Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-02-23
THE RATIONAL CAPITAL.
SOciety-LOyeIy women and Brave
Men-The Inauguration.

SOciety-L9veIy women and Brave
Men-The Inauguration.
To the Union and American
WASHINGTON CITY, D. c., Feb. Is, 1873.
From amid such multiplicity Of subjects
constantly presenting themselves to one So
journing in the national capital, it is ex-
tremely difficult to make selection. We
become wearied of the world of politics and
Investigations, even when they are as spicy
as the Credit Mobilier and the Warmoth-
Pinchback muddle, and feel thankful that
we can turn from the deserts and arid
wastes of political life to the green fields and
sunny slopes of the general and social
world. We think too that an occasional
letter touching on general and social topics
ought to prove interesting to your lady
readers of paper. They like to have now
and then pen portrait, poor though it may
be, of the feminine divinities alternating
and resident here.
THE INAUGURATION.
The theme of every tongue a. present is
the approaching Inauguration. Vast pre-
parations are being made and from what
we hear and see, the next inauguration is
likely to prove the most brilliant in the his
tory of our country. A committee of ar
udc DCCu dppOl1JCN AAOLu
among the best citizens of Washington, ir-
respective of party, and every thing is to be
done to make it complete success. The
grand Avenue, in its entire length, is to be
festooned with arches Of flowers and ever
greens, at all the intersecting streets. There
will be magnificent display of the mill
tary, numbering some $4,000 men. The
Cadet corps from West Point, tue Marines
from the Academy at Annapolis and COM
panies of well-drilled soldiers from Boston,
Chicago, New York and other cities will
participate. On the night of the 4sh takes
place the inaugural ball, which is uniVer-
sally believed will excel any thing OF the
kind ever before witnessed in this country.
A building is already under process of con-
struction for the purpose, at cost of fifty
thousand dollars, capable of giving dancing
room to ten thousand people; such bril-
liant scene as will be presented that night
is indeed bewildering to contemplate, and
almost beyond the pale of Imagination. Al
ready the hotels are rapidly filing up with
strangers, and in the lapse OF another fort
night it will be impossible either for love
or "filthy lucre" to obtain so much as q
spot wheron to lay the "weary head"
A BRILLIANT AFFAIR.
Society has been on the alert for some
time past in expectancy of Miss Stewart's |
grand ball, which came off Thursday night |
last, and all unite in saying that it was spar |
ercelIence' the mos5 gorgeous entertain |
ment of the season. Miss Bessie Stewart, |
it must be remembered, is the fair-haired, |
blue-eyed daughter of the Senator from |
Nevada, and granddaughter of Gov. Foote,
of our State. The Masonic Temple was |
the scene of the brilliant ball. The room |
was festooned and arched with eVergreens |
and flowers, and from the musicians stand |
in many graceful fold fioated or rather
suspended the ''starry" banner and flags of
other nations. From the ceiling were also
suspended innumerable cages containing |
cdnaries, whose sweet notes mingled with |
the delightful strains of splendid band of |
music. Such fairy scene, such an en-
chanted vision as was then presented but !
rarely bursts upon the sight of mortals. |
PALM trees, lines, the banana, in fact every |
tropical plant was to be found in the ball |