Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-04-09
Correspondence.
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON. ID. C Apri

WASHINGTON. d. c., April G.
The Republican Court, and the society
which forms around it in the National
Capital, is, perhaps, seldom destitute of
women who are distinguished for wit,
beauty, and extraordinary talent. In the
White House Mrs. Washington reigned,
and became celebrated for stately dignity.
Mrs. John Adams. for strength of mind.
acumen, and literary taste; the daughters
OF Jefferson for their social virtues and
charmes; Mrs. Madison. Mrs. Quincy
Adams, Mrs. Tyler. Mrs. Polk. Harriet
Lane. and the daughters of Andrew John
son. either for beauty. modesty, good taste.
and Intelligence. were great favorites, and
In their several WAYS won attention and
due commentator.
But when the White House occupant
failed to furnish the bright particular star
for wonder or worship, society at large
made the attempt. and ordinarily with due
success. Mrs. Madison continued to reign
in fashionable circles for many wears amer
her husband retired from the Presidency.
and when plain, honest Mrs. Jackson did
not appear in the armament, the gay and
dashing. anil wonderful Mrs. Eaton. rose
TO the meridian, and turned the heads of
warriors and statesmen, created homes
and dissolved cabinets with equal and
ready facility. aud vas more of a political
magician than willy Van Buren, himself.
sketch of this lady has recently appear
ed In one of the city papers. wherein she is
treated as subject OF the olden time,
though 1t Is but dozen years since she
was about In our streets. ia good state of
mental and physical preservation. notwi,h-
standing her many misiortunes. and that
she was the victim Of many calumui.s
Old Hickory stood by her with tenacty
that nothing could shake. and SURPRISED
people not much less than they were sur
prsed by another distinguished person
eighteen hundred years before, when cap
housness became unreasonable, and cruelty
would usufp the throne OF charity and
justice.
The handsome Mrs Stephen A. Douglas
shone In the social heavens for n bri.f
period as a star of the frs; magnitude. and
The rival OF Harriet Lane. and since these
TWO. the gems OF the evenin. have not
been accepted so much for personal bcauty
a, Tor wit or worth. Daring the war I'M,
women OF the hospital gained a degree of
admiration akin 20 that accorded Florence,
Nightingale In the trimea. and the bene.
diction of the sick and diving soldier on
thousands of the ministering female spirits
in and around Washington, was hut inc
concentrated essence aud expires, sion of
nations gratitude and thanks, fully merited
ana more than fairly won. Some Of these
noble women are now In the Departments
ani some arc yaIHly eHdcaSoIihs to get In.
the gratitude OF tie male official having
considerably exhausted itself. Even the
wounded soldier. who would have had
the glory Of dying for his country but for
the unwearied care and devotion of the
stray angel of the hospital, has been
known 10 forget the debt and make point
against soldiers widow for the benefit OF
MS own favorite. or otherwise in his own
interest
Among the most conspicuous and 49,
peclaliy brilliant lights of ihe present ar.
10 be accounted Grace Greenwood AMI
Mrs. Ames, who have given dramatic en-
tertainments severa! time. lately 10 crovJ
ed audiences in Lincoln Hail. In surh
characters as Tabiiha Tatile. and the raj.
OF very ancient females, Grace has no
superior on the stage: her limitations of
the cracked voice, and fearful eve. and
penetrating insight being Inimitable. In
tragic presentations Mrs. Ames excels. and
together they give satisfactory entertain
ment.
The galleries OF Congress. since the
death of Sumner. have been quite deserted
The debate. have h..
roads mostly, afording but little play Of
Imagination, and ~ "---- -'-.'.,,Is
enough ~ f-;rL.en Delna or Young The
birth Of the Bureau of Statistics Is likely
10 prove the death of Congressional
eloQuence.
Ia the Sanborn contract business. the
Committee have examined the Secretary
OF the Treasury. and the Assistant Secrc-
tary, Hon. +. \. Sawyer. From the state
ment OF Mr.. Richardson, il appears that the
original contracts were made by Mr.. Bout
well, and the others were signed BY him as
renewals or matters of form. The asser-
tons constantly made tina, Mr. SAWYER
had clande,tinely pushed the act authoriz-
ing the contracts through the Senate, and
since had shown an undue haste and inter
est In helping Sanborn. was effectuall, put
to rest. Mr. Sawyer testified that he did
not engineer the matter in the Senate, did
not lmake the motion TO allow the con-
tracts 10 be made had 10 conferences with
Sanborn, or any one in the interests OF the
contractors, and, as member Of the con-
ference committee on the part of the SEN
ate, he only did what all members DO.
stand up for the provisions which the body
they represent have passed. Mr. Sawyer
is very popular. able. and highly respect
ed officer, and those who know him Will
readily believe his testimony. The Pres-
dent has appointed him on the Centennial
Commission TO represent the United States
The Atlantic for April. in an article by
ID. \. Wells. contains ridiculous libel on
Hon. John Cessna. of Philadelphia, as
false as it is uncalled for. Mr. Cessna is
regarded as one of the most upright men
in Congress, and the absurd insinuation of
Wells is utterly without foundation. Even
MIR. Dawes eXonerated him from the i'm
putat'on recklessly revived by the .iua,..ic.