The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-02-13
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON,
WARRINGTON, D. c., Feb. Sth, 1875.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. Sth, 1875.
| DEAR WHIa:-The fashionable season,
according to strict religious construction
ists. 10 about drawing to close, as Lent
comes much earlier this year than is usually
the case; and rs this religious observance
commences on Wednesday of this week,
the time with some of our fashionable
votaries is very short. Although Lent does
not stop all gaieties, and preclude others
from keeping up the season much later, it
still draws very largely from society, as
some of our principal leaders of the beau
monde are either strict Catholics or Episco-
palians, to whom the observance of this
season of religious duty is as obligatory as
any tenet Of their faith. Outside of these
| there are, of course, many who are not
quite SO conscientious, and these, added to
the liberalis,s of other professions, gener-
ally manage to keep up a round of pleas
ures, until obliged to surrender through
fatigue and the exodus of strangers from
| the city.
The Presidents reception on Tuesday
evening. notwithstanding the bitter cold
weather, was, to express it as intelligibly
as can, an immense affair, and by far the
largest assembly of ladies and gentlemen
of the season. The cause Of the unusual
turn out was no doubt due to the fact that
Mrs. Sartoris was at the White House. on IA
visit from her home i'll England, and would
be present on the occasion, and as she has
not lost any of The popularity SO extensive
everybody felt pleasurable curiosity in
| welcoming her return, and of getting
| look at her. AS l have said, the crowd
was immense; everybody appeared to be
there, from the highest digDitaries, min
gled with members of the different foreign
legations. Senators, members of Congress
and their wives, newspaper men, private
citizens. and the people generally; in fact.
from the Hon. B. F. Butler and your hum
bile servant, down to John Young Brown.
! Brown Jno. Young. or Young Jno. Brown(?)
of Kentucky. The effect of such crowd
of mixed society can scarcely be conveyed
| on paper, but to one accustomed to such
scenes, it can we'll be imagined. The rooms
were brilliantly lighted and this rejecting
gu the magnificent toilets Of the ladies.
which, in point Of style and extravaganza,
were unsurpassed. presents picture su
perbly grand. To complete the descrip.
ton, it is necessary to inform your lady
readers that Mrs. Grant wore rich black
velvet with white point lace at the neck.
and white feather in her hair. Mrs
Satoris was dressed in creamy looking
silk, with wide founce of black Brussels
| lace, the tablier being formed with wreaths
of flowers and lace. Mrs. Col. Fred. Grant
wore charming toilet of salmon colored
silk. The tablier was trimmed in clusters.
with narrow flounces of silk and black lace /;
fringe the shade of the silk bordered the
| bottom and passed up the sides. The
toilets of the other distinguished ladies
present were equally elaborate and costly.
The afternoon receptions Of the wives of
| Cabinet officers during the past week were
very largely attended. Mr.. Creswell,
noticed, was among the afternoon callers.
CONGRESSIONAL.
| Ispent several evenings during the past
week attending on Congress and listening
| to the words of distilled wisdom dropping
from the lips of the members thereof. If
there is any time when l feel my heart
swell with pride for my country, and offer
up mental prayers of thanksgiving that
am an American, it is when l sit up alof.
and look down on the learned heads (mostly
bald assembled below me. Looking down
on them with chronological eye and most
of them have such lovely heads for study
ing that science-I find myself wondering
how SO much wisdom can be induced to
come here and give opinions for the pitiful
sum of fifteen dollars day. The average
Congressman, like the Indian, is noble
spectacle-at distance. This is the era
of Investigations. Some pious member who
did not get anything is bound to wake up
to the fact that some one else did, hence All
investigating committee. when everybody
will instantly forget everything they ever
knew, which operation don't think, and
| say it with all due consideration, will
occupy much time. Now don't understand
me to say that consider the average Con-
gresham ignorant. He knows enough.
but lie can't always think Of it. 1t re-
minds me Of myself at letter writing.
can think beautifully, but hanged if it
don't puzzle me to get it into shape, which
| fact interferes somewhat with the construc
ton of the letter. IT'S sad to think Of l
could weep. have wept But thanks to a
kind aud considerable friend who sent me
copy of the report of our Board Of Health;
I have looked at it and feel improved. BY
tho way, this health board has really done
some good, and may sometime or other be
worthy of support; there is netting like
the future if it isn't too future. When
they get full swing. Washington will be
the empire city for health, and the insur-
ance agent will wither away and fold up
like parchment. In fact, all things will be
even when everything is equalizrd.
OBSERVER.