The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-12-12

Dec 1872. |
The assembling Of Congress has been at
tended with a numerous congregation OF per-
sons from all sections of the country. PENN
sylvapia Avenue is one vast swaying multi
tude moving to and fro dashed with female
srace and beauty, bespangled with flashing
diamonds and glittcribg jewelry, fttingly as
sociated with rich and rustling silks and
satins Female influence, on some occasions
is potential even upon the action of grave
legislators They are but human and there
fore pot proof against the winning smile, the
sparkling eyes and facnating charms Of what
is mistakingy denominated the weaker sex"
In fact the .'fur-be lows ard founce arounds"
encompass the most dangerous and successful
class oflobbJists, and whenever few OF them
concentrate their powers, they leave their i'm
press upon the legislation of the country.
. Passing along the avenue few evenings
since. in company with several Virginians, we
were invited to visit the studio OF the great
American Female Artist, Miss Vcnnie Ream.
We had formed no ideal conception OF the ap-
pearance Of this lady, Tor pictured in our
mind splendid specimen of the masculine
female. And it is we'll that we had not, for
she is the impersonation Of artless innocence
Youthful in years and appearance, small III
stature, graceful and 1.-THE in person, with
soarkling black eyes and profusioa ofraven
r:nslets draping over her neck and shoulders,
= sweet face wreathed in smiles and welcomes,
and cheary, ringing laugh and information she
has hut to sec to conquer She is q living
niece Of impassioned poetry, indclibly impress
sive.
Her first work Of art that attracted attsn-
tion and has associated her name imperisha-
blv with the remarkable history of the country
for the past ten years, was her bust Of Presi-
dent Lincoln. She fashioned it into beauti-
full and delicately chiselled marble, for which
Congress appropriated $4,000. She has IN
her studio pieces of statuary, which show the
wonderful genius Of the young artist, and tho
which stimulate her creative brain. The
charming little woman throws spell over
her visitors as if by magic, and makes them
= feel. on taking their leave, that they are
parting with an old friend, after the. gush OF
pleasure incident to sudden meeting follow
ing long absence.
She is among half dozen candidates, te
memorizc in marble, the late Commodore
Farragut, and the only female competitor Il
seems to me, if her male contestants were con
trolled by high sense of knight-errantrJ
and true gallantry. such as stimulated the
age from which they draw their inspiration
they would retire from the arena of rivalry
and,aeaye the brave aad classic little woman
the undsputed claim to the patronage of Con-
gress She is welded to her profession, and
talks aud dreams of the fairy images which
people her brain, to be thrown. in expression
materially in the future. She lives in the pas
sionate world and of the children Of genius
she thinks not and heeds not the grosser at
Iections-and thus 1t is, moved by an ideal
simplicity and esthetical inspiration, she is
petted by those who can soar into the realm
of her existence, and appreciate the true
springs of her aspirations.
Congress has gone to work in earnest. and
from the indications ia the house, there is not
to be much time frittered away between this
and the holydays.. That body has alrerdy
passed bill abolishing all the internal rev.
senue assessors Offices, aud devolving the du-
ties on the Collectors and their assistants
This will effect a large saving to the govern
ment. An attempt will be made in the Sen
ate, to modify it. in some form, but whether
that will be successful cannot now be foretold.
The bill, as it passed the House, is favored
BIZ the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue
Department. 1t will be opposed, in the pres
emf form. by some Of the warm friends of the
administration.
A bill has passed the House authorizing
the construction of six new steam vessels
Mr.. Platt, of Virginia, delivered very fine
speech in favor of the bill, arguing in favor
of constructing the vessels by the government
at the various navy yards, instead of letting
them out to private contract. The views of
Mr.. Platte are practical for every one knows,
that private contractors In variably build their
work to make the most money out of it, not
caring much after they pocket the dollars,
whether or not the ships go to the bottom Of
the sea six months after they are launched In
addition to this, to the Navy Yard at Ports
mouth would likely be assigned the construc-
tion Of one of these vessels should the gov
ernment determine to bald them, which
would give employment to large number Of
workmen, and throw into Virginia at least a
million dollars The Conservative members
from Virginia voted against this, influenced
doubtless. by political considerations, the pre-
sumption being that the workmen employed
would vote the Republican ticket. [ think
the result will be that such short sighted
roI;cv will lasc the Conservatives more votes