The Republican journal., 1875-12-09
Letter from Washington.
Correspondence Of the journal.


of dancing, dressing, visiting and merry-maling
during the coming winter, or until the somber
Lenten season shall compel to qtlictcr colors
and more devotional modes of life. Among the
first to ''lead off, in this alluring round of fes-
tivities are the ladies of st. Paul anu Epiphany
churches, in grand festival to be held during
the opening week of Congress in aid Of their
respective societies. Already the papers are
hlled With glowing accounts OF the many rich,
rare, and racy things that are to be seen and
heard, and long lists of attractive articles of
sale calculated to largely depIee the pockets of
the purchasers, but increase the fund for dis
pensing more Of that . true religion" which
Byron considered as the second best essential
to contented, peaceful mind. There are to be
tables representing the different natonaliies of
the earth, and still other various characteristics
of American life, such as the big Bonanza"
Queen Cotton etc. At one of these Amer
lean tables Miss Gouyerner. the great grand
daughter of President Monroe, is to appear re-
presenting Mrs. Monroe. and dressed in her
distinguished ancestres>' linery, together with
the Jewels worn by President Monroe at the
court of France. What a charming little para
graph that last Item makes for the newspapers.
| have seen it in dozen or more already.
How we all do hunger and thirst after such
personal nowledge. Wandering up and down
the length and breadth Of the land, how many
bright eyes will lnger over its enchantment.
how many rosy lips murmur for The greatness
how many hearts sigh for the glare and the glit-
mour. unnlnitul Of the poets Injunction that
ind hearts ara r,,oro ,l,,,
ana simple faith than Norman blood
or if they are. willing to risk the faith and
break the hearts for Just taste of the enicng
Whlrl OF power and pleasure that fingers around
the presence of Il successful woman of fashion
and society. Miss (iouvcrner is doubtless ii very
nice individuals; at least, it is to be hoped there
are no Wrinkcd rose leaves in her pathway. and
that her happiness is rs real rs her Jewels and
her ancestry But very frequently there is a
reverse side 10 these attractive pictures that
iloW so easily ffum the seductive pens of bright
correspondence reverse that is proyokingIy
suggestive of the price one pays for greatness.
and aggraN atnglv rcmindful Of the homcly old
adage about 'contcnted mind" keeping one
III Il perpetual performance of 9astron0mic
teats. a reverse that is sometimes groteSque
IN its ridiculous aspirations and attempts, and
sometimes sadly eloquent Of ruined hopes and
thwartcd ambitons-for too much ambition has
Killed as many Caesars in the feminine world Us
in the rougher ranks of the inaScuncs.
There has been. perhaps, in late years, no
more striking ease of this than in the life of
Kate Chase, afterwards Mrs. Sprague En-
dowcd by nature with more than ordinarily
active brain, with Il bright, quick perception
Of character. and courter-like adaptation to
place ana events. assisted by youth, beauty,
culture and position she naturally took high
rank in official society here at the capitol and
became at once one of the most cnluted, sought,
battered and envied Of leaders. And never
queen held willing subjects more rcgally or
more gracefully, with rarer tact or gentlrr
courtesy. But this was no more satisfying to
the restless ambition than is Il seat i'll the Ma
ttonal House of Representatives to n man of
like genius and aspirations. once having tasted
the Intoxicating cup of power his lryerish
thirst can never more be quenchrtl, but on on.
| the alluring goddess ever bids him. So Kate
Chase. fixing her eyes upon the White House.
| lon@ed with all the intenne>s of IN intense ma
turc to Wear the honors of the first lady Of the
land, and to hold the quecnship of all American
| society. And it is well known that the Chief
Justice, with all his desires for the coveted DO
sltion, was far behind his daughter in her am
bilious aspirations. One long and intimately
associated with Mr. Chase Suv, his first utter
| ancc on beng informed Of his defeat in the
Convention was, sDocs Kate know it," cx-
| pressing far more feeling on her account than
| his own, and remarkin@ that his disappoint-
| ment would be is nothing compared to hers
! His prediction proved true, and an acclmula-
| llon OF defeated hopes sent Mrs. Sprague to an
| Indefinite absence abroad, rs embttered and
| disappointed woman as ever lived. Sucreed-
| ing to the Donors Mrs Sprague had dropped is
| Dead Sea fruit. came another who. though not
| TO the manor born" was yet gifted by nature
| 10 Just rs rare IN extent, and with even more
| Wondrous power OF beauty and personal mag
| nct>in, and who went far up the social scale
| but short lived was the triumph and the power.
| Even now her star paes before newer lights
the Ncnomcd shafts of malice rankle deeply.
and the poisoned dreg> Of envy have made bitter
| the once sweet cup, though she bears it all with
actmness and III courage that in Il nober cause
~
| Coming step down the ladder Is to be found
| Il class of women who bear comparison to these
royal leaders us Il iiftl-rate Congressman to n
Daniel Webster or Il Henry Clay. They are
Within the shining circle, but only Us attendant
satellites upon the central lumnary. Lacking
the brain and the culture TO shine by their own
hight, they can only reflect in u feeble way the
glory Of others. But their petty ambitions are
none the less irritating, for It's the small things
of life that do most atflict and annoy. Driven
oftentimes to the most desperate resorts to
| maintain the slippery footing the life they lead
is anything but to be coveted by one desiring
peace of mind and comfort Of body. A lacly
whose husband does not possess the purse of
Fortunatas, but whose dressing is Il marvel of
taste, richness and elegance, told me short
time since that She had been locked up in her
| rooms for two weeks, denied alike to friend
and stranger, producing Il beautiful and artistic
robe that would do credit to the creative genius
OF the Partisan Worth, and which will be worn
as such at some Of the coming grand rcccp-
tons. limiting that it was a work to be proud
Of rather than ashamed, was met with the
| eager alSwer-''Not for worlds No indeed, it
would never do to have it Known that make
| the dresses for which am 50 much praised. l
should lose caste at once Think OF being
thus obliged to bury the one talent God has
given.
An amusing incident in this vaciating, flick
erng, undesirable society life happened here
last winter. Two schoo-marms - one from
Vermont the other from Boston, had possessed
themselves of hu>band>-a thing which may
digress to say school marms don't very fire.
quently do; 50 don't follow that profession, my
young lady readers, if you would marry to
make some unfortunate man happy But these
school-marms had been among the lucky num-
bers in the grand lottery, and by a combination
of fortunate circumstances arrived in Washing
ton-the Vermont teacher as the wife of a car
not hartrnl. from the sunny South the nthnr