The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-02-18
The Lobby.


thus graphically photographs rep
resentative lobbyist at Washington,
for the Cincinnati Commercial.
Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial
Washington, January 20, 1869.
THE LOBBY,
There are two sorts Of process
through which fraudulent lie gislation
is perfected. One is called the "ring,"
which means combination of rogues
for some one purpose; and the other
is called the lobby and designates
agents living here, and employd by
rings and individuals to push their
evil schemes through Congress.
have made the acquaintance of
several specimens Of these two sorts
Of jackals, and propose photograph
ing them some day to enlighten your
readers as to the nature of this third
branch Of the National Legislature,
that costs more than the legitimate
law making power, the Judiciary
and the Executive.
l was turning this over in my
mind the other day, while l sat on
sofa in the Cave and listened to the
winds that blew to and fir, about me,
when happened to cast my eyes in>
to the ladies gallery above, and out
OF the gloom saw memory come, in
the shape of a fair face. These gal
lcrics were not constructed with an
eye to effect, SO far as female beauty
is concerned, as the dim light from
above gives CHASTITY palcness that
not only destroys the beauty, but Sc
riously damages the expression. I'm
der the circumstances the face failed
&c locate itself, and my memory was
as dina and uncertain as the flashes
of a former life that come to us at
times between sleeping and awake.
was so disturbed and haunted by
my memory that l loft my seat ant
sauntercd into the gallery and seated
myself near my fair friend, and with
out rudely staring, l found my mem
ory gradually gathering up the dis
jointed fragments of the past, unit
the fair face was framed in and loca
ted. 1t was very sweet face, no
SO young as it once was, but with
prevailing expression Of child-lik
innocence. Add 10 this a manner Q
great refinement, set off and adorne,
in the extreme of the fashion, bu
subdued to the best taste, and tn
most artistic harmonizing of colors
and we have our old acquaintanc
before us. Although / looked m
fair friend in the face, saw that ei
Their she had :. forgotten me, or wa
not disposed to renew the acquair
lance. She was talking in quie
easy manner, to well-known men
Der of Congress, aud l consideratel
withdrew, as if l had been lookin
in the face of an utter stranger, in
stead Of one well.known to me
times gone by. An hour after l ha
pened to be upon the entrance to ii
Senate chamber, where the multitut
OF marble steps seemed to run o,
and flow down, when my far frier
came out, accompanied by her Coz
gressional escort, late Of the CALLER
and almost brushing me with h
dress as she passed, the two descen
cd. saw a neat private carriag
drawn by handsome pair of bay
and driven by coachman in liver
roll mp. My friend, of the lawn
king power, helped the lady in, wi
bow; the door swung in with
bang, and the fair lady drove ava
while the Scion came up the steI
humming tune to himself and sna
ping his law-making fingers
if especially pleased with himself.
Having a speaking acquaintance
begged pardon for curiosity, and as
cd Scion the name of his friend.
"Mrs.--, Of New York." W
the quiet response.
The whole of these surroundin,
were SO entirely different, and appa
emily so lifelong and respectful
from those that l believed former
hedged in the lady, that l was
doubt. But, no, the longer l thong
upon the matter the more / felt 81
is6ed of the identity. And the l
mamberance was singular. VIII
detained in Washington, during t
war, awaiting orders, l was invit
by brother officer to a wine suppt
The people giving the entertainme
were strangers, but, taking n
friends word for it that l would
welcome, went with him. T
house was plain, unpretending
fair, but offered a display of uph
stery rather uncommon about Was
ington, and l learned that the hou
and furniture belonged to "seces
family, that had hastily loft the CT
before the battle of Bull Run, putt
their property in the hands of frien,
The friends assembled on this oct
sion were questionable. The p.
lors were in blaze OF light, and u
der the glass globes about the G
jets were some very pretty wome
and a number Of young men in al
out Of uniform The bare necks al
arms of the women indicated pa
ty; but my friend told me that Il
was the sort of thing that went
every night. We had a rich repa
garnished with choice wines, and t
lively flow Of talk the last nam
generally brings out. / was partit
larly struck with two of the guests
one slender outh, with dark lar
eyes, and broad, thoughtful forehea
whom l took for an Italian
Frenchman; the other beautit
woman Of twenty, in fact; but mu'
younger in appearance. four
this young lady exceeding
charming, as she was not only Low
ly in person but lively in mind.
We broke up at a late hour of Il
night, or rather an early hour In Il
morning, and being ordered away
few days after, the wine supper ar
the merry people there assemble
soon passed from my mind in Il
hurried, eventful life of the camp.
Of that little assembly in the SUI
per-room two only survive, l al
another.
1t was shortly after the assassin.
ton that friend send me the pilot
graph Of Wilkes Booth, and 1 recoe
nized in it the young man had mi
taken that night for foreigner
While we were in command at b
timora and of,ar Colnnol E;sL he