Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-10-20
.VENtNG STAR.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.


A LOOK AT WASHINGTON THROUGH EseLIsH
SPEcrAcLEs. The leading article of Col
burns new monthly magazine Is entitled CA
Glimpse ut Uncle Sans Managing Affairs"
and amongst other glimpses the author has a
not over complimentary one of our national
metropolis He was here during the early
part Of the last session Of Congress at the time
Of the struggle for the election of Speaker;
and the House Of Representatives strikes him
as very disOrderly and tumultuous for a Iegis.
latiye assembly. Like others of his class of
COckney tourists, he falls, parrot-like, into the
cry Of some of his predecessors, at the same
time betraying the most amusing ignorance of
the manner in which legislation is got thrcr Oh
with in dear England. For instance, We re-
sumo 1t would be hard to find anything in
Congressional experience TO surpass or rival
the extraordinary tumult resorted to in the
British House of Commons to put down an OBJ.
noxious debater But hear our visitor:
II debate springs up, it seems to be
game OF cross questions and crooked answers
a member is making speech, when ques-
tion IS put to him. His answer suggests other
questions, and while commenting on the re-
plies, the questiOner in turn is questioned by
some one else and so on. When a member
appears to be altering the last sentence of his
speech, half dozen or more members are on
their legs calling out, Mr.. Clerk y Mr.
Clerk - amid shouts from all parts Of the hall,
have co small difficulty to hear what is said,
or understand what is going on, from the in
cessant noise and hustle. There is a constant
sharp striking Of letters and papers on the
desk-a mode the members have Of summon
ing the pages to take their documents to the
post-oox. You are amazed too at the pictur.
esque attitudes of some Of the members You
are quite right in remarking that this is a
Democratic assembly. Is not that an elegant
posture now Of the honorable gentleman in
the outer range Of seats? He has flung one
leg over the desk in front, the heel of his boot
dipping in the ink bottle, and while his chair
is tilted back, and his other leg flung over
one arm Of it, he chews his quid, picks his
teeth, and squirts his tobacco juice at his
neighbors spittoon, which he misses This is
the Yankee way Of taking it easy
The Americans seem to have an uncOn-
querable propensity to kick up their heels
not behind, but before. have gone into the
Reading Room OF the Young Mems Christian
Association on the Avenue and found, Of four
men reading, three with their feet on the table
and the fourth baking his in the oven of the
stove. On more than one occasion, while sit
ting in the galleries at Congress, have le-
esivet poke at the back Of my head, and
turning round have discovered in close PROV
unity, Tot any body elbow or hat but q pair
OF boots with feet in them resting on the back
of my seat, on an elevation with the chair of
the owner. But more disaRrceable thing
than that Is the chewing and splitting. In
Congress the carpets in the galleries are sat u
rated, and the staircase walls filthy discolorod
with tobacco juice. In the streets, when the
snow was on toe ground, il locked as if people
had been walking all over the city with leaky
cans of molasses"
vi course, our COckney tourist was bound
TO have fling at Us as a nation Of tobacco
chewers. We are no defenders Of the filthy
habit Of tobacco chewing and splitting but If
there be any thing more disgusting about the
manner of using the weed than the universal
English dover class style of smoking it in
dirty black pipes, We have no disposition to
behold il What sort Of additional unpIeas-
antness they would contrive to make to il.
use were not tobacco, as it were, prohibited
by the enormous tax upon it, we can exercise
the Yankee privilege of guessing
Our traveller shows further evidences of bis
acuteness as an observer, by describing Mr.
Speaker Banks as "tall' man, and Horace
Greeley as mild, aniable looking old gen
tleman."
Our Cockney visitor is evidently not a Nor
peth, or Lye!l, or a Johnston, Thackeray,
or Delaine; but he wilt do to travel among
the Halls, TrOllopes, Marryats, and Dickenses.
NATIONAL THEArRE.-It is to be regretted
that the keene company had not opened their
campaign with such terling plays as " She
Stops to Conquer AM " The Love Chase"
rather than pieces of the &" Camille" school.
Our public got no adequate idea of the dra-
matte talent Of Miss Keene, or the capabilities
of her company, until the performance Of the
Love Chase" Oh Saturday night, and the
last Of their engagcmens. While the play was
well sustained by the company throughout,
We have further to say That Miss keene is, by
all odds, the best % Constance we have ever
seen on the stage Upon the fall Of the cur
tain at the end Of the piece, Miss Keene was
called out by acclaim alton, and her announce
ment that herself and company might appear
again at no distant period at the n ational was
received with the heartiest demonstrations Of
satisfaction by the audience.
The ill-mannered conduct Of = portion of
the audience on Saturday night, who by the
reprehensible practice Of rising to go ont prior
to the conclusion of the farce prevents those
who are disposed, from hearing CT seeing. was
deservediy rebuked by one Of the actors, who
declined going on with his part until some-
thing like order was restored.
A BOGUS CAPTAIN "A young genius " no
loves liquor, and is not over scrupulous as 10
the manner of getting it, has been playing
rather bold game lately, by passing himself
of as Captain of the Auxiliary Guard at vari-
Gus taverns in the city, accepting invitation.
70 drink, and promising the protection of the
wstchmen to ali who treated him. Unluckily,
IN bis progress he CHANGED to meet the real
Captain, who, being q teetotaler, waJ not
over much pleased at the reputation the pre-
tender was gaining for him however, he for
gave the offender for this time on his promise
never again 70 attempt to shine in borrosed
piumes.
Last week, some young scamps, represent
Ing themselves as belonging TO the Auxiliary
Guard, arrested q number Of nymphs Of the
pave and extorte1 money from them, under
threat Of taking them 70 the guard-house II
these young gentlemen are caught, they will
probably End this mode Of raising money
under false prstenses rather grave offence,
aid the penalty severe.
TEE GUARDS The National Guards Of this
city reached Baltimore on Saturday morning
at 10 o'clock, and we're received at the Cam
den Station by n deputation Of the field and
staff officers Of tie 53l regiment. In charge
of Canfain Ganrra " Taihn. thew risitnl u