The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-01-09
Letter from the Federal Capital.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30, 1885.
To the Editor of the Press.

Il WASHINGTON. Dec 20. 1sa5 5
To the Editorof the Press.
The holidays are well nigh over. They have
oSeh slsnalized here by much conyiviality, ana
an abundance of disagreeable weather. The
sum- 'or the most part, has declined to honor
-our festivities with his rubleund yisage, and
we nave been constrained to make merry
w'tnout MS excellent company. New Years
gay was especially unpleasant, though not so
inclement as it seems to have been farther
north. Notwithstanding the check upon their
enjoyment the people of the metropolis OBJ
served the day much as usual, making numer-
Gus calls, both friendly and complimentary,
ana receiving every where the bounteous hos
pltanty OF the new year. The reception at the
White House, which was not only the first Of
the season, but the first held by our present
President, was fully attended, the full Diplo-
matte Corps, many high officials ofthe govern
nent, and distinguished officers of the army
and navy being present. Secretaries Stanton.
Welles, Harlan, McCullock, Atty. Gen. Speed
and Postmaster Gen. Dennison also gave recep
lions and were visited by numerous friends
Inc residence ofLieut Gen. Grant on George
town Heights was visited by many admirers
OF the hero, who were kindly received and en-
tertained. o'i- a7l fdils
10 some of the clerks of the government
however, the glad new year presented itself
with rather rueful countenance. In most of
the Departments there has been material de-
crease OF business since the close of the war,
there is likely to be a much larger falling off
OF work in the uture. This has necessitated
reduction of the clerical force In addition
to the diminution by deaths and designations,
which, by the way is more considerable than
might at first be supposed, removals have oflate
been quite largely resorted to- In fact the Of
nclal head is getting in some quarters to be as
loose and precarious fixture among the
clerks, as was the veritable caput with the he
roes OF the Arabian nights; nor or the former
enjoy that lease oflife possessed by such of the
latter as could, il an extremity, recite an apt
quotation OF poetry, or fall to spinning long
and wonderful story. Our viziers and emirs
are not specially noted for literary taste or de-
Votion to the muses, nor are they so easily pro-
pltiated by an endless yarn as that glorious
ruler of the faithful, Haroun Alraschid. or the
sultan of Balsora. So that it came to pass that
considerable number of our friends at the
other end of the Avenue were called on the
first instant to verify the experience of Haw-
thorne to this effect that "tbe instant mans
head Leaves his body is not apt to be the most
agreeable Of his existence"
The time for play over, and the time for
work is at hand a5-rss
Yule's come, Yules gone,
We "a have feasted weel
Now Jack maun to his fail again,
And Jenny to her wheel" e1e
and from city banquettings or rustic iunketI
ings the Congressman must zen turn once
more to the weary drudgery of office. If any
one supposes the IL. G. eats his bread in idle
ness, let him run his eye over the contingent
expenses of Congress and compute the reams
OF paper to be written over by the unfortu-
nate gentlemen who compose that honorable
body the bottles of ink to be dribbled out
drop by drop, and the boxes "Opens to be worn
outior the public good; the tens of thousands
OF speeeh-envelopes to be fitted and ranked
10 intteihgent and virtuous constituents, and
you may perhaps conclude that the case of
these writers of speeches and makers of laws
is scarcely less deplorable than that of those
who are to read and obey. M l3ig9
The session of Congress to day was thinly
attended, and both Houses soon adiourned,-
Its not probable that much will be done be-
fore the middle of next week. g Ls
MIR. William Hickey, who for ten years past
has been the Chief Clerk of the q. S. Senate
and during period of forty-two years has
served as an officer of that body, died at his
residence near the city this morning. He
had been unable, on account of illness. to be
present at the Senate during this session. He
was the author of very admirable edition. of
the Constitution. . ..,5=si
With the expiring year died one of the ma
TONS ablest and noblest sons. 1t was not
without sadness, that, standing in the Hall of
Representatives to-day, and casting my eye
where had been accustomed to see the hand
some form of Henry Winter Davis, recalled
the bold, high words I had heard him utter.
there tor the country and the right, and be-
thought me how strong and true man had
ceased from the earth forever. We had not
many like him,-so fun OF native strength and
force, SO rich in intellectual resources, SO &C.
complished in graceful requirements, so free
IN thought and SO manly in heart. Peace to