Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-02-28
FROM THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
WASHINGTON Feb. 81 1872.

human family known rs .'s0cIeiy, :. 5p,'-
posed to be in sack-cloth and ashes That
it is not, however, may be Inferred from
the remarks CT the daily papers on the
morning of Ash Wednesday, expressing tne
regrets Of society that Lent had c,;ne. aud
announcing a season o. moderate enjoyuIents
in other CrJs, The previous enjoy
had not been moderate, an inference orc
would believe in without great persuasion,
if he had from day to dag, read of tie ex
travagant parties and receptions given tl,e
evening previous, where, on single occa-
sions, several thousand dollars had been
lavishly spent, and that too by government
officials, who increasingly complain ofthe in
suficiency OF their salaries of from $4,000,
to $4,000. One really does not know
whether to laugh, or cry; By reading whole
columns of nonsensical stuff, of the dongs
OF society" the descriptions OF female dress
es, and lists of the most prominent of the
distinguished persons present--!ists that
really are a repetition from day to day.
For many of The persons enumerated, the
publication of these lists is really the most
interesting part of the report, for 80 out OF
loo of these persons, have perfect itching
after seeing their names in print, and are
perfectly happy and contcnted when they
can see their gorgeous dresses described, and
their probable value estimated in dollars and
cents
The ridiculous feature of society TO use
no harsher name, has, however, never been
better illustrated than by the so-caled jnve-
nile parties, much in fashion, where young
gentlemen and ladies, of from to l , years
are initiating their elders To see ladies
stuffed up painted powdered, bedecked with
jeweiry, their limbs and bosoms indecently
exposed. is bad enough, but i. is decidedly
worse to see innocent Young children sim
llarly arrayed. On the occasion OF one of
these parties, i. is stated that the mother oil
one of the children present took great pride
in asserting that the getting up of her
daughter, young miss offs, had cost S., 000.
What shall be said of such parents AMI
| what will be the future life of such child,
educated to believe that in dress and show
| is the real happiness of life? Indeed, it
would be well il it was Lent all the year
around, and only moderate enjoyments and
elegant dinner parties allowable. IFortu-
nate for some people, that they are able 10
get along without either.
In the political world things are consider
ably upside down, and he must indeed be a
prophet, who can fore,ell just how things
are going to come out. Whatever is done,
or is not done, is supposed TO have bearing
on the &C ming presidential election, and is
judged accordingly by the friends or enc
mics, OF the only prominent candidate SO
far, the present Executive. Senator
known as friendly to the administration
introduces bill, and instantly it is said
that it eliminates from the White House, and
is done in order to improve the Presidents
chances for denomination some Senators
vote for it, and it is said they do SO at dicta
ton On the other hand, Senator supposed
to be unfriendly, introduces resolution, and
instantly other Senators jump TO their feet
and exclaim that it is done in order to de-
feat denomination, and consequently they
feel bound to oppose it, no matter how jus,
it may be. Under these circumstances it is
OF likely that any Legislation Of any con-
sequence vii! be done this winter Presi-
dent making, is the only real subject under
discussion, no matter how dexterously it
may be hidden by friend or foe. The latest
in this line, is Summers resolution on an in
vestigaIiou relative to the sale of arms 10
France, during the Franco Prussan war.
1t does not at the present time, seem likely
that aay harm will come to the admins
traton, from any investigation ; arms have
been sold, as they have been sold ever since
the close of the rebellion, with the express
consent and sanction of Congress, and to
private individuals who afterwards have
sold them 10 French agents vino I'M dicousy
government. Fer this the government ID
not to blame, neither was it Obliged to ask
the first purchasers what they intended to
do with the arms Meanwhile in othar
matters, what syer the Administration does,
or does not do, the President is blamed by
his opposers, who are bound to give him
credit for nothing. 1t is we'll kaown that
he is earnest and sincere in hi. efforts to re.
form the Civil Service, bu: every effort is
sneered at and beiittie6, and he is expected
to do everything at once. To-day he is
blamed for not doing certain thing, it is
done tomorrow, and the day after he is
blamed for doing it, by the very same per
sons. hot only is he expected to do every
thing at once, but he is expected TO know
everything that goes on, over the whole
country, to be fully posted on every branch
of service, know the misdeeis of every off,
Ger, almost before they are done, and recti-
fy and punish them immediately. Such
warfare is neither fair nor just, and it is too
bad almost to see the Tribune as the leader
IN such q movement.
The weather has, during the winter, been
unusually cold for this latitude; it is said.
colder than any winter since lS43. Twice
has the thermometer touched zero, and
there has been \ considerable fall of snow,
though but little at a time; when the sun
does come out, it is warm and pleasant
though, and there are Indications now that
Spring will be with us soon, the lst OF
March, being about the time it makes It's
appearance here. w.
True EcOnOnay.--The country is at
present flooded with cheap and inferior
goods of every description, which are her
aided to the public IN f. ming advertise
ments and which fnd a market among those
who have yet to lean that :" true economy"
consists in buying a first class article fro II
an established aud first class house. For
example, pianos of various makers are offer
ed at about oue-half the price of those of