Washington Gossip

A correspondent of the Ciucinnati Commercial says : The question ia often asked, whether a man can nïaintain himself on the salary he gets aa President of the United otates, 25,000; whether he can keep up the "stylu" indispensablo from suoh position, and necessary to the proper conduct of hffaira at the White Houso on that sum. Some peuplü tfaink the Preeidenoy a lucrative oiEce, and others finiily believe that a mun cau't save a dollar of what ho receives during his term ol office in the executive mansión. Those of the Later way of thinking are mistaken. Ifc is very true that it cost3 a great deal ol money to pay servants and keep the White House furnished and repaired; but not a dollar of this comes out of the President's pocket. The incidental expenses of the prcsidential domicile, such as for servants, fue!, light, stabling, gardeniug, furniture, &c, are all paid out of tho public treasury direct. Even the vegetables consumed at the White House are paid for in this way, beiug raised in the White House garden, which is cultivated at the expense of the general public. Mr. Lincoln's expenses are simply wh:ir. i costs for his beef and tea and sugar, and the millinery and dressmaker's account of Mrs. Abe. Faiher Abraham is too virtuous to indulge in congressional dinner parties. He knows very well that shouid he invite the present Cougress to a party at his house, be would have to see half of them safely home next morning, and he wisely abstains from throwing any temptation in their way. Mrs, Lincoln has given one party since she bvicame presidentess, but her hospitality was ill-used, and she won't give any more. The only entertainmenta in which the public are permitted to indulge at the White House now, are of ;he character that took place on New Year's day - the only refreshmeuts provided being a shake of the presideutial land, and a smile from Mrs. Abe. I am told by those who ought to ídow, that every President wtj have had 'or the last tweoty years, has retired froin office with a large pruportion of bis salary saved, and Mr. Lincoln has certainly been as economieal as aiiy of them. HOW CHEAP LIVING IS OBTAIN'ED. Many military-officers, resident in Wnshiugton, have a way of living at a cost much below th& ordinarv price of aotels or boarding-houses, tbough I may se pardoned for doubtiug whether, all ;hDgs considered, it is as honorable as it might be. It is done in this way : A CoTotiel, or a Major, or a Cuptaiu, h entitled to buy frooa the cotuniissary department, at tirst cpst, or about half the retail market prioe, what is needed for his subsistence. I have lieuid lately of one or two of these gentlemen going to live in a boarding-house, aud keeping it supplied with beef, pork, flour, coifee and sugar, at commissary prices, by preteuding to have a mess of tbirty or forty, and making renuisitions accordinslv. Tliis is getting to be a comrnoii practice here, and I think it ought to be exposed and etopped. Offioers who enago iü this petty business du a, of oourse, upou uonsideiation that for tbe service tliey render they shall "be paid iu free boiird. It is simply oouvertiug tbe coiijmissary department iato a retail grocerj establislimeiit - a practico that uuglit not to bo tolerated. If officers oannot live ia an honorable way in Washington, upon the salaries tbey get, let theia go to the frout here the' eau. I don'tkoow a military mar, here, from Major-Geueral aown to Socond Lieutenunt, who renders anytlnng like an equivalent for the Bum he draws monthly out of the public treasury.