The Republican journal., 1876-01-06
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1st, 1876

with all ifs burden Of calls and onerous
official duties, and is being ushered in
with more than usual pomp and ccre-
mony on this beginning OF the Nations
grand Centennial. And yet the first OF
each succeeding year isscelebrated as the
day of all days here, when everybody,
from the President down, turn themselves
into vast community of visitors and Wis
tied. The President acknowledged con-
stltutionally and socially as the first gen
tleman of the land, of course takes precc-
uence, and receives by right and courtesy
the first visit of the day. For this grand
occasion the White House is put in gala
dress from top to bottom, and to the al
ready elegant attractiyeness of sumptuous
anu costly appointments are added the
perfume and righteousness of rare and
choice floral decorations, heaped and
multiplied in every direction. whilst soft
ly in the distance sweet music lends the
power Of its own peculiar charm to the
gay and gorgeous scene. The East
Room is the particular centre of attrac-
ton, and here His EXcellency, assisted
by his Secretary and the Chief Marshal of
the District stands to receive his guests,
whilst i'll the Blue Room his wife, accom-
panied by as many ladies as she chooses
to select, goes through the same courtly
ceremony over again First come the
dress Of black pants and dress coat, white
vest and cravat delicately tinted kid
gloves, immaculate linen and polished
boots, looking as stately and imposing as
possible, and with them the Members of
the Diplomatic Corps, also in full dress,
and with all badges, insignia and trap
pings Of rank and office, i glittcring and
conspicuous hody-these at eleven O'Clock
precisely. At half past eleven come the
Judges of the Supreme Court, dignilied
and solemn in their long black silken
| robes, and Just after them the Senators
and Representatives Of the United States,
all in full evening dress. At twelve
o'clock the officers OF the army and navy,
fixed out in their dazzling, snowy. full
dress uniform, are admitted and received
| in turn according to their rank. A hall
! hour later the assistant secretaries OF the
various departments, chiefs OF bureaus,
and other officials are ushered tn, and
! Immediately after the soldiers and vote
rams Of the wars Of 1872 and 1916. And
| then at one, after these two long hours OIL
| pomp and precedence, the plain people
| are let in for still another sixty minutes
| to look at and shake hands with theil
| Chief Magistrate. Just think Of being
obliged to stand tor three mortal hours
with arm and hand IN the position of {
pump handle, to be shaken up and dowr
by all manner and sorts Of people, in al
manner and sorts of ways, reflect thai
this is only one OF many similar perform
ances that must be gone through will
| during the congressional session, ant
thank your stars for the blessed privilege
Of quiet citizenship.
| From one to four the Cabinet Minister:
receive, and as with the President, the
Diplomatic Corps and Supreme Judge:
are the first to come, then the Senator:
and Representatives, and after then
| ,jS of no a,hn old 'hI
Judges do not receive officially, but theil
wives and daughters, as well as every
| lady in the city, from Senatorial dignity
down to the humblest individual, whoever
owns q house OF rents a room, expect t
receive at least a few friends on this grea
tcstal day. Very few are found too poo
to provide u simple cake and something
nice to drink, if it be only plain coffee OIL
| lemonade; whilst the officials and The
rich vie with. each other in the magnii
| cence and costliness of their entertain
ments, The first point of emulation i:
the number OF calls-thc one case where
the all important question Of dress is SUI
perseded by something of more conse
quence. TO receive anything less tina
fifty calls is to indicate yourself only or
the very outer ring of the favored circle
of society," and from this number they
ascend upwards, according to the wealth
and prominence of the individual. to the
thousands Of the President
But do not understand me Us meaning
to say that dress does not play an mpor
tant part on this happy day. On the con
| trary, the most beautiful costumes ant
| toilets OF the season are aired to tho
many admiring visitors, and modistcs ant
| needleWomen are kept in u state of un
| ceaslng activity for months, as the cater
ers and cooks are constantly busy for as
many days, in looking after the wants o
| the inner man. The tables are loaded
down with every luxury and delicacv ii
| the shape of cold turkey chickens, oys
ters, sandwiches, salads, cakes, fruits
CONNECTIONS, wines and liquors, served NJ
in every choice and possible way to the
! expense Of hundreds and frequently thou
sands Of dollars. The wines alone of the
| reception of a prominent official last yeal
cost one thousand dollars, not includin o
other liquors OF the more solid eatabes
of which there was 4 lavish and tempting
display When one considers that these
| entertainments are repeated on the same
and smaller scales several times during
the winter, they begin to realize that it is
an expensive luxury to serve ones coun-
tly-at least acceptably and gracefully
TO you who invite in your few chosen
and trusted friends, and treat them to the
best and choicest that YOU have in very
heartiness and earnestness, this seems
like empty, sheerest nonsense; but here,
even dominant over the incessant whirl,