The good old times, when keys, bolts, bars and locks Of common knavery-must, in turn decay; For Jew-faced misers now, whence consolation? Though locked in mountains may be read at pleasure. Must now be nipped-guilt long hath filled its measure. Old Saturn's reign-all freedom and equality Once more shall come, with ease, love, mirth, and jollity. 6 In this new age of visions,' what doth bar A sweeping espionage of mails and letters? A few blind maids would be their best abettors. And then, per mail, how rash to think of hinting Lest men first look, then laugh ye in your faces. And oh, ye fair ones, weep in sorrow now ! The sound of coming mail no more can cheer you; No burning words, no oft-repeated vow His faith can tell, who's now no longer near you; And ye, in turn―ye fainting hearts, oh how, How vain will your vows be!--he cannot hear you,— Yet, courage, lovers!-free your eyes from weeping-No distance foils the gift of omni-peeping! L. THE METROPOLIS. THERE are many things at Washington which, though they escape the notice of a mere passer through, offer to the long resident and the shrewd observer of men and manners, much that is interesting and instructive. It is a city of change. Hundreds arrive, go to the Capitol,-admire the building,-criticise the speakers, perhaps cast one or two contemptuous glances at the poor city, and depart on the day after their arrival. Others will come and remain long enough to visit all the public offices, go to a levee, and have it in their power to say that they have shaken hands with the president, the secretaries, and other great characters. Among these may be reckoned all those constituents whom business or pleasure, perhaps a little of both, bring to the city, much to the discomfort of members of congress, whom they 'bother amazingly.' No matter what business may engage the attention of a member, if a constituent calls, he must leave it, and jog for the hundredth time to show the east room, the patent office, and the trinkets in the state department; and it is well, if after all this he is not asked for introductions to half the great men of the nation. There is another large class, comprising all those who flock into the city as soon as congress comes together, and do not leave until it adjourns. This may be said to include the whole coterie of distinguished foreigners, gentlemen who are travelling for amusement, political demagogues, claimants, patentees, letter writers, army and navy officers, office hunters, and a host of gamblers and blacklegs. Now is the time for the keepers of hotels and boarding houses! The levees, the parties, and the theatre, are crowded. Pennsylvania Avenue presents a lively and animated scene, thronged from the Capitol to the president's house with strangers from all parts of the Union, not excepting a representative or two from the Indian tribes. To strangers, coming, as they generally do, through the large cities, this is not so apparent, owing partially to the width of the streets, compared with those elsewhere, but principally to the extravagant notions concerning the metropolis, which some of them form. Notwithstanding the descriptions so frequently given by newspaper writers, and others who consider it their duty to decry every thing animate or inanimate, which comes under their observation; still most persons imagine that Washington has at least the appearance of a city, and are consequently surprised, on their arrival, to behold unpaved streets, and the magnificent distances at which houses are built. The city, however, generally improves upon acquaintance, and many of those who were most disappointed at first, are most loth to leave it. This may be ascribed principally to the facilities for going into society. If one can but find a friend who is acquainted, he accompanies him immediately, and is introduced, without any further ceremony: if he calls again and leaves his card, he is sure of an invitation to the next party. These are usually tremendous jams, four or five hundred being invited where there are accommodations for not more than half the number. Formerly the president's levees were given every other Thursday, to which all decently dressed and well behaved persons were admitted, without any other introduction. Upon the accession of President Jackson, his popularity among all classes brought together at the levees great numbers of people in the lowest stations of life. "It was a free country; the president's house belonged to the people, and they had a right to 'make free' with it." Accordingly market men, teamsters, journeymen mechanics, and all such characters, flocked to the presidential mansion, entered in spite of the door keepers, and mingled with the rest of the company, presenting in their soiled and dirty robes, a strange contrast to the rich habits of foreign ministers, and of army and navy officers; and watching an opportunity to snatch refreshments from the waiters, in which attempt they not unfrequently upset wine, ice cream and all, upon the heads and shoulders of unlucky bystanders. These enormities, together with the declining health of General Jackson, caused the levees to be given less frequently, and at length the evening assemblies were discontinued altogether; though that on the first of January continues to be given as usual. Some two or three ladies usually contrive to establish their reign as belles during the winter. There are a few of these who have claims to beauty or intelligence, but in many instances, if one has fifty or an hundred thousand dollars to recommend her, this is sufficient to hide an ugly face or an untutored mind. Not unfrequently at the close of the session they retire, without having accepted any of the numerous offers they have received, in the expectation of procuring better; or perhaps some wight more un-fortunate than the rest is accepted, and finds that the fifty or sixty thousand dollars was a mere shadow for the purpose of catching a husband. By and by congress leaves, and the greater part of that long train which followed it into the city. The hotels and public places are comparatively deserted, and the only stragglers are a few office hunters and sycophants to men in power. The appearance of the city at this time has been aptly compared to that of some great watering place immediately after the company have left it, with this difference, that there it is autumn, here it is spring. There is but one topic of conversation in Washington, from the beginning to the end of the year, and that is politics. Whether on the porticos in front of the hotels, at the reading rooms, the theatre or in the private circle, this is the all-absorbing subject. Even at church, on Sunday, after the services are concluded, a collection of eager politicians may be seen around the door, repeating their inquiries as to the latest news, or as to the probable result of some measure. A subject for conversation is never wanting. Some election is to be heard from, or some exciting topic is before congress, which, with the speeches made upon it, must be talked over by every would-be politician. I need not say that there are many of these in the city. Indeed no man can live any length of time at Washington, without being tinged in some manner by the political atmosphere around him. He will either become a warm politician, or be wearied and disgusted with the corruption, petty intrigue and hypocrisy, which he sees in every party. This latter effect is visible upon most of the old residents, unconnected with government, the number of which is small. They have been so much accustomed to see the scenes of political strife acted over during each successive administration, that they have acquired a habit of regarding them with indifference. They moreover feel it for their interest to keep silent, since they are so entirely dependent upon congress, and, being possessed of no vote or influence, it would be productive of no advantage were they to espouse any party. It is among the public officers and those connected with the government, that most of the politicians are to be found. From the clerk who receives his thousands, down to the messenger with his three hundred dollars, we find the same interest manifested in the movements of party. The nature of their offices, and their dependence upon the will of those in power, leads them to watch with intense anxiety every shade in the political horizon. Thus all are led to give attention to the subject, though all are not equally free in expressing their opinions. By nine o'clock every morning, hundreds may be seen moving from every quarter of the city towards the several departments. Here they spend perhaps an hour or two before going to business, in reading and discussing the contents of the Globe, Intelligencer, and other political papers. At three o'clock they return to dinner, when the same topic is resumed, and after dinner they resort to the reading rooms, hotels, or, if congress is in session, to the Capitol, and thus while away the rest of the day. These habits are not common to them all; but they are such as the greater part of them contract from the tenor of their offices, and the duties which they are called upon to perform. Of all situations none strike a man, who has the least spark of ambition, so unfavorably as that of a government clerk at Washington. Some have been dazzled by the prospect of a good salary and a residence at the seat of government, with all the advantages supposed to be attendant upon it; but they find themselves most frequently mistaken. To labor so many hours a day at a mere mechanical employment, with little or no variation, and one which requires during the whole year no exertion of mind, and no ability beyond that of a good hand-writing, or perhaps some slight knowledge of accounts, is an employment but ill suited to an educated man, who is desirous of exercising his faculties to any purpose. The monotonous routine to which he is subjected, and the feeling of dependence which is engendered, are sufficient to destroy all energy of character and to deaden all the active powers. Hence it is that, notwithstanding their continual apprehensions lest a change of administration or of policy may send them adrift upon the world, we so seldom find them possessed of any resources upon which to depend. Hence it is too, that we find among them so many disappointed politicians and broken merchants, most of them men, who, having passed the prime of life and lost all pride or ambition, are content to spend the remainder of their days in listless inactivity. It is not when one sees the offices filled by such persons as these, who are but poorly adapted for any thing else, that he is disposed to indulge in unpleasant regrets; but it is when he beholds among them many young men, just entering into life, who are sacrificing their time and their talents in this unprofitable pursuit, with the vain hope of making it a stepstone to something higher. And it is not uncommon to find among the crowd of eager applicants, by which every man of influence is surrounded, many young men, who are expecting in a clerkship to acquire the means of studying a profession. This seems practicable, when we consider the time which every clerk has at his disposal, and which he might devote to reading and study; yet we find that very few, who go into office with the intention of thus employing their time, ever accomplish any thing. The reason is obvious: life becomes too easy, and so long as there is a prospect of a salary without much exertion, they feel not the necessity of further effort, relax in their habits of industry, and soon conclude that they are too old to learn. But this is not all; there are other things which tend to the loss of character as well as to the loss of time. The dull monotony of office, which brings on this languor of the mental faculties, and repugnance to study, brings also a longing for excitement, and this is too frequently found in the gambling house and the bar room. Many are those, who, by their reckless course of life at these places, have brought ruin upon themselves and distress upon their friends. But enough on this subject. Better, we think, for the young professional student to become a pedagogue, and thus renew his acquaintance with such studies as tend to give discipline and refinement to the mind, |