent from previous use of Japan
csc tea or merely because it happens so
we merely note the fact. There is IL
mistaking the fact that they do call us
out in our most stately displays of Oul
civilized paint and eagle-feathers. Al
the depot they were met by cur greatest
and best, at the Presidents they were
followed by the eager public, where
after singing to our President their EN-.
bassadOrial address, they were treated il
return to an off hand speech of half a
column in length, which would have
done honor to the greatest statesman
living. They go to church, and forth
with the public has a devout spasm and
the church suffers run they visit the
navy-yard, and one is surprised at the
sudden taste manifested by our old Citi-
zens for monitors, trip-hammers and
brass-nails. But III no instance has
America done more to create flattering
impression upon Japan than i'll the re-
ception given them by our government.
The place of holding the reception was
Masonic Hall, the largest hall in the
city, capable of accommodating over a
thousand persons. Though properly
under the State Department the matter
was placed in the hands of Gen. Myers.
For want of room the public could not
be admitted, and only such as could
psesent themselves at the door with the
wedding garment of card of invitation
from the General could go in unto the
feast Only fifteen hundred could be
thus favored Now fifteen hundred
don't go far III this society and of course
determinations had to be made. The
question was who to invite. Senators,
members of the House, Judges of the
Supreme Courts. and high (by which
we mean very Important officials, the
court circles were of course to be favor
cd, and the remaining few cards were
spread out as thinly as possible over the
anxious public. Poor Gen. Myers 1t
is our private opinion that during the
two days previous he had more calls
than the President does on New Years
We mean he would have had if he had
been anywhere, but it appears that he
was not. We understand that people
went everywhere, and at all hours with
out seeing him. Tickets were never in
such demand since the days Of impeach-
ment, and the company assembled on
that occasion was rarely if ever eXCelled
in point of intellectual brillianCy and
hight Of tone
The Hail was gorgeously decorated
with the japanese and United States
flags until it gave ladened heavy APP
pearance and sound to the room. Trail
ing vines chung to the walls, windows
and gas fixtures in the perfection of full
bloom, and from hundred bird cages
suspended from the ceiling the various
families of sOngsters, vieing with the
merry tongues below and the melodious
strains of the Marine Band from the or
Chestra. seemed far more suggestive of
the utopian realms of fairyland than of
the practical, cherries earth. A plat
form across one end of the room mount
ed by couple of steps, was decorated
by happy cOmmingling of American
and Japan plants. shrubs and flowers,
in each corner of the room fountains
were playing into miniature lakes. Upon
this platform stood the exalted represen-
tatives of the two countries, while in
the centre of the room half dozen COu-
pies trippcd the light fantastic toe in
the Round dance to the time of the band
above mentioned. Japan stood with
mouth and eyes open in mute wonder
ment as the enCO sight,
Nae cotillOn breut-ncw frae france.
But hornpipes, iigs. strathspeys and reels,
Put life and mettle / their heels.
To see ladies with their ethereal attire,
though neeedlessly long at the bottom,
still so immOdestlY short at the top
living Illustrations Of the truism that
''they were fearfully and wonderfully
matd.' languishing upon the shoulder of
a man whose strong arm about her Is
whirling her along in the most festive
style was something new for Jap. He
kept his council, but his looks told tales
on him, and when asked by Mrs. --
what he thought of the affair, threw the
whole group into merriment by replying
that it was beautiful example of the
affection and harmony existing between
the sexes in America. Such intimate
harmony is said not to exist in Japan,
and Minister De Long had previously
prepared the pure minds for the fearful
breaches of japanese etiquette which
they would experience N this country.
This brilliant assemblagc was headed
bv the Secretary OF State and Mrs Fish.
The great, good-natured, homely. Secrc-
tary, with dignity and bearing a head
and shoulders above all his surroundings.
silent, yet speaking, plain and unassum-
ing. vet COurtly. presented a wonderful
contrast to the little utbr0wn, pigeon
eyed heather Chinec of japanese
standing upon the same lever, tbs true,
but hardly reaching to his vest pockets
Among the conrtly group upon the plat
form were the members of the Cabinet,
the Vice President and Speaker of the
House, with a liberal reserve of Senators
and NJ. {. 9. Among the ladies of the
group were the queenly Mrs. Fish, re-
splendent with diamonds and pearls, but
bY far more resplendent with her char
acteristic intellectual worth- the star of
the brilliant assemblage; Mrs Boutwell,.
Mrs Blaine, Gail Hamilton and Miss
Boutwell,, the latter distinguished in this
society for her lack Of small talk, her
comprehensive good sense, and her
knowledge of financial matters.
The repast of the occasion, when we
succeeded in reaching the limited refresh
ment room, was eminently worthy of
Uncle Sam and his distinguished guests.
Rarely does Washington society witness
so elevated an assemblage upon so large
a scale. II is said not since the ball
given in honor of the Prince of Wales,
years ago. The hall was left untouched
until noon the day following, and the
public allowed to view the spot. We
would like to tell you all we saw on
that occasion and the morals drawn
therefrom-of the international, politi-
cal, social and personal significance of
all one sees in such place standing in
their midst, with an occasional glance
behind the curtain, but we remember
The breyity of life, and the limits of The
HERALD. *