Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-01-04
Our Washington Letter.

Seventy-two. Another milestone on
times broad way. Another added to the
dead past, one less of the timely future.
The world calls a halt of its grand reti-
nue., and everybody resting from the
tolls of the march, are indulging in their
wOnted ceremonies Of the event. We
suppose this day comes to no two per-
sons precisely alike, and our inference is
based upon observations of our surround
ings. To some it is day of retrospect
ton, meditation, and anticipation, and it
hath its Importance above other days
only as by the Importance given it by
universal customs 1t helps to measure
duration, and presents the incidents of
the past three hundred and sixty-tive
days journey in a more comprehensive
view. To such it is a day of mingled
sunbeams and shadow, joy and sadness.
Sadness because of wrongs of the past
Joy because. all the indications of
twelve-mOnth are that better days are in
store; that instead of growing worse the
world is growing better; that the vale
along which runs life's pathway is wild
ening, it's skies more clear, and the path
itself, if not less rugged and steep, is
tending toward higher plane. Such
give all hail to the new year, for to the
world this day is the harbinger of good,
even though to them it be one of pain.
To many this is day of merchandising,
day of its own peculiar social inter-
course and perhaps no place in the land
eXult- in a more unique reputation in
this respect than this city. Society,
which has been for weeks organizing,
and is spelling for an engagement, prac-
ticaIly makes its first move today. No
morning of the year will he more inaus-
picious than was this, and few days more
gloomy. Nature has sulked for a week,
and the Inauguration of the new year
was attended with the fall of foe bank
upon the city. Clouds are lying prone
upon the ground, and though 10 rain is
falling. the condensed water is falling
from the trees and buildings like rain.
To step out is to take yapOr bath. Per
sons can often be heard walking upon
the opposite side Of the street, when
they cannot be distinguished through the
impenetrablo fog. We were once be
logged off Cape Cod. and were obliged
to lay to and sound the whistle cOntinu-
olsly. the captain said. to avoid being
run into by other vessels, whales, and
the like. This is the same fog, or one
Just like it, and the demand for fog
alarms for pedestrians is Obvious, But
new years calls must be made, for only
those with other engagements to fill or
the very brave. dare defy dame custom,
so people go dripping about the streets,
wading or driving thr,u@h sas of mix
ture too thin to be called mud, and too
thick for water. In public life the same
rule is adopted, which has prevailed from
time immcmorial. The President re-
ceiving certain classes at certain hours,
commencing at the Foreign Ministers,
next Judges of the Supreme Court, and
going down through until it comes to the
rank and file who are allowed to shake
NJ. after which it is presumed he may
need brace of doctors and nurses, with
supply of Spalding's prepared glue to
prepare him for public duties d week
hence. Despite the example of our
worthy vict-president in giving no spirit
refreshments, the pernicious practice is
still in full fashion, and notwithstanding
the above enibarrassments Of the hour,
many as tire day wanes gets very ''hic-
Apply" Gents of faultless style get so
tired, CD you know hat,-well, cmbar-
easements sometimes follow, such as try
ing to leave the room by way of the
piano, inviting the gentleman in the mir
rOr to call, etc. 1t is a sad sight when
well dressed gentleman CD gets cast
away and is found clinging to lamp
post for dear life, trying to turn himself
wrong side out, poor fellow; no wonder
he is sea sick i'll such specimens of old
Neptune is this fog. But healthy sign
is in the fact that less of this is to be
seen from year to year. \ few years
ago Mr.. C0lfaX took a bold stand for
temperance, and almost alone among the
eminent men Of the national capitol
provided nothing for his guests stronger
than chocolate and coffee. His worthy
example is gaining ground from year to
year.
TIE SILENT CONGRESS.
Midway between the House of Repre-
sentatiyes and the Rotunda, and through
which you pass in going from one house
of Congress to the other, is located the
old Representative Hall. BY a resolu-
tion of Congress a few years ago, this
was sanctifed for the silent congregation
of Americas illustrious sons. now gath
erd to the silent unknown. BY the
terms of that act each State is invited to
contribute two works of art represent
ing two of her sons most eminent in the
past, the whole to form vast gallery of
art-a third house of Congress so to
speak, numbering the same as the Sen
ate--a Congress of other days. Repre-
sentatives of times and scenes enacted
away up the river time from whence ell
have been swept by its ruthless tide, but
leaving their foot prints" alongits shores
to be re-read upon the pages of history,