Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-03-13
Our Washington Letter.


our Congressional menagerie that 1t cannot hold
public attention against little competition.
few weeks ago the Congressional arena was the
scene Of most terrific encounter II seemed
that the lions the tigers, the elephants and the
other lordy animals confined in the Senate had
suddenly broken loose, and were engaged in the
most desperate and sangunary ehjrts at mutual
annihilaton. The people were supposed to be
looking on ailrighted lest the triumphant party
flushed with victory and maddened with blood,
might rend the administration, destroy the party
or ruin the country But alas for the constancy
Of public interest or apprehension, Il teeth as
shadow and continueth not
Within a week the recent struggle in the Sem
ate has been as completely forgotten as though it
had occurred in the last century. The explana-
ton Of all this is, that we have gotten new toy
the arrival Of the japanese lions has completely
ccipscd our old familiar ones Of native growth.
The people run 10 see them, the newspapers vic
with each other as to which shall shy the most
about them, and officials Of all grades unite in do
ing them honor Although they come from the
seat Of the oldest existing ciyiation-lrou a
country which for three thousand years has stead
lIy grown in wealth and power, and which TO day
is the richest in proportion TO rs extent Of any ON
the face Of the globe and although they carry
along with them treasure, 50 that they leave few
thousands in gold for the relief Of the poor at
each city or town where they rest ON their jour
news. they are entertained here at the public ex
ponse in manner befttug their high dignity.
They are the guests of the nation, and it is OF
course fitting and proper that they should De en-
tertained accordingly
/ The official reception OF the Embassy at the
Masonic Temple on Tuesday evening was the
most brilliant and magnificent affair of the kind
that ever occurred in this country. Nearly q
week before, the Grand Hall and banquet = 'nnl
of the Institution were given up to the decorative
artists, who spared no pains nor expense in its
decoration. On entering the hall in the evening
after the beautiful chandeliers, and the other in
Vulnerable gas Jets were lighted, the behodeI
was fairly dazzed hy the brilliancy of the orna-
mentation, and bewildercd by the strange and
beautiful effects produced The ceilings vert
, ieStooned and canopied with pink and white tar
latan. whose OVERLAPPING folds gave the effect of
, canopy Of rose-tinted clouds The walls the col
umus, the plasters, the platform and the CALLER!
were draped with flags, bunting, and pink an,
L white tarlatou, until not a square inch Of TN
, solid structure Of the building was visible. TIN
WINDOWS "''' "'''u VIA 'H' ~ n''''V''' VIC
presented '"e 'pio"'"''e VI oi''H''S ,',o ''''',
@ peIicSS o'no'' "'' ui''' 'u"A ~ '"'',
across Que 'l' VI ''' '''''' F'''','''" Low
eiec'eu anu u'0''"''N " ''P'''0''' WV
Japan Inc so'e'"'nen. s'''''''"''' s''p VI
: their treasures Oh rare niSV'" pants "'' w
5 wondrouS ana fragrant 'ap'ncSo ''''oS' 'oseS an
u other eA'uc7 OIL japanese origin u'l'eu '"c'
= beanties' ana loineu 'nelr laS'an'e 10 rehl'
the strangers o' th'lt Ot'ehuu nome ro"h'""'
were erected at each corner OF lnIs n'Inatu'
z Japan "hose sparNlIns waters t" 'HeA ln'
r little lakes, surrounded by messy ana lowe
3 embroidered banks. Inc otner lslahuS oil I'd
Empire ,-Nipon, hiusiu and SIkok' were eac
represented in different parts oil the hail by bank
g of moss and flowers, each being surmounted by
Il gorgeous canopy The pillars supporting tn
a canopies were crowned with silver dishes tall {
flowers, and from the arches swung hanging has
kets, bearing the same fragrant burdens
y Upon entering the hall at hrst there seemed
r be an inpenetr'ble wilderness OF strange tropics
Al plants-iragrant howerS' trailing vines and twin
e ing ives fromenades, however, wound aroun
+ ana through the n'"efy mass giving an oppo
tunity Tor close inspection oil each beaGtli'
, feature. Suspended by invisible wires half hit
l. den in the folds of the dnpery, and conceale
"a .n,oro tbc vines and flowers. were over thr,
-, r.-,
huhufeu Singing niius J." e"seS' WHOSE s"e'
voices were never SILENT and who disputed wit
10 the marine band the privilege OF furnishing mus
k e,r tho occasiob The Embassy remained f.
,c -, ,,,,d r,,rS,,ooI -, ~, 80,
u ""OuV WV nuns "'iu WV '''' p" 'i' WI
Is sought the honor. They partook oil the banqu
4; with evident relish, and seemed highly delightt
= with tho nIare and the occasion
or 81. -. ;t,..t ...,., /
~ IN accoi"a"ee WI" "u iN'i'"''o', 'N''''ueu
" that body, the Embassy visited and were Official
Se received by the House Of Representatives
nc "Wednesday The only interesting ar re,nork,b
No 1T;
to feature OF '', o'c"s'o was we S's'" Ut i""Nu
4 the ambassador IN Chleii delivered IN response
a brief address Of welcome addressed to him
~ Sneotor Rloine II was written m nsrcb,ner
,g =. -. 49,, Ial;,a..l 4. .,.a -
- !" "'u III ''e -"
be anese language Alter which Zen. Banks, Cha
90 man of the Committee on Foreign Relation
reod an ENGLISH translation thereof
lie M -. -,
ut i"e s,'suiu' Oe"u'S "uu "ppiop''a'''ie'S
this little speech induces me to copy 1t Tor {
qualification of my readers.
u,
w ih5; speaker ana iiohotaots hiIIO.'y a. Z
nv rouse q hePfeSe""'ceS me oHte" HfHte
IN nd ,he Deonio ,Sh,n, ,ye reDrd'n,,
~, tender to you our sincere thanks and warms
friendship. We fully appreciate the dlsti
"' guisheu hen4r "nlGn piuces Us IIce % i9ce
us Great American Rep1blic'