The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-02-18
Waits From the National Cap
Y ID itol.
tss.s WASHINGTON, D. Ca
Fsci Febv. 8th, 1869. s Il
DEAR GENERAL: z

man events it becomes necessary
80 the Postmaster thought, for your
correspondent to be detailed at the
United States Capitol, to assist our
good friend w. T. Turpin, Esq, in
disposing Of the mail matter sent
out by tile a at. anI Hoa5o Of
E"Reprohsnsiblcs." Many time
and oft have / labored under the
erroneous impression that the Capi-
tai is a glorious place to ''confscate"
or appropriate" things that might
bo lying around loose. ! never was
led to infer that any stealing was
there indulged in, but always consid-
cred that persons pcrigrinating in
that delightful portion of Uncle
Sans domains, possessed extremely
vague and unsatisfactory ideas regar
ding the "Rights of Property" l
was always generous enough to ex-
cusc the supposed culprits upon tho
ground that perhaps they never con-
suited Blackstone's Commentaries
upon the subject, or pcrused the Ten
Commandments in that observing
manner necessary to keep their NOR
ais in healthy condition. To give
my own experience hadn't been in
the Capitol week ere ! felt an al
most irresistible desire to "go for"
something movable or. immovable,"
and almost unconsciously found my
self "but tonholing" lobbyist to
shove claim through Congress to
remuneratc mo for property destroy.
cd during tie ,car," (oide Miss Sue
Murphcy). But seriously speaking,
there is q perccptiblc change around
the Capitol since the party now in
power has assumed control. | mean
the party in power at the Capitol,
for there it is as radical as they make
EN-. Economy is practiced there
abouts, and even Washburnc himself
can find no fault. As l before wrote
you, Mr.. Buxton, the present Doors
keeper of the House, has reduced the
expenses of his Department $4,000
| per month. Our good friend j, r.
Briggs, ir. the "Iowa" of the Haaek-
-eqe and COURIER, whose letters are
pregnant with sound ideas, good
sense, careful research and profound
thinking; occupies room ad-
Joining our "Branch Post Office
i He still wears that inevitable white
hats "calm and serene"-as the
boy said in his composition on
s'moonshinc;" and is just as careful of
the public stationary as ifit belonged
to himself | can't go through
Briggs for a cents worth. He aint
| on it a bit. The other day a secdy
looking chap marched in and said,
"Do you give out stationary.
sometimes was the quiet reply
"Well' says Mr.. Chcatem, 81 want
a half ream of letter paper, some en-
yelopes to match, some mucilage and
some pens" "Have you an order
for them?" "No,' replied our chron-
? ic swindler, "but its all right" Oul
friend Briggs didn't see it in those
lamps-hcnce the festive youth de
parted more in sorrow than in an
ger.
| understand the Editor of tht
COURIER contemplates visit te
these parts for the purpose of seeing
.U. S. Grant, General" cnssed into
the Executive harness. | would ear
nestly advise him to bring his bee
along, not forgetting to stow away
some dried beef and crackers in hi
carpet bag. Everything is full ant
running over. Hotels arc crowded
, and "Ye Laydies" who keep board
ing houses are already realizing
handsome sums for clash" and room
rent. 1t is amusing to hear then
eXpatiate upon the attractions sur
rounding the domiciles which the.
proposo to s'let out" by piccemeal.-
, A ''cubby hole" on the fifth floor
= with a sky-light similar to the top 0
photograph gallery, for an inlet t
= Gods free sunshine, is. termed "a d,
delightful room;" while the back uiet
= or front pieo is intensely inviting
to some wood yard or alley file
u with slops. But 1 must close.
word however about my old frien
- General Belknap. Did | say ..oid
u Alas, did. The General used I
8 pull my ears for applying that tern
u but now that he has scrossed tl
y Rubicon;" has once moro entered Ii
'e state of double blcssedEess, / don
suppose he cares copper wheth'
a folks call him sprightly or aged
10 Wish you much ioy-and as man
OF 'em as you want, General, 40
when cogitating over old times
the National Metropolis, don't i
your domestic joys lead you to tsi
get tho Iowa bachelors here, and c
! pecially
'e POTOMAC.
rs
or Man Killed.
oi Dudley 4 Nye's Coal Bank Feb. 3
1869.
u Mn En Iqap.