The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-01-13
QUE WASHINGTON LETTER.
From an Occasional Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 5, 1876.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 5, 1876.
"Hali full grown Giant, seventy-six,
This, thy Centennial natal NOM
A babe one hundred years ago
Ny country, thou god vast born"
The Centennial Year was inaugurated Mt
January 1st, 1876, by the glare of
oonfires, the flight of rockets, the booming
of ofcannons, the ringing of bells, the screams
of steam-whistlcs, and all the noisy demon
,trations civilization has learned to employ
10 evincc patriotism or personal jubilation.
The avenue, tho main promenade of this
city, was blaze of light from the Capitol to
the White House, the house fronts adorned
with the national flag, while the street win
dows were brilliantly illuminated, even if in
The perspective the unwonted light was
dimmed by n winter fog. Crowds
thronged the sidewalks as at noOn-day, and
exultant shouts rent the air, awaking o glow
of patriotic ador in the moving mass that
shone from glad eyes and heightened color.
While this was the scene below, from the
lofty tower of Metropolitan church, (the
Court church Of Washington pcaled forth
chimes upon the well-tuned bells
Of that fame, according to programme, adap-
ted to the joyful occasion and harmonizing
with the sentiments of the listeners--some
Of the airs being requiem to the old, others
q welcome to the new year. In addition to
the outdoor observances in most, if not all,
the Methodist churches, including the tenn
perance organizations of Sons of Jonadab,
proper religious and festive customs were
hold. The morning of the new year dawned
with cloud and gloom, while fog brooded
as mantle over the glad homes of our dem
izens; yet, notwithstanding this inauspi-
ciousnes, the Sound of revelry," present
and anticipated, made itself heard and soon
the streets were alive, making glad the OPEN
ing year.
At noon the sun shone forth in all his
majesty, and his warm rays and the air
balmy as early Spring seemed to touch all
feelings, while fancy took us back to South
ern lands, where skies are blue and summer
loves to linger. AS high noon approached
many steps were directed to the White
House, where, according to custom, the
Chief of the Nation Chats the nomencla-
ture of the time) stands up before the gather
ing throng to shake hands and pass the holi-
day greetings. At II q. m. the President re-
ceiyed his Cabinet and the several foreign
Ministers. The latter were attired in the
court dresses of their nationalities, and shone
with a dazzling splendor, out-rivaling the
costumes of the ladies. Then followed Sen
ators, Representatives, Judges, Officers Of
the Army and Navy and minor officials, and
last, as nearest the centre of revolution,
came citizens and strangers, not to show the
inferiority of the masses, but simply that
while they are omnipotent at the ballot-bo1
they have no standing at the Republican
Court All could crowd. the sacred pre-
cincts, irrespective of color or previous con-
dition. After this central reception came
many of lesser note, from Cabinet Ministers
down to the expcctant young Miss, who
anxiously occupied her parlor, delighted if
one or two nascent youth should call to
pay their respects on the happy new year.
Therefore. this is real gala day among the
ladies, and many who could afford it land
many more who could not) held the yearly
reception, and gladly welcomed such male
..~,,,;ntoaoo, nc oo11od Tho ouarooa voupO
man is supposed to make hundred calls on
this day at least, and more if possible-the
greater the number the more remarkable the
achievement. He rings, hands his card, is
ushered into the presence, utters the compG-
ments of the season, eats and picks ut cake,
&C., very little, but perhaps is less fastidi-
Jus as to drinking, and then bows himself
of to another scene to repeat the process,
gill at last he reels into an early bed, with
heart and head swimming under the un-
wonted excitement, fortunate if nature re-
Nieves itself by the means adopted by the
whale to get rid of Jonah, and thus insure
night of rest to end debauch. Many anus
ing incidents attend these calls. In the
upper walks they are attended with conside-
rable expense for fashionable clothes, car
riages, gloves, &c. On the descending grade
this is lessened, of course, but genteel pov-
crty resorts to many shifts to ape the shod-
dy. In one case that was related to me, o
young man, fashionable hummer, who
had the reputation of having pawned his
overcoat to hire opera-glasses for the theatre,
called OH young lady, deliberately took
his seat at the table, made q bold and valiant
attack on tho refreshments, which lasted
while ten OF more gentlemen called and
made their respects. The young lady was
Mortified at his violation of the proprieties,
but excused his devotion to the table, on the
supposition that he rarely got good square
rneal After that initial call it is hardly
that he completed the remaining
NINETY -and-nine" To the young all this
seems gay and festive, and deyotees of fash
ion ore loud in applause of these scenes OF
the Capital, where leader vies with leader in
recherche entertainments. 1t has another
phase-the economic; those who are able
to bear the expense get off with the loss OF
what they can easily spare; but their exam
pie is cmulatcd by families of less abundapt
means, and every dollar of expense thus en-
TITLED is distracted from after necessaries,
and often results in crushing debts, which
are borrowing, speculation, bankruptcy or
crime. Expensive official life in Washing
ton is evidence of the absence of prudence,
and marks the decay of American virtue
and precursor of the overthrow of liberty
Rome is the illustration. Besides, these
snturnalia are unsatisfying. AS we age, VIC
look back upon the new years OF long ago,
nnd while we remember that fancy painted
such occasions rs the ''maddest, merriest
days." our sterner experience tells us now
that those were dreams aAd delusion, while
realities start up before our onward journey
gray and barren.
The political outlook is different from for
,,ooro ond fo,r con nnnptrate the turn of