The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-10-11
THE FEMALE LOBBY.
A Story of Army and Washington Life
From Donn Piatt's WASHINGTON CAPITAL.

From Donn Piatts W ashingtOn Capital.
1t is when the average congress.
an first come in contact with the
female lobby that he realizes his
translation. These are to him rein,
ed, fascinating, and beautiful crea-
lures. His poor little hOmely wife
fades in'o naught. His life seems
to have been barren until then-and
how he regrets the early marriage
| that shuts him out from an union
with one of these elegant women
There are two sorts of processes
through which fraudulent legislation
! is perfected. One is called the
"ring," which means a combination
Of rogues for some one purpose the
other is called the "lobby," and des-
ignates agents living here, and en-
ployed by rings and individuals to
push their evil schemes through
Congress.
I was turning this over in my
mind during the late session, when
| happened to cast my eyes to the
ladies' gallery above, and out of the
gloom saw q memory come in the
shape of a fair face. l was so dis
turbed and haunted by this memory
that l left my seat and sauntered in
to the gallery, seating myself near
my fair friend, and without rudely
staring l found my mind gradually
gathering up the disiOinted frag-
ments of the past, until the fair face
was turned in and located. 1t was
very sweet face, not so young as
it once was, but with a prevailing
| expression of childlike innocence,
Add to this manner of great re.
fnement, set off and adorned in the
extreme of fashion, but subdued tC
| the best taste, and the most artistic
harmonizing of cOlOrs, and | had
an old acquaintance before me. AL
though l looked my fair friend II
the face, I saw that either she had
forgotten me, or was not disposed
to renew the acquaintance. She was
talking in quiet, easy manner, tC
a we'll known member of Congress
and l considerably withdrew as if
had been looking in the face of ar
utter stranger instead of one wei
known in times gone by. An hour
afterward l happended to be upOT
the entrance to the Senate chamber
where the multitude of marble steps
seemed to run out and flow down
when my fair friend came by ae
cOmpained by her congressional es
cort, late of the gallery, and almost
brushing me with her dress as she
passed, the two descended. l saw
a neat private carriage drawn by {
handsome pair of bays, and driver
by a coachman in livery, roll up
My friend of the law-making pow
er helped the lady in with a bow
the door swung to with a bang, anC
the fair one drove away, while the
SolOn came up the steps,. humminG
a tune to himself and swapping hi'
law-making fingers, as if especially
pleased with himself. Having {
speaking acquaintance, L begged
pardon for my curiosity, and asked
SOlon the name of his friend.
Mrs, of New YORK;" was tn,
quiet response.
The whole of these surrounding
were eatirely different, and appa
rently so life long and respectabl,
from those that | believed formerly
hedged in the lady, that | was il
doubt. But no the longer I though
upon the matter the more ] felt sat
isfied OF the identity. And the re
membraucc was singular.
While detailed in Washington
during the war, awaiting orders,
was invited by a brother officer t
a wine supper. The people givini
the entertainment were stranger.
but taking my friends word for
that [ would be welcome, I wen
with him. The house was plain. uI
pretending affair, offered display {
upholstery rather uncommon abou
Washington, and | learned that tn
house and furniture belonged to
"secesh" family that had hastily LEI
the city before the battle of Blu
Run, putting their property in tn
hands of friends. The friends al
sembled on this occasisn were que
tiOnable. The parlors were In
, blaze of light, and under the gla'
globes were some very pretty W.
men, and a number of young me
in and out of uniform. The bal
necks and arms of the wsmen ind
Gated party; but my friend to-
ne that this was the sort of thin
that went on every night. We ha
a rich table garnished with choi'
. wines, and the bright flow ef ia
the last named generally brings ou
, / was particularly struck with tw
= of the guests-One n slender yOut
with large dark eyes and broa