New-York daily tribune., 1856-02-29
INTERCEPTED LETTERS. No. |.
WASHINGTON, Thursday, FEB. 81,

WAsHISGToS, Thursday, Feb 81 1886.
DEARS. return to this place after an absence
of nearly ten years. As we ratified along the only
railway by which can approach our Capital, was
feedrg myself with the hope of fresh emotion. Alas
this becoming with thing, not to be picked
up in every car and at all times. Peaches and melons
are not so sweet as in our early days. But we must
not attribute the fault to the fruit. found Washing
ton but not nv emotion. We rolled into gothic
structure, with a tower attached, fought our way
through crowd OF baggage agents hotel runners and
hack k-drivers-were tumbed into carriage, and
few minutes ater took look at Pennsy lvanla ave-
nue.. -aw the same avenue, with its rows Of irregu
lar houses It's stray hacks, hurried groups talking
vehomtutly-(what place is Washington for wind)-
while in the dim distance, terminating the view, stood
acow. Pleasing simplicity of a republican govern
ment In uxtapo-on with the busy statesman, upon
whose existence hang the destnies OF States, stands
this fitting representative OF calm, moral felicity,
quietly chewing her cud, regardless OF the fate Of
administrations, or the price of butter.
But am getting in advance Of what sat down to
write you-whtn parted in S, that most retired
of all New-England villages We had the promise OF
not over thirty hours run by rail between our goodby
ard the Federal city. Unhappy entcipaton-we had
scarcely got under way before furious snow storm
attacked our train. The locomotive battled bravely
with the angry elements, and for while We seemed
to be flying all the rapidly through the whrlng
sr6w-but alas the iron music fell from quick step
to q HYMN tune, and then to dead march, and at
last ceased altogether. The driving wheels whrled
useessy On the icy track and the locomotive seemed
seized with papitation that expressed itself in quick
snorts a. il far gone for want obreath. We saw men
leaping from the platform armed with shoyels, and
waited in various stages Of impotence for the re-
sult Have yOu ever noticed the talent for silence
hib;ed BY car when il stops From stunning din
You drop into quiet where falling wool might
be heard But falling noise of another kind nearly
set one frantic was in the ladies' car of course yet
about me sat brigade of tobacco chewers. Iopened
book and attempted to read, but in vain. tired to
look over the heads Of the crowd-be abstraeted-but
nv eyes would get into mirror at the further end Of
the car that not only distorted my own fair face into
a horrid carcature, but gave extended vista Of
the busy tobacco-worms.
am not q strong minded womsn-am Indifferent TO
reforms in generel-but Oh my country cannot some
not our garments at least be protected from the pol
lutior-our lungs from the foul cir The stove was
heated to fever heat, and at least ten human ma
of them, not content with an ordinary process, ex-
pettCrate directly upon the stove, and there arose
vapor from which the great adversary Of the human
family might lively hint for the Improvement
Of that locality devoted to the punishment Of sinners.
Why Lot have chewing well a smoking
vile, filthy place with the floor full Of holes, and
any quantity of red-hot stovesl
wTite with the memory Of an i'll temper dropping
from NY pen. But the ruin Of new travelling dress
is the provocatiou. remember the wretch and Will
pin him to my page as a warning 10 gods and men,
want all ladies 10 beware of him. This animated to
bacco-plsnt Is q tall, thin. ungsirly specimen of
- frst family" His extremities are in unhappy
state of disOrganized diplomacy, being by no means IN
Harmonious state. His lace is just such face as
you may expect TO find pertaining to the man who
cht VS. tobacco in q railroad car. Ii Is thn saoT and
line indicates ssshness and every move
me1, IL breeding. There, now, recognize him; and do
no, make tie mistake did snd let your garments
touch Gnv place he once occupied. l did and in a
minute two breadihs Of my charming robe was the
color of the wretch face.
We ran through ore snow drift into another. The
night came on and found Us only thirty miles from our
starting point. We should have come to an entire
stoppsge. but that conductor picked up q stray
loc, motive belonging 70 q freight train showed up
on a side track, and with the two we were able to
make better time. We had rather have remained quiet
Gong down loug grade, the locomotives were run
mig ai the rate, sm told of thirty miles hour,
when Suddenly We iel violent humping under us and
the car began swinging from side TO side. The pas
sengers rose in great alarm, and we bad neither
conductor roy brakeman on the car, one gentleman