The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-24
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
The Centennial Tea Party In the Rotunda
OF the Capitol.
The Big Bugs Present.
The Man with Six Wives.
Grant, Robson & Co.

Grant, Robson & Co.
WASHINGTON, Dec. II, 1874
Well I've assisted at q regular "crush,
and this morning finds me in the condition
which I might expect, after being Jammee
and hustled, snd down-trodden for three
mortal hours; but then it was the Centennia
"Tea Party" which, of course, newspaper
woman could not miss. Suppose my eyes d.
feel as if the "sandman" had done his worst
suppose my head does ache, and, worse thar
that, suppose my founces show direct traces
Of sundry encounters with masculine boots
there is my "tea-cup," the one trophy of The
occurrence, and have memory Of tn e mosi
brilliant gathering ever saw. .s.-..,.--
Every days experience increases our id
miration for our magnificent Capitol, for every
day shows to us some new beauty, but last
night when that glorious dome was SO bright.
ly illuminated, revealing the browning fres.
Goes in their full richness Of coloring when
the flags Of all nations clustered together, with
their contrasting tints when Christmas greens
were 30 tastefully twined around every pillar
or balustrade and then, when weary of look
ing upward we only looked round and were
bewildered with so much that was charming,
We didn't care 1.-two headaches came, or if our
drspery we're ruined utterly, and if we had
only been an american eagle" we would
have spread our pinions to the utmost, and
screamed out the delight for which we had no
words.
During the day workmen were very busy,
giving various tight rope performances as they
swung from point to point. and we could note
the devices decorating each table. Some of
them were very fine, and We had looked for
ward to perfect feast Of "items when the
evening should bring the fair attendants who
were to sell the "tes." The evening came,
and SO did our carriage. We had secreted q
bit of lead pencil, nicely sharpened, and sew
eral blank writing cards, expecting to retire
soon, and then to some committee room on
business purposes The tickets bought at
tho door were very pretty, bearing lovely
vignette Of the Capitol. We passed on, gave
mp the pictures before we had half looked at
them, and employed all our energies in cling
ing with one hand to our escorts coat sleeve,
while with the other we held both our shawl
and that abomination, court train.
Doubtless they are elegant when properly
managed, when there is an abundance Of
room, but, 0 dear the muscle we expended in
holding that thing from the dusty floor during
that dreadful passage to the rotunda. A
Fourth Of July crowd when the fireworks
are TO be especially fine, is nothing to the
''jam into which we entered. A tableau Of
promenaders rs arranged there would be
worthy Of Hogarth. One poor Congressman
had lady on each arm. He was compare
lively tall the ladies were comparatively
short. He was their sole defense. and one
couldn't help laughing to watch the express
sion on those three faces OF course, they
bad to wear conventional smile, and "make
believe" they were happy, but the anxious
look was quiteas easily discerned, and the poor
man struggled on, trying to salute his friends,
while his two appendages were half the time
at arms length behind him.
1t was impossible to get near the table then,
% We devoted our attention to the notables |
NAN WITH SIX WIVES.
"Now, if you want TO see man with six |
wives, look there! said our friend, and We |
looked. The gentleman from Utah has
pleasant face, a decidedly fine figure and
looked as serene as if he never had mother
in-law or never was kept awake by Caudls
lectures. Probably his spouses are far too
we'll trained for that don't imagine he has
brought either Of the ladies here; their social
position could hardly be a pleasant one, yet
Society gives him a greeting! There are more
mysterious things in our experience of LIES
tricks and manners" than Solomon ever
hOught OF enumenting.
Boss Shepherds tall form lowered above
surrounding men, and we wondered if he did
make rs much money out of these pavements
- common report asserts Whether he did
OF no. they are certainly the incest streets in
the Union, either for foot or horse. Riding
here is . positive luxury, without the dread
full jolting one gets in other Cities and the
unfortunate with corns blesses the " Boss.
We Gu. across AVENUES and streets whenever
and wherever we choose with refreshing in
dependence; but that isn't in the "tea party.
There is the granddaughter Of Lafayette"
said our guide. We don't mean to be ILL
nAtured We certainly are not envious of the
lady's antecedents but she is undeniably
''homely in spite Of her rank.
Members Of the royal suite from "the
kingdom by the sea-" with unspellable
names were in attendance. We had a peen
- AA4nrnox Ganeral Will;anas A.A