The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-10-31
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.

LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Oct. 9th, 1874.
AUTUMN SCENES.
Now that Autumn has fairly come to
rule the varied year, Washington puts on
its gayest mantle. The nobility from New
port, Long branch, Saratoga and Rocka-
way Beach, are all back in their brown stone
palaces; and their champing steeds and gay
equipages dash along the Avenue, glitter
ing in all the bravery of silver and gilt
crested harness, and lap robes of rare, rich
fur-furs once held in such high esteem
that only the wealthiest mandarins wore
Now they encase the shapely calves of
John, the coachman, and James, his aid,
as they sit in supercilious insolence above
the gorgeous hammer-clotb, which decor
contractor, Muggins, the money lender, or
Snipkins. the politician. The policemen
in the fashionable quarters are on the broad
grin with happy expectations of more
generous larder, kept down to starvation
point, during Summer, for cook and house
maids, while the family" were ruflling
it at the watering places. But, though the
city has resumed its gayety of appearance,
there seems to have been no active impulse
to business, which is, generally speaking,
at stand still, if one except the restau-
rants and liquor shops. Men must eat and
drink, or rather must cat, and will drink,
be the times good or bad. You may re-
member those beautiful lines published
sometime in the sixteenth century by
well, l misremember who-however they
run thusly:
Back and side go bare, go bare,
Both foot and hand go cold;
But, belly, God send thee good ale enough,
Whether it be new or old'
Perhaps you had better say stomach. So
ciety is more particular than it was two
hundred years ago. The proof reader will
be excused if he takes two bars rest at
that last period, say at Falls or McAteer's.
To return, however, to the subject of
business, the depression is the same, to-
gether with the suspension of " Public I'm
provements " throughout the city, has kept
away from our hotels the usual herd of
contractors, and their attending flocks of
"drummers and other cormorants. This
is bad for the theatres, bad for the hotels,
bad for omnibusses and livery stables, bad
for tho Can-can and Black Crook, and in
short, dulls things generally. So, although
| see that New York, Philadelphia, Balti-
more, and other places are complaining of
hard times, they may console themselves
by the reflection that the National Capital,
although robed in its gayest mantle, has a
hard Winter before her, and her coal not
half in.
However, very little of this is to be felt
or seen in promenading our principal ave-
nues, which are thronged as usual with
ladies in the most elaborate toilets; for
when was Washington society" woman
known to 90 without an elegant costume
because her father or husband was tinan-
cially embarrassed Where all the money
comes from that these fair creatures carry
upon their backs is question that has
puzzled wiser heads than mine. The fash
ions this season are both pretty and becom-
ing, but border on such styles, that unless
they are selected with care and in modera-
ton, become rather fast and bold looking.
THE NORTH POLE AGAIN.
While in conversation with a prominent
naval officer few days since, | learned
that an effort would be made during the
coming Congress to have an appropriation
made for new voyage of exploration in
search of the North Pole. The plan pro-
posed is as follows: Let Congress make an
appropriation large enough to enable the
Secretary of the Navy to purchase or build
vessel especially fitted for the purpose,
something after the build of the Tigress,
which was sent north under Commander
Greer in search of the Polaris survivors, to
which officers of the navy shall be ordered,
as to any other vessel for special services;
and the crew to be carefully selected for
the purpose as was the Iigress' crew last
year. 1t is believed that vessel, differed
and manned in that way, will be enabled
to reach the long -sought-for geographical
North Pole, and to properly determine the
position of land found. 1t has become
the fixed opinion of scientific men and
geographers, from the experience of former
expeditions, that volunteer expeditions
have uniformly failed from lack of pro-
harmony of purpose among the officers.
Naval officers in plenty are found anxious
to volunteer for such service, and those
could be readily selected, who, in addition
to their regular duties on board, would be
eminently competent to make all necessary
astronomical, geological, geographical, and
natural history observations and inquiries.
The names of Commander Belknap, Lieu
tenant McRitchie, and Lieutenant Com
handing ii. c. White, of the Navy, have
been mentioned in connection with the
probable command of such an expedition.
GRANGERIsM.
There is something solid in it after all
something for the money getting age to
admire, and politicians to sigh for. Here
is the Secretary of the National Grange at
Washington, receiving $1,000 per annum,
while the Assistant Secretary of the Treas
ury is content with $500 year. This
" Anti Monopoly Scribe =" is also in receipt
of numerous perquisites, and his office is
financially worth more than that of the
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or
Secretary of State. This is a position
worth striving for. No wonder Milton Y.
Kidd and T. Jefferson Scott want to be
Changers.
MEANNESs.
Washington can challenge even Turkey
Town on the following: A lady on Capitol
Hill, upon the recent marriage of her
daughter, gave her intended SON. law
three dollars in sealed envelope, with
which to fee the minister. The enterpris-