powder. As the people's cash, and not his own, pays for all the
services of the Marine Band, its employment at the palace does not
conflict with the peculiar views of the President in regard to the
obvious difference between public and private economy.

"At these 'annual State levees,' the great doors of the 'East Room,'
'Blue Elliptical Saloon,' 'Green Drawing Room,' and 'Yellow Drawing
Room' are thrown open at twelve o'clock 'precisely' to the anxious
feet of gayly appareled noblemen, honorable men, gentlemen, and
ladies of all the nations and kingdoms of the earth, many of whom
appear ambitiously intent upon securing an early recognition from
the head of the mansion. The President, at the 'same instant of
time,' assumes his station about four feet within the 'Blue Elliptical
Saloon,' and facing the door which looks out upon the spacious
front hall, but is separated from it, as before remarked, by a
screen of Ionic columns. He is supported on the right and left by
the Marshal of the District of Columbia and by one of the high
officers of the Government. The Marine Band having been assigned
their position at the eastern end of the hall, with all their fine
instruments in full tune, 'at the same identical moment' strike up
one of our most admired 'national airs;' and forthwith a current
of life flows in at the wide-spread outer door of the palace, and
glides with the smoothness of music through the spacious hall by
the Ionic screen into the royal presence. Here (to drop for a
moment my liquid figure) each and every individual is presented
and received with a gentle shake of the hand, and is greeted with
that 'smile eternal' which plays over the soft features of Mr. Van
Buren, save when he calls to mind how confoundedly 'Old Tip' chased,
caught, and licked Proctor and Tecumseh. Immediately after the
introduction or recognition the current sets toward the 'East Room'
and thus this stream of living men and women continues to flow and
flow and flow, for about the space of three hours--the 'Democratic
President' being the only orb around which all this pomp, pride,
and parade revolve. To him all these lesser planets turn, 'as the
sunflower turns' to the sun, and feel their colors brightened when
a ray of favor or a 'royal smile' falls upon them."

[Facsimile]
W. L. Marcy
WILLIAM LEARNED MARCY was born at Sturbridge, Massachusetts, December
12th, 1786; was United States Senator from New York from December
5th,