, 1877-03-03
OUR wAsn,mcrom LETTER.

/
rent rumor : The Electoral Commission
Probability OF q nep election In No
rember ne1t
| WASHINGTON. D. c., Feb. IA. 1877
The advent of Lent is hailed with de-
light by the majority of our society peo
pie, who have, BY this time. became
we'll nigh worn out by the constant.
never-ceasing. round Of receptions.
dinner parties. balls. and entertainments.
private aud public. Of all sorts. which
marks the '.season" in Washington.
FJr forty days. rest and repose will
reign supreme; the weary may recuper>
ate. visiting lists may be revised, the
events of the past three months of
gsyety may be reviewed at leisure; and
politics will take the place of gossip at
the breakf .st table. Despite all that is
said to the contrary. the past season has
been gay. and it wound up last night
in manner befittipg the occasion.
Owing to the unsatisfactory and unset
tied condition Of political affairs. we
have, this year. had fewer grand parties
than usual; but. on the other hand there
has been large increase to the number
Of dinner parties small "Germans."
breakfasts. and lunches. The breakfast
parties have seemingly taken the place
of the ''kettle drums" of last season,
which were not success, soci lily; these
'breakfasts" are usually announced for
one O'Clock. and the menage differs In
nothing from the lunches. One given
last week by general and Mrs. Wat
mough to party Of eigh ecu was ex-
cepiionaily brilliant, the bouquets
which graced the table being composed
entirely o. rosebnds and lilies of the
valley. On Wednesday evening. Sena-
tor and Mrs. Bayard gave dinner to a
large number of their friends; aud the
snme evening. General Albert Meyer, of
the Signal Service. (better known as
"Old Probabilities" entertained cir
Gle of friends at dinner. Thursday eve-
ming. Senator Sharon. of Nevada. gave
Il superb dinner at the Riggs House,
where he has apartments; and on Sat-
urday. Secretary Fish entertained his
friends at dinner. Not day has passed
without some not b!e dinner party; so
who can wonder that it is with sense
of relief we bid adfeu to ''Shrovetide"
and turn our backs upon the festivities
aud frivolities Of the gay season.
Meanwhile. preparations are being
made for the Inauguration, on March
9TH next, of our new President; but as
1t is as yet. not settled to the entire
and absolute satisfaction OF either po-
i'jcal party ,oho that will be. the severa
committees (some OF which are Demo-
cratic and some Republican, labor un
der some disadvantage. 1t has always
been customary to signalize the inau
garation of President by a grand ball
given in his honor, and at the last in
auguration Of President Grant, four
years ago, a spacious building was erect-
ed TO. that purpose iE judiciary Square
Owing. however, to the mixed-up con-
dltion of affairs. it is highly probable
that there will be no Inauguration bal
this time, although strenuous efforts
are being made by the aforesaid com
mittees to effect some sort of compro~
mise arrang sment. whereby the success
fui candidate, whoever he may be. shall
be inaugurated with all due festivities
and formalities. the ball not excepted.
A similar difficulty has been expe:ien
ced i'll providing lodging. at the hotels.
for the members of the numerous civil
and military organizations. from al
parts of the country. who have gwen
notice of their intention to be present
and participate in the parade on inau-
guration day. because the Republican
clubs aud organisations sent word hat
tn ey she uld desire accommodation only
in the event OF Mr.. Hayes being inaug-
urated. while those of the Democratic
proclivities have no desire to be present
except to grace the Inauguration Of Mr..
Tilden with their presence. Finally it
was decided to pair off," SO that IN
any event the hotel keepers will be Sc :
cure and have the apartments occupied; !;
but whether with Republicans or D. mo-
Gratis is, as yet. matter of conjecture.
At the White House. everything is,
Just now. in that state of disorder which
characterizes all households Oh break
ing up preparatory to moving away.
Carpenters are at work iu the basement,
making huge boxes for the packing of
President Grants private furniture and
household articles. and Mrs. Grant. aid-
ed by her daughter. whi.om known a.
Nellie. but now as Mrs. Snrtoris. is PACK.
ing away her furs, laces. and state
dresses in trunks and cedar wood chests
preparatory to bidding farewell to the
Presidential Mansion which suon shall
know her no more. Doubtless it is
| with heavy heart she prepares to