The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-28
Washis gton Letter.

the perplexiq question OF the Presl-
'dency must b; settled "for better or for
worse Tie days pass quickly and
preparations are in progress for the
various changes that must take place.
more preparations, doubtless, than the
generality Of the people are aware of,
many in ,nimaginable quarters and for
unthougtt of reasons. Arrangements
for the vacating of the White House
have been made by the family whose
home il has been for the last eight
years, and who have seen more family
changes there than have ever been ex-
perienced at the executive mansion
during any other Presidential term.
The President and Mrs. Grant will
leave the White House on the Sd of
March, and will become the guests Of
Secretary and Mrs. Fish, at whose resi-
dence they will remain till the first of
April, when they will begin Il travelling
tour which will extend Through the
western part of our own country thence
to Cuba and Europe. Mr.. and Mrs.
Sartoris will this week take up their
abode with Mrs Louis Dent, of this
city, where they will remain till May
and then sail for Europe.
Mrs. Sartoris has had an unprece-
denied experience; having passed her
eirlhood-as Nellie Grant-in the
White House, crossed the ocean and
been received at foreign courts with
much honor as the daughter Of Ameri-
cas- highest agistrate-married, he
came mother, lost her little enc, and
is still under twenty years Of age.
Poor thing! She has never known the
freedom and careless Joy Of childhood,
the truest and purest jov a person can
know in this life. She was dragged in
to society while she was hardly more
than baby, and there she has always
remained.
Col. Fred Grant, who has been in
Washington two winters, engaged in
making copies Of the records of General
Sheridan's headquarters destroyed in
the Chicago fire, will return to the
Lieutenant-Generars headquarters at
Chicago without delay. The data
which he has been collecting embraces
not only the official records Of the head
quarters, but also the necessary mater
1al for a full and concise history of
Sheridan and his connection with the
war of the Rebellion.
Ulysses Grant, Jr., who has been the
PresiIent's private Secretary, will leave
for New York on the 5th of March, to
begin the practice of law with the firm
of which he is now a member. The
other son--and youngest child Of the
Presidents in college. 1t has been
announced that no more receptions,
levees, or public entertainments Of any
kind will be given by President Grant,
not even the farewell dinner to the cabi-
net that has been talked Of and expected.
The omission Of the usual Presiden-
tial levees this winter has been the SUBJ
ject Of much comment, but sufficient
reason for it exists in the fact of the
excited state Of feeling incident to the
political contest between the friends of
the candidates for the succession. The
statement that the President intends
making Washington his future home
has been contradicted, and the assertion
made (upon what authority l cannot
say that he has come to no such decis-
ion and that his late purchase of Il
house here was made only to relieve
parties who had purchased the ground
from him which his own house partly
occupies.
Monday and Thursday OF last week
were completely filled with gayety, sew
eral entertainments of the most brilliant
sort being given both days and evenings,
on account Of their being considered the
last available opportunities for festivi-
ties before Lent. But the customary
change N social matters does not seem
to have taken place since the advent of
the Lental season, the only observable
difference being that the ladies who re.
ceive during Lent are careful not to
tempt their guests to break the fast
they are supposed to be keeping by Of
fering them even such l;oht rafrosb