Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-12-22
VOL. LXXIV.
WASHINGTON CITY.

lion. InomaS w hltehead writes to the am-
herst Enterprise from Washington. He says
that they have to lay down Sl25 per month for
the board of a Congressman, solus. He adds:
IAN sorts of places aod positions have nume-
rou$ applicants from country postofices to U.
5. Judgeships. Pages, printers, clerks, off,
GERS military, naval, civil aud ecclesiastical are
pushlog aloug buslly seeking place or promo
tloa From what We have seen thousands of
signatures are asked. whether they have nhu-
ence or no. The Republican members aud
officials must have a tough time. The air
seems full Of applications, claims, pensions, &c
II really looks like all the property in the world
was destroyed by the war, that nobody had
ever been paid, and that the survivors were
expected to endorse for each other.
The House is composed mainly Of first rate
average meD-scnsibe w,rkingmen who appear
honest, aud desirous of doing what they can for
hashy, ambitious young NJ 70, mostly new mem
bers) aud some self couccited old ones who i'm
agined they had everything to do aud could do
it. We are satisfied that short experience
with Speaker Blaine, a few tanges with par
lameDtary rules, and an audience talking while
they are speaking will satisfy them that they
will not be able to get hrough the job before
Christmas.
preaching is grand thing in this city, con-
SiderDg the fact that the people don't seem to
be overly piouS You can hear three sermons
here every Sunday, aud almost every night IL
the week, with the best of singing and praying;
plenty Of prsyer-meetlugs, Christian Associa-
tous, moral aud religious lectures, with or with
out price, aud yet there is about as much gen.
teel and ungenteel wckcdness as in other cities
of the size. We rather suspect the devil
wears his Sunday clothes in this city. There
ha,y,r,rs much cuIJopno of
wretcheduess aud want. Perhaps there is
more work at better rates here for the poor.
There are great mauy negroes here They
generally look well and behave well. Several
hundred of little ones are boot blacks, aud a
few are news-boys.
CHRISTMAS We congratulate our readers
on the uear approach of another, we trust-in
spite of the financial panic happy hearted,
merry old Christmas The festival seems con-
secrated by the common Christ endom as a sea-
son of Joyous sautations, and the reciprocaton
of the best wishes of the heart 1t is fl aud
natural that it should be so. The event it pro-
poses to commemorate ought to fill the heart
alike with gladness and gratitude, and it fur
uishes fit occasion for the indulgence Of the
better and kinder feelings Of our oature. 1t is
time for good wishes, kind words, and the
sepdir OF gifts. Were it only for the amount
of u.telgned delight it brings to our children,
surely we should regret its abolition from the
obse1vaoces of social life, and feel a blank when
it's date returned. Who can stand near the en-
trance of one of our confectionery stores, and
watch the looks of the little folks that enter
and thus leave those fairy regions Of childish
delight, aud coldly wish the joyous anniversary
blotted from the calendar?
To the old We wish troops Of friends" and
focks of happy children gathering about their
hearthstone. TO the young rosy cheeks, bright
eyes, aud those smiles u which ill-humour can
uot live. To the newly married, and even those
contemplating matrimoDy- we have any such
10 in our midst-we wish bridal presents in
proiusion, with loving messages from there
betrohed. 10 the old couples we wish renewed
pledges and proofs Of growing esteem, that
would lead them, iftree, to marry each other
agau the next minute. To the poor, we wish
an vpen winter cheap fuel. warm blankets, plen-
ty of work. To those who are in distress
we wish Heavens mercy, the meek endurance
Of their lot. and happy issue out Of all tribula-
ton. And, above all, We wish our delinquent
subscribers plenty of greenbacks to ena bic them
to liquidate their indebtedness, as we desire TO
enjoy, to limited extent the approaching holi-
days.. Winchester Ne,cs.
We say, with all our heart, ditto to this.
-Alerandria Gazette.