The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-10


other device that can be fashioned into
silk, muslin, and paper badges. The la
dies pin ''tavors" to the coats of the gen
tlemen, and the gentlemen to the ladies
dresses, and whoever gets most is decid-
ed the belle or beau of the evening. The
figures are simply the well known changes
of the cotillon and quadrile, brought in
at the fancy or caprice of the leader. The
leader of the German is the gentleman
who has charge OF the whole affair, sig
nails the music to begin and stop, selects
the first couples, who in turn select others,
and directs the changes of the dance. He
is always selected for four great qualifica
tions his thorough lack OF knowledge OF
ANYTHING else but dancing, the smalness
of his foot, the good clothes he wears,
and the unvarying regularity with which
he parts his hair in the middle His eye
brows are trimmed and pencilled like 4
bellies; his complexion toned down to
aesthetic HUGS by pearl powder; his wills
kers brushed until they look like the
fuzzy little balls used for cleaning glass ;
and is otherwise rs taultless rs kid gloves
corsets and the tailor can make him. In
beginning to dance, he fist strikes an at
titllde painfully suggestive OF cramp, that
makes Your sympathetic nature fly of to
thoughts of pain killer and Wnslow' $
soothing syrup; nest thrcws out his ell
bows at an angle of forty-iivc degrees
clutches the cloud OF foamy muslin and
silk standing near him, and starts off in
the most frantic slides and desperate
Whirla, that give only TN occasional
glimpse Of living coat-tails and fierce,
excited face, sCcrnly resolved ON dying ut
the post OF duty rather than give way.
50 you drop Off into dreams about that
dressed up amusing little friend Of the
hand organ man, and wonder if after all
Darwin couldn't convert You to his theory
without logic or rhetoric
TO these Germans come the best, most
honorcd and wiscst Of Washington society
to be amused doubtless, and have the
cobWebs OF care chased from their brains,
partly in compliment to the hostess or the
lady chosen to receive, who is ALWAYS
from among the grand dames-the matron-
ly ladies who presides over the homes OF
the cabinet ministers and foreign ambassa-
doris, dressed in their richest and brightcs
array. On this particular evening Mrs
Robson was the hoslpss-lOycly iii an eN.
uuisite robe OF soft pcarl-grav satin with
oyerskirt and corsage of pulled gray crepe
lisse One could not imagine anything
more becoming to the fair fresh complex
ion and somewhat stout figure. But ther
how she is dressed, is what one does moi
so much consider with Mrs Robson, Il,
with some other ladies, her toilettes Al
ways being SO much part of herself, thai
one torgets all but that it was graceful ant
harmonious, and remembers only the love
ly crown of wavy gray hair, the brigh
eyes, the pleasant, winning face, and The
easy, gracious manner. Without cXccp
ton Mrs Robson is the most selt-poised
elf-possessed, and brilliant woman il
Washington, ever ready in bright, SHARP
conversation, and witty rejoinders, Among
the acknowledged bellies of Baltimore ever
in her young girlhood, She has Away
seen the best of American society, ant
holds her position as an inalienable right
without thinking about it; 50 that ONT
naturally yields Difference and homage
without any more consideration.
The past two weeks have been bus,
ones. so fan as society is concerned, here
at the Capital The near approach o
Lent is crowding the festivities thick ans
fast and already the traces Of fatigue au(
midnight hours are visible in the faces q
fashions deyotces. The grand ball OF EN
Gov Shepherd with its six hundred inyi
tations, its costly floral decorations auo
its superb supper, has been the great even
of the season, however. And in this, Il
in good many other things, the ''Boso'
carries off the palm tor aguliccnt, lavish
enterprises. The house-warming at tn,
British Legation, an entertainment giycl
by Sir Edward and Lady Thornton ha
also come in for its large share of talk
The house has recently been completed Il
an expense to the British Government o
S136, 600, and is designed as the future
residence of all the British ministers. con
tanning also the offices and apartments %
the attaches of the legation, Il thorough
and beautiful government building, pref
tly located On Connecticut Avenue, in TIL,
most fashionable part Of the west end
Yesterday gave us the first snow storm
of the season, and in sufficient quantitie
to make what is i rare thing in Washing
ton, il number Of hours OF right goot
sleighing All last evening and to-da,
the air has been vocal with iingling bells
and the merry laughter of the happy tgav
ellers. Many of the sleighing parties last
night We're accompanied by music in the
shape of volins, accordions drums au,
flies; certainly II novel idea.
Among the temporary visitors ut tn,
capitol this week has been William McC,il
very, ESQ, Of searsport, passing through
Washington en-route TO South CAROLYN
on visit to his daughter, Mrs Buck of
Bucbsvilc
Clarence Hale, ESD, Of Portland, broth
CT Of Ion Eugene Hale, has also beer
mingling in the attractive gayeties OF the
past two weeks, and looking on the ami
mated scenes of Congress. PEECIE.
Correspondence Of the journal.
NoErI HAVEN. The gale of last week broke
up the ice in our harbor, and packed it up on
the leeWarl shore. In IFS passage if took AVIAN