“What a scene!” she exclaimed.

“Yes, but with it all, what order!  There has never been such order and system in these crowded receptions as now under the management of Mrs. ——­,” said Mrs. Middleton, naming the accomplished lady who, that season, ruled the domestic affairs of the White House.

As Mrs. Middleton and Claudia had finished their toilets, to the sticking of the very last pin, before leaving their dressing rooms at home, they had now nothing to do but to give their opera cloaks to a woman in attendance, and then stand near the door to watch for the appearance of Judge Merlin and Mr. Middleton.  They had but a few minutes to wait.  The gentlemen soon came and gave their arms to their ladies and led them to join the throng that were slowly making its way through the crowded halls and anterooms towards the audience chamber, where the President received his visitors.  It was a severe ordeal, the passage of those halls.  Our party, like all their companions, were pressed forward in the crowd until they were fairly pushed into the presence chamber, known as the small crimson drawing room, in which the President and his family waited to receive their visitors.

Yes, there he stood, the majestic old man, with his kingly gray head bared, and his stately form clothed in the republican citizen’s dress of simple black.  There he stood, fresh from the victories of a score of well-fought fields, receiving the meed of honor won by his years, his patriotism, and his courage.  A crowd of admirers perpetually passed before him; by the orderly arrangement of the ushers they came up on the right-hand side, bowed or courtesied before him, received a cordial shake of the hand, a smile, and a few kind words, and then passed on to the left towards the great saloon commonly known as the East Room.  Perhaps never has any President since Washington made himself so much beloved by the people as did General ——­ during his short administration.  Great love-compelling power had that dignified and benignant old man!  Fit to be the chief magistrate of a great, free people he was!  At least so thought Judge Merlin’s daughter, as she courtesied before him, received the cordial shake of his hand, heard the kind tones of his voice say, “I am very glad to see you, my dear,” and passed on with the throng who were proceeding toward the East Room.

Once arrived in that magnificent room, they found space enough even for that vast crowd to move about in.  This room is too well known to the public to need any labored description.  For the information of those who have never seen it, it is sufficient to say that its dimensions are magnificent, its decorations superb, its furniture luxurious, and its illuminations splendid.  Three enormous chandeliers, like constellations, flooded the scene with light, and a fine brass band, somewhere out of sight, filled the air with music.  A brilliant company enlivened, but did not crowd, the room.  There were assembled beautiful girls,