The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-08-02
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, d. c.,


fashionable world it would be reckless in
me to date a letter from Washington at the
present time. Being innocent of the pleas
ures which the midsummer brings to those
who loiter by the sea-" or indulge in the
luxury of mastery activity at the
springs" l do not hesitate to announce
myself as still sin the city,
| l suppose you have been assured long
ago that everybody had left Washington.
Whenever the President goes jenkins"
or some one else, Immediately announces
that Washington is deserted. There are
those who believe the capital to be silent
and deserted from May until October, and
that every sign, every motion of activity
ceases during that period.
If Washington was the seat of the gods
only, this might be the case. Unfortu-
nately its population is largely made up of
what Mrs. Shomocracy calls the "canaillc,"
and still more unfortunate (?) belong to
this same canaiHc. You may not know
that the canaille includes everybody who
earns a living by work. Work is inexcusa-
bic here. No one need have a desire to
come here who is not calculating enough
and diplomatic enough, to lift himself
above the herd" by some grand flank
manGuvre that gives him money and posi-
ton. The hundreds of patient toilers who
have no conception of summer pleasures,
save as they read the extravagant descrip-
lions of their delights in the watering
place correspondence in the newspapers,
toll on, thankful for the opportunity of
earning the means to provide the necessi-
ties which civilized existence entails.
The heat here is simply" orful." Every
body, irrespective of age, sex, race, color,
or previous condition of servitudc, carries
an umbrella. Mankind's original element,
dust, abounds in quantities almost infinite.
1t is not passive in it's nature either, but
keeps persistently in motion, making itself
seen and felt continuously. Coming to
Washington now literally means "return-
ing to dust;'' but it does not always mean
quitting off corruption"
The capital, standing high and white on
the hill, looks from without parched and
heated; but within there is the delicious
GOODNESS of an autumn morning. To what
fever must the bronze goddess be wrought
standing on its lofty dome, with the suns
fierce rays upon hor massive figure?
The example Of that bronze goddess is
worthy Of imitation. She docs not leave
ha in, tha haa - 10
nor quake at the storm and wind that pass
over her. From her high estate she views
with unchansing eye the turmoil and the
surge Of the city beneath; the career Of the
great and the unavailing efforts of the
"weak and weary" Fashioned by the
hands Of man, she stands silent, endur-
ing comment upon his life so soon Ground
ed with sleep" Her lofty attitude does
not turn her head to dizziness, nor her
heart to pride. Elevated by the people, to
the people she remains faithful, and pa
tiently watches over them. She is bound
by no letters, hedged by no walls; but is
high, majestic, and free; and stands over
the Capital the image of the principle
which had its birth in the hearts of the
founders of our Rcpublic-that of "uni-
uersal Liberty"
The Capital is deserted, save by the few
minor officials and supernumeraries who
seem to live and have their being within
its walls eternally. The halls of the SEN
alto and House are carpetless, and their
silence unbroken by furious defamation.
1t is the very best timo to wander through
the halls and chambers of this ever beau
tiful structure. There is much to see
and study, that is overlooked by visitors
when the gods are here in common council. |
Tho clerks in the various departments |
take their leave, few each month, yet the |
number seems mover to be diminished. |
The printers in the Government Office have |
all had their leave, and will now all be left |
steadily at work, except the few who an
nually leave on account of ill-health, get a |
"ticket of leave" which they would as
leaoe not have, or pass into " that undis-
covered country from beyond whose borne
no traveller returns" The journalists of
the city are also all here, although even
the Bohemians have almost all fled. Jour
nalists are like policemen, they never get |
tired, never 60 away, and never die.
Our amusements are very modest at the
present time, composing river excursions
on boat of the average speed Of Wash's
Liza Jane" on Elk river, and the open
air concerts, each Wednesday and Satur-
day afternoon, in the White House and
Capital grounds. These concerts are de-
lightful. The marine band plays, and the
people stand and listen. 1t is most enter
tanning. When standing becomes irk-
some, one has the privilege of walking
tion to stand and listen two hours to en-
trancing strains from Faust and Weber,
although the ecstacy of delight is often
tempered by couple Of corns or so under
a pair of tight boots
The mourning has already disappeared
from the columns of the public build
ings, thirty days being the limit of a
nations woe for one of its chief officials.
The grief of the loss of Chief Justice Chase
is swallowed up in the wonder of who is 10
be his successor. 1t makes me think of
the fine scorn tho dead must feel, after
their eyes have grown used to the meas
ureless surprises of Eternity, and they see
how readily the gap they have left, how
ever wide, is filled. Respectfully, &C.,
G. F. w.
Short Time ago Howe Machine agent |
proposed to trade horses with a farmer. |