The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-10
WARRINGTON, March 8, 1873.
Mercy me, what multitude are herei
Ihey grow stu TOO pr9p all parts they are coming,

have vanished, "and like the gorgeous fabric OF Q
VISION" have left only some tattered remnants
and broken wrecks behind. And the memorable
Inauguration ball Of March L. 1873, IN fairy palace
OF pine boards and painted muslin where even
General Sherman shivered in his overcoat, and
where all the bellies were Bluenoses in Nova
Scotia wrappings, and where even the fried oysters
were frozen in the middle passage between the
kitchen and the supper tables, marks with the
emphasis OF tidal wave of Polar air from Atha-
basca the dispersion OF Congress- and the close OF
our gay season offashtOn-a season the gayest and
jolliest season ever known in Washington, not ex-
cepting the golden age Of Dolly Madison or the
White House honeymoon OF Captain Tyler.
THE GOOD OLD TIMES.
| And to the old campaigner who nourisbes here
among the ladies' men Of those good old times of
Jackson and Van Buren,, and Harrison and Tyler, and
Of Clay and Webster, and Calhoun and Benton and
all those sturdy old fellows whose devotion to the
constitution is now to be found only In the faith
Of Andy Johns0n-to the old campaigner we say,
who has seen the great Harry OF Kentucky turn
up Jack and Benton enraged to "a fight or o
funeral" how the old time comes back again after
all these eventful years And how interesting the
vicisstudes OF Washington society since the day
when the FIRST Cabinet Of Old Hickory was
broken up and dismissed in the quarrel among
the ladies thereof over pretty woman, quarrel
as fruitful Of "wOes unnumbered" as that over
Helen OF Troy But touching society In Washing.
ton las 1t was" and as 1t is, the contrast between
the social epoch of Buchanan and that Of Grant is
sufficiently broad for our present purpose. In
fact, it marks the elimination of that sectional
division OF the Union, political, religious and So
cial, which was first ominously developed in the
terrible question Of African slavery. Under
THE ADMINISTRATION OF BUCHANAN,
then, that democratic Chesterfield IN his white
nQ Un nIh h0n hnlA hat
marvel OF ladies' man in his solitary single bles
sedness, what was the upper crust society Of
late Southern C0nfederacy-on the corner stone OF
negro slavery, 1t was sharply, aggressively and
snS soos
was intensely Southern and pre-savery. The
Cabinet rave to this society, down to its mechan-
divinity over the Cabinet was King Cotton washing.
tied nom Maryland, was strongly pro-slavery. The
chef property holders of the city were slave hold
q & Ms5S
coalition which, In the winter OF 10000, had re-
solved upon Southern President in Southern
Confederacy. In word, as the outawed abOl-
zionist Of that day expressed 1t, Washington was
absolutely under the heel Of the slave power,
and washington society was ruled by King Cotton"
And yet, as We have suggested,
THE SOCIAL RECEPTIONS
and balls OF the Winter OF 1S59-6O in Washington
were exceedingly fascinating and agreeable. Mrs
John Slidell, Mrs. DIR. Gwin, Mrs. Jacob Thompson
ana Mrs zen Davis were conspicuous ~ these en-
And their influence over the councils of the White
House was the power behind the throne greater
ladies of their southern Ring, as we may
call IT. knew that the. long debate
approaching It's concuslon-that the ultima.
tum OF Southern C0nfederacy was impending,
and they believed, from all they had seen and
pidity, that with the proclamation OF q Southern
confederacy Washington would become their capt.
tation. And hence, as II there were this deep de-
sign at the bottom, the social reunions and festiv
ties OF washington OF lSSs-60 were exceedingly gay
THE WOMEN OF THE SOUTHERN ARIsTocRAcY,
possessing all the natural attractions OF their sex
andIa Its artificial accomplishments In the highest
their southern Summer skies and ali those deli.
color and form, and light and shade, which made
the beautiful and accomplished daughters of the
southern planter the most charming of woman
kind, and which gave even to the hOmely South.
ern dOwager power OF fascination over men that
tine colder beauties Of the North could not com
mand. ID r.
The social winter, then, in Washington Of $4,000,
which marked the approach to the transition epoch
between the OLD and the new order Of things was
CONFUSION is impending over rs; let rs make the
NEST OF our present opportunt es Q long political
Lent on short ratOns AID OF many trials and pri-
yations, may be the next thing in order let u.s. at
least, have our carnival while we may enjoy it,"
appeared to be the predominant idea OF the time
DELIGHTFUL SOUTHERN RECEPTIONS
OF that Winter, the common design OF the South
ern ladies appeared to be design to impress even
upon the mind OF the struggling sboitienist these
INSTRUMENTATION irresistibly charming are these
sHess s o. Negro Slavery be
wrong; but STILL with all these strong lines OF de-
an and
tOns thus established between them. And shall
we upon an abstraction 60 to war with
OF the North are also responsible. No, while we
remember the charms and graces and kindly hos
Sid y; And yet, with all these Vaccinations the
Northern aboitionist felt 1t in his bones that In
the event 81 political i9nyTsi9n On the slavery
his back, would be NO place for him.
Under the last democratic dspensation. then
Washington society had It's last and most brilliant
season. And the test question with this society
Of ana Carlson 1s ,ess
sumner, was an interloper or an outlaw, to be
tolerated only 10 be convinced Of the error OF his
ways The inauguration OF Lincoln In the society
OF Washington marked 4o rul.C L.f
In, TIE CHAOS OF A TRANSITION EPOCH.
The old system had been overthrown. but there was
nothing to take Its place. Lncolns Inauguration
bail was like that OF the camp followers OF conquer
ing army which had come to occupy the city.
system no organzaton. fnere was sort of Of
equality apparent In the motley crowd Of carpet
re social Rers
presented the confusion OF o broken vessel on q
stormy coast, with the ravenous wreckers swarm:
ing around 10, more intent upon plumber than Of
the saving OF drowning passengers in the surf
Without covering all the approaches to the crys.
since 1861, we can say that find in 1873 the work
completed. There Is here q new order OF society,
resting not upon the corner stone of African
slavery, but upon the broader basis OF universal
liberty not upon the distinctions Of race color,
UNIVERSAL POLITICAL EQUALITY.
Neither do we find in this new social structure the
almighty nlggern superseded by the ''al-
mighty d0llar.o True we have here local Ring
known as the Board Of Public Works, the mag
mates OF which remind one In their grand festivals
OF the nush times OF the old Tammany Ring;
true, these newly born millionnares eclipse the
Cabinet In the splend0r OF their receptions; but
still men and women, who have the reputation Of
more brains than money or Credit M0bnier stock,
are welcome guests at these social reunions every
where. General Grant is I q natve-born democrat
In his social In mis- political ideas and habits and
his example in this nav organization OF Washing