The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-02-08

THE SIXTEENTH ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
PLAYS AND THE PLAYEs.
Especial correspondence of the VIRGINIAN1
Perhaps the Stay -at-home Club in the COM
'ortaole seclusion of their own homes would.
through the spectacles of an exied member.
enJoy glimpse OF the ever shifting kaleido-
scope lie OF the Capital once more. So
quickly the scenes are shifted, one bright pic
'uie creams upon the canvas momentarily and
ere the eyes or the mind can transfix its beauty
another as brilliant has replaced it. The wheel
Is revolving with even more than its usual
seiociy at THIS Juncture, the rapidly lessen
ing term OF the session of both Houses ofCon.
gress nccessitating the hurry of work there
ana the approach of an early Lent warning
'ne gay devotees of Fashion that they must
make nay while the sun Shines It is wei,
II they can comfort themselves in the beams
OF Unsupported sun-for old Sol himself
seems to have forgotten since the New Year
aawned, that to shine was at least 4 part of his
duty.
10 "receive" has been Individually the serious
business OF life here of late. That "The Sea-
son" is palpable and important factor of ex-
istence at the Capital is easily seen from the
excess of vitality that pervades the entire city
as one aristocratic door after another Yields to
the"Open Sesame" of social OBLIGATION A
gayer throng comes and goes upon theavenue,
iaDrlcs OF richer sheen make the shop windows
gorgeous as the dreams of odalisques, Jewels
that nave through long months had their ray,
prisoned in darksome casket or gloomy vaults
SEND their glittering challenge straight to the
eyes and hearts of DANES and demoiselles who
heartily repudiate the tllreadbare fiction of
Beauty unadorned." No other CITY in tie
new world offers the same social facilities A.,
Washington 1t is fifty called the Thorough
fare of the Nation. Here at some period ~,
other OF his lie the duties or the aspirations
OF every citizen of the Republic may call him,
and consequently every American feels h NAT
ural pride and personal interest in identifying
and adding to its attractiveness The season
just drawing to its close has been one of unjn-
terrupted pleasure and brilliancy. The noble
army OF Reporters have been reduced to pain
full extremity in their frantic desire to portray
in language sufficiently striking and pictu-
rescue the successive fates that follow closely
upon one another.
Ii tonight the Honorable Secretary of
Blanque receives and his parlors glow with
Lamps that outshine Canopus"-f score of
Conservatives are despoiled of their treasures
10 heap his tables, and banquet is spread
that would allure the ghost of Luculius from
the abode of shades, we may rest assured that
tomorrow night His Excellency of the corps
diplomatique will move heaven and earth to
find more brilliant observation-disclosures of
more gorgeous hue and richer perfume-dain-
ties OF more exquisite SAVIOUR and wines of
rarer vintage and more enhancing bouquets to
offer his guests
Ii last night Madame A. came forth arrayed
IN robes whose marvellous sheen and texture
would have put Juno in her day of utmost
splendor to shame, let the. eCorter look to his
laurels, for there has just been unpackeG in
the boudoir of Mrs. B. Mons. Worths latest
inspiration, one of those unlmaginabe Gre
atoms that might well make the study of a
life time. The eliminating point of the sea-
sons gaieties was reached in the reception and
Ball given on Friday night by the British min
lister and Miss West in honor of the MARQUIS
OF Lorne. Several hundred guests were pres
ent,among whom we're fu Il representation OF
the diplomatic corps with the ladies of the
various legations; Cabinet officers with their
wives and daughters, Judges of the Supreme
Court. with many Members and Senators.
Army and Navy uniforms in glittering con-
trast to the sober-suited civilian.
The repres entatives of foreign courts wore
the decorations of their several orders. those
of the Austrian Minister being conspicuous
for their magnificence. Lord Lorne appeared
in plain evening dress, his only decoration
being the grand Gordon of the Scotch order f
the Thistle, a broad green sash passing across
the left shoulder, knotted at the waist and EN-.
blazoned with star upon his breast. You
KIN that the reporter who is up to the secrets
of the guild can always borrow the ring of
Gyges and pass unseen and unknown amid the
most august and exclusive assemblages. Should
his plebian presence be perceived or even
family guessed at in such a gathering, woe be
unto the luckless wight!
On Saturday afternoon the Governor Gen
eral paid visit to the House and the Senate.
appearing for few minutes on the floor of
each House. He is man of distinguished ap
pearance, the impersonatlon of manly good
sense and honesty ofpurpose with the physique
of the ideal Anglo Saxon, blonde and stawart
as King Olaf
We may not linger TO tell you of all the
honors done and graceful Inequalities shown
to our no BILE guest, as there are other happen
ings of which the Club will want to hear. Suf-
flee it to say that they were worthy of guest
and of host, the spontaneous homage of the
sovereign people 10 neighboring royalty
Previous in point Of time, but somewhat
overshadowed by the vice-regal visit, was the
Woman's Suffrage Convention whose fifteenth
annual session has just closed This has been
memorable occasion in the history of this
movement 1t has been the largest, the most
distinguished gathering and the most success
full in the amount of practical work accom-
plished, giving ground to its advocates for re-
newed hope in the ultimate triumph of their
objects. 1t is easy to perceive that q marked
change of public sentiment has taken place as
regards woman suffrage in the past few years
The idea is no longer provocative only of jeers
and lll-natured witticisms These ladies and
the measures they uphold have, during this
session at least, been treatedswith uniform re-
spect by the press and the people. A large
number of the States of the Union were rep
resented by delegates, with several from Ger
many and England, among the last sister-in-
law Of the Hon. John Bright, M. p. The pro-
ceedings were marked by a camness of DELHI
Grafton and dignifed eloquence very unlike
the unreasoning and tempestuous debates of
former assemblies Lincoln Hall, where the
Convention was held,was filled by a.respectful
and interested audience during each sitting.
A letter was read on Wednesday night from
"the widow Butler expressing his ardent
sympathy in their work and speaking words
of cordial hope and encouragement for the
future.
These people are evidently in dead ear nest and
we predict the final recognition Of their claims
such steadfast perseverance in the face of