The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-01-02
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON D. c., Dec Goth, 1915

THE WEATHER.
The ''polar wave has about as effectually
cooled the ardor of Washington as did the
"tidal wave" that of liberal republicansm.
We have had it as bad as other people and we
begin to think that old probabilities has no
more influence on the weather than Warmoth
has with Judge Durell. The wave, however,
seems to be receding and the thermometer as
sumes greater degree of cheerfulness to-day
than it has for week.
THE CRIMINAL REcoRD-cAPIrAL PUNISH
MENT.
The news of the week includes two of the
most atrocious murders ever recorded in this
city, and are, in my opinion, the direct harvest
Of the seed lately sown by the legal murders
that have taken place during the past few
weeks, and of which have already written
perhaps too often. Both of the murderers are
known and one has been already apprehended.
He was constant attendant at the late MUIR
der trials and witnessed the two last execu-
tions. He is negro rough of the lowest order
just the sort of man for whose benefit these
exhibitions are intended, or rather who is ex-
pected to be deferred from crime by the exam
pie before him. The effect in this case, at
least, is apparent. This man certainly was
not held in check by his experiences, but DELHI
erately murdered man for the purpose of OBJ
tanning little money for Christmas, as he
himself expressed it. The question can be
fairly urged whether or not he was influenced
toward the committal Of the deed by what he
saw and heard. Might he not feel that his
mode of life was such that he had no other
chance for heaven SO good as the one presented
by the usual routine of murder, trial. convic-
ton, conversion and strangulation according to
the present popular stereotyped plan?
SNOW BOUND IN VIRGINIA.
During the past week have spent few
days in the interior of Virginia at the town of
Warrenton, a name that will sound familiar to
all of the readers of the papers during the war,
and awaken personal recollections in the mind
of many soldier L was unfortunate in my
selection of the time to visit this place as 1
found myself snow-bound the whole time of
my stay. To be sure was at all times as COM
Portable as the utmost exercise of that hospi-
tality of which Virginia justly boasts, could
make me. was quartered at the "Warren
Green Hotel" where I 'fared sumptuously
every day. but hotel life, even under so favor
able circumstances, is always rksome to me.
gained something by being prisoner of the
elements for these few days, for had an OPP
portunity of seeing certain phases of Southern
society that never could have seen in any
other way or under any other circumstances. A
Northern man sees many things that are not
congenial to his ideas and habits, but ON the
whole like Virginia and her people. At the
same time I cannot help the feeling that pro-
hibitory liquor law rightly enforced would be
of incalculable advantage to them. Intemper-
ance seems to have fearful hold, but / am
told that saw more of it than is usual even
on Christmas, of which much account is made
throughout the South, the festivities being gen.
orally of a boisterous character. The more
joyous ones seem to think that they can best
commemorate the birth of Him who was born
in manager by getting drunk on egg-nog and
sleeping in the gutter. This old State seems
like a new country to me. Everything lacks
that certain air of permanence and stability
that characterizes our New England commu-
mites. The farm buildings especially seem to
be buils for temporary. purposes. The general
absence of barns other shelter for stock is
is the first thing that attracts the attention of
ike Yankee. Stock of all kinds in large num-
bers are seen standing unsheltered from snow
storm, thesviolence of which equals the severe
north-easters of Maine.
VIRGINIA HORSES.
This is valuable grazing region and might
NC maui oIC VI tuc IlCucSt III tile COuuCTy, sec
ond only to the famous blue grass region of
Kentucky We find here some of the finest
bred horses have ever seen-direct descend
ants of old Lexington, Revenue and other well
known througbreds. They are just what our
people in Maine ought to have to cross with
the Hampton and Knox stock. These horses
are bred for their racing qualities rather than
for trotting, as the want of good roads in this
State makes the general use of carriages i'm
practicable and the trotting horse is not called
good saddle horse. There is an appearance
of fine breeding in these horses that have
never seen shown by any horses in Maine
One horse in particular called ''Sherrod' whose
name is doubtless familiar to the professional
horsemen all over the country attracted my at
tention. He is sixteen years old and is the
most beautiful formed animal have ever seen.
He is a son of "Lecompte' and his dam is old
'tPicayune'-and his pedigree goes back to
the days OF the Arabian nights Although he
has run some Of the most remarkable races on
record in the days of his boyhood, before the
war, he has not single perceptble blemish
about him. and looks like young colt His
owner, DR.. j. B. Withers of Warrenton. Va
is justly proud of him and it would take a
large snm of money to buy him. Well there!
a man never knows when to stop if he once be-
gins to talk horse. Even President Grant is
accused OF tendency to sociability in this d.
rection so l trust may be pardoned if [ will
only stop now. will say by way of apology
that any horseman in Maine will pardon me at
once if he will only come out here and see for
himself.
THE sPEAKERsHIP.
The papers are skirmishing a little on the
question of the Speakership, but as far as l
can learn no one seriously questions the al
most absolute certainty of the rejection of
Mr.. Blaine. The multiplicity of candidates is
very much in his favor and the shrewder ones
say that there will be general gradual with
drawal in favor of the present Speaker.
WORK AFTER RECESS.
The work of Congress will necessarily be
very lively after the recess, although it is
thought that little will be done except to pass
the appropriation bills and even this will re-
q1ire large amount of labor for the time re-
manning. By the present law the 43d Congress
does not meet until December, 1880 ad-
.journment on the fourth Of March is ineyita-
unless the law is repealed or an extra session
called, neither of which is likely to occur
Gen. John G. Calderwell has visited us dur
ing the past few weeks.
MR HALE's RESOLUTION
There will probably be some skirmishing in
the Senate when Mr.. HaIes resolution against
the obiteration of record of our soldiers from
the regimental colors and Army Register comes
up. 1t is thought that Mr.. Sumner will speak
against it and in favor of his bill of opposite
import, as it is announced that his health is
improving Senator Edmunds and others are
expected to sustain the other side of the de-
bate and it will be SHARP and decisioe" if not
"Short."
THAT TUBE
The work on Brisbane's pneumatic tube
from the Capitol to the Government Printing
Office is progressing imperceptibly. If the es-
adjustment Of this method of transmitting
mail aud other matter is to await the result of
this experiment, am afraid it will be long
time before my letters will be sent from WASH
ngton to Portland in two hours--as 1 verify
believe somebody letters will be before the
close of the present century. When that time
comes ssmay / be there to see. - MINoT aa,
TEN wears from now the story of official in |
%,%,,petency and msmanaeemen mt in connection
viii the prevalence of smallpox in this city, !
the atss.se a blush of shame when recalled to
Boston zion OF officials who are responsible