Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-11

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and clothe 1t with language interesting e
read. Attending the debates OF Congress on a
day when subject OF consequence was to be
discussed. I LEFT the House fun of contempt OF
lis eioquence and the paucity of talent EN-.
ployed 1or the support or condemnation OF the
| question. Notwithstan ding this, 1 saw IN the
next mornings paper that debate took place
III the House last night Of the most Interesting
nature agitated by all the talent OF the cum
! try! Here follow certainly eloquent orations
not sentence OF which ever passed 10 the
House / had the misfortune to attend the
| Congre IS at another time, when the scene was
more noisy and turbulent than at any OF your
eiectioneertng hustings. Mr.: Lyon, of Viz
| gin1a, now or Kentucky, not being able TO dis
prove the argument of an opponent spit
! directly in bis face this the other resented ny
running to the fire and catching up a hot POKER,
| AID Ia short time nearly killed his opp0n INT.
The congress Is violent. vulgar assembly
/. state AFFAIRS
DESCRIPTION OF MRS. MADISON.
The "Wanderer in Washington" gives the
! foio"ing description OF Mrs. Madison:
She was digni1ed and majestic: perhaps a
! niue TOO ef1bonpo'nt, foad or society, easy and
alianie In her manners and humane and gener-
| please all who might visit her, and ali were
| pleased. from the most exalted TO the most
hnmoie. She had peculiar tact In ingrattat-
! ing herself into the good opinion Of her visit
| tors, who never failed to admire as much as
| they loved her. There WAS nothing In her
| manner that looked like condescension or Dor
the appearance OF real kindness and seemed 10
! spring from sincere desire TO oblige and 10
gfat1y thoSe who came TO see her. To strangers
dnd such as discovered any degree OF diff tenca
and aWkwardness, she was particularly asSld
uots In her attentions ana soon masa them fee
aeIlectly at ease. She never sat. but Away
moved ABOUT the rooms from one group to an
other and employed herself In entertaining the
company In every possible variety or manner.
hsr memory was SO tenacious that after
s'Iglt INTRODUCTION she could name every gen.
lady that int rnd cod
TO her, Her feelings were like those Of her
husband, altogether republican, and II she
mace any distinction, it was In favor of such as
we're In the more humble walks OF life."
her 1eyee In February, 1S16. WAS the most
brilliant ever held at the Executive Mansion
Chief Justice Marshall and the associate JUS
tlceS or the Supreme Court were present In
lnelr gowns. The Peace Commissioners to
Chez L Gallatin, Bayard, Clay and Russell
were present. Generals Brown, Gaines. Scott
and Ripley, with their aids, heroes OF the war
OF 1872 and In full dress uniform graced the
assembly. The Diplomatic Corps made a bril-
IapI display, and Sir Charles Bagot, special
efhDaSSadOr from Britain, Notwithstanding
TO make amends for Cockburn-that Mrs. Madl-
SOn looked every Inch queen"
DINNER AT PRESIDENT MADIsoN's.
a dinner at President Madison's and g
naval ball is thus described In a letter by Mrs.
seaton: son Tuesday. William and l repaired
10 the palace" between four and five O'clock
our carriage setting us down afte- the first
Il
on Whatever occasion to advance to the upper
end or the room, pay your obeisance to Mrs.
Mad!son courtesy to his highnesa and take
seat; after this ceremony. being at liberty to
speak TO acquaintance or arnuse yourself as at
ahotNer party The party already assembled
cor sisted OF the Treasurer Of the United States;
hir. Russell the American minister to England;
Mr. Cults, brOther-ln.laW TO Mrs. Madison;
Gen. Van Ness and family; Gen. Smith and
daughter, from New York; Patrick Magruders
ran y: Col. GoodWine and daughter: Mr.
WaC
Irving, the author of "kGickerOocker' and
.'Saln'agundi; Mr.. Thomas. an European; Mr..
Iolloexttf; william X. King and two otler
gentlemeu: and these with DIR. and Mrs. Mad
son. and Payne Todd, her son, completed the
select Company. Mrs. Madison very hand
somely came TO NE and lei NE nearest the fire,
introduced Mrs. Magruder and sat down
falniiaf subjects, ana by her own ease 81 man
neT making her guests feel at home. Mr.. King
can 10 our side sans ce1tnonie, and gally chat
TED With US until dinner was ANNOUNCED. Mrs
Magruder, by a priority OF age, was entitled 70
The right hand of her hostess. and l. In virtue
OF Qelhg stranger. TO the next seat, Mr.. Rus
sell 10 her left, Mr. Coles at the foot OF the
table, the President In the middle which re-
lrVes bin from the trouble OF receiving guests,
drinking wine, &c. The dinner was Certainly
very fine. but Still was rather surprised as &c
DID not surpass some haze eaten In Carolina
There were many French dishes, and exquisite
wines, presume from the praises bestowed on
item. Comment On the quality of the wine
SGT ms TO form the chief topic after the removal
o. the cloth and during the desert at which by
the way, 10 pastry Is countenancej. Ice
creams macaroons, preserves aud various
Cakes are placed on the table, Which are re-
moved for almonds, raisins, pecan nuts apples,
pears Gc. Candles were Introduced before he
ladies' left the liable; and tue gentlemen con-
tlnued half an hour longer TO drink a So
cial glass. Meantime Mrs. Madison Insisted
On my playing on her elegant GRAND
plano waltz for Miss Smith and Miss Migr,lI
der to dance, the figure OF " lich she In stricted
them In. BY this time the gentlemen came In
ana we adjourned to the tearoom: and here in
The most delightful manner Imaginable. shar-d
with Mis- Smith. who is remarkably int llgent
the pls asure or Mrs Madison's convers irlUn on
DOCKS, men and manners, literature in general,
ara many special branches OF knowledge. /
would describe the dgnitied appearance OF Mrs.
Madison. but fear &c is the woman altogether
wnlch would wish you 10 see. She wears
crimson cap that almost hides her forehead. out
which becomes her extremely, and reminds one
OF a crown from its brilliant appearance, con-
trasted with the white satin folds and her let
from the hdatefir generally attendant on royal
W that your fancy can carry the resemblance
10 further than the head dress.'
AHAyAL BALL.
''Some days ago." Mrs. Seaton writes. "invi-
tatlons were issued to two or three hundred
ladies and gentlemen to dine ana spend the day
With Colonel Wharton and Captain Stewart, on
board the Constellation, an immense ship-or.
war. This, OF all the sights l have ever wit
messed, was the most interesting. grand and
novel: On reaching the deck we-W1iliam,
JOS pm r., and I-Were ushered Immediately
unuer tne awning, composed of many flags,
ana found ourselves IN The presence of hun
drecs or ladies' and gentlemen. The effect was
astOnlshlng-eyery color OF the rainbow every
FORM ana fashion; nature and art ransacked TO
furnish gay and suitable habiliments for the
p+lles who, with the beauX In their court
ofesSes, were gayly dancing to the inspiring
s.Ialhs OF magnificent band. The ladies had
assured youth and beauty IN their persons
Isste ana splehdor In their dress. Thousands
Ol uo!laIs were expended by the daShing fair
ohes Ia preparation for this fete.
AT INT upper end OF the quarter deck sat
nts manson, to whom we paid our respects
ana Ineh participated In the conversation and
aihusements with our friends, among whom
were MIS-. Monroe, Mrs. Gallatin, &c.
~ Is customary to breakfast at nine o'clock
ulne al Iour, and drink tea at eight am more
surprised at the method OF taking tea here than
any otner meal. In private families IL YOU
s.ep IN OF an evening, they give you tea and
crackers or cold bread, and II by Invitation
uniesS inc party is very splendid, you have a
! rev sweet Cakes and maccaroons from the con-
1ectioners. And saw a ceremony of preserves
at TEA, but the deficiency is made ilp by the
style at dinner. with eXtravagant wines. &c
Pastry and buildings going out OF date. and
VINE ana Ice cream coming in does not sniff
iny taste and | confess TO preferring Raleigh
hospitality. have never even heard OF warm
bread at breakfast. ~'A -
On THURSDAY last was the grand naval ball
given In honor OF Captains Hull. Norris and
Stewart The ypaS