The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-01-08
Correspondence Baiiis'ors County CIion.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
New Years Calls Tho Opening OF tho
Fashionable Season-How They
Amuse Themsolves-"On
with the Dance"
wAsusSoroS. d. e.. January 3d lssI

WASHINGTON. D. e., January I'd, 1851.
The only event since the adjournment of Con.
gTcss has been the lst Of January, 1851. IL was
marked by the usual receptions, official, non official
diplomatic and military. Every man arrayed
himself in his best clothes and called the ladies
wherever they were prepared 10 receive. The
ladies were all dressed most cxquis,ely, and many
Of them stood under gas.li ghtel chandeliers with
the blinds Of their Parlors closed. instantaneous
photographs Of the tableaux Of presentation on
IN studying modern manners and who discern In
bows and smiles and dress and attitude the ma.
teral that IL the basis Of much psychological
dissertation in tho modern novel.
With the beginning Of the New Year the social
season, rs u Is called, will DO fairly opened In
Washington. Many members Of Congress who
have been home during tho holidays will return
with their families, and many others, unconnectcd
with official or public lie, but 20 whom wealth
lends means, will come from distant city and town
TO enjoy the gaieiy and excitement that n season
at the Capital affords, aud which will continue
from the hrst OF the New Year until the commence
ment Of Lent.
Our way Of pretending To enjoy ourselves Il not
peculiarly American. hut, like Jaques, me aneholy,
"a compound Of many simplcs, French, English,
German and hcathen-of which dancing l. the
chief. In Washington nearly everybody and her
husband dances, In spite Of age. dignities and
rheumatism. Gen. Grant, during his Presidency,
was seen on more than occasion 20 tread
measure with ease and grace. Gen. Banks went
through the square dances with gait half mill
tary, but with n technical skill that has for its
explanation that long before he was Governor of
Massachusetts, Speaker Of the House Of Rcprsscn-
tatiycs or General In the army he teacher Of
the terpsichorean art. Gen. Sherman, barring q
slight rheumatism, which gives him n peculiar
jerking gait, may be In the cvolutions of tho
ballroom, aud always with u young and pretty
partner. I am told that he Is also n proficient in
those round dances against which Mrs. Sherman
welded her pen but In the matter of round dances
! do not speak from obscrs alton. IL must not be
supposed. however, that there dignifcd ex-
ccPtions. There some who de- no; dabcc-at
least not publicly. ! never heard OF SIR. EVarls
dancing. senator David Davi. IL too heavy TO
dance. but Speaker Randall is not. Neither the
present or coming Chief Magistrate are dancers.
believe the American habi; Of dancing comes
from no passionate love Of the amusement, but is
persisted in because great leaders Of ton have
the gcniusto invent any thin: better oio. Among
the elite IN great European capitals the gentlemen
are accomplished while the ladies domestic and
only slightly accomplished. With Us. women have
all the accomplishments, and men. NJ n rule, are
valued only for their capacity to make money
The result Is that in every social circle. while the
ladies may be able To- contribute music and TO talk
nteligcEtly, and even brilliantly. On u variety of
subjects. the gentlemen, with their exclusively
utilitarian education. are unable Ia hold the foil
upon which NIL real conversation depends. The
dancer Is n man woman of action rather than
oi ideas, aud dancing !. common democratic
plane 10 which the ethcrially minded condcsccnd
aud on which the heavy wittcd find a coarse sim.
uant to that aesthetic life which il not quite cx-
'inei in even the gr"sscst Of men aud women.