Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-03-21
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, March IL.

There has been lul after the storm re-
action has followed the excitement OF the
last few weeks, and the Senate galleries have
lately worn desolate appearance in the abb
sence of lovely woman, while the proceedings
on the floor have been interesting only to
some unhappy wretch who had bill which
he was trying to get through. MIR. Sumner
has been i'll, suf ring from the same nervous
disorders which at times have followed him
since the brutal attack made on him by one
Of the chivalry Of South Carolina. His va
cant chair is noticel by visitors Immediately y
and with regret.
The House was con ,dcraby cnlivened on
Wednesday By the formal reception it gave
to to the japanese embassy. As the event
was an interesting one, the immense galleries
Of the House were crowded by ten o clock,
and the Senators came over on 20 the floor.
1t was expected that the Prime Minister
Iwakura and the chief oifi ;ialj would appear
in their national costume, but i'll this the au-
dience was disappointed. They have only
worn that when formally received by the Pres
ident and Cabinet on Monday. = ~. !,
Apropos Of that occasion, 1t is said that
Mrs. Grant added new laurels to her already
we'll deserved reputation for the dignity,
tact and intelligence with which she di2-
charges the duties of her high position. The
Cabinet, Sureme Court judges, other high
officials of our government, and, the sixty
Japanese, in silk and gold attire, made quite
large and brilliant assemblagc, and it is
said that the President showed some slight
trepidation in making his reply to lwakura.
But when they all filed in and were present
ed to Mrs. Grant and the ladies with her,
she received them with much dignity and
composure, made quite a lengthy well word
ed speech to Iwakura through the lnterpre-
ter, welcoming them, and also their young
ladies whom they had brought to this coun-
try to enjoy our superior advantages for the
education of girls. She gave the. young Ia
dies of their party cordial invitation to visit
her, assuring them ola hearty reception
when they did come. MrE. Grant was hand,
somely dressed as were also the ladies OF the
Cabinet with her, and the large boQuetS IN
vases and baskets filed with full bloom Jap
anese hllics and bordered with japanese
ferns, excited the warmly expressed admlra'
ton Of the embassy.
The reception given them by the State
Department at Masonic Hall was one of the
most brilliant affairs OF the kind seen here
for years, The invitations were by card,
and were only to the Cabinet, Supreme Court
Judges, Senate and House, the Press and some
prominent men of the nation now here, and
sprinkling of the army and navy. The
note of invitation was headed by the stars
and stripes twined with the japanese flag,
white ground with red circle in the centre.
There was a red card for ladies, white for
gentlemen, both to hn presented at the door
for admission. As we entered the large hall
we stood open,eyed, with astonishment and
delight. A bare hall had been transformed
into fairy land. The flags of the two nations
were everywhere, draped from the windows,
festooned from the ceiling, wound round the
pillars, while quantities of white tar.etar
we're loosely twined through all, giving solt'
n,oisty, graceful effect. Baskets of choice
flowers were suspended from the ceiling il
all directions, while interspersed with then