The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-12-02
Letter from Washington.
COrrpSDOndpucn IF tho Jo,ru,I
WASHINGToN Nov 3f

w A'AlINplON, NOf. ~, 10 ~.
"Once,' says Gail Hamilton, there was
great humping, humping, and gathering in
our house" Just what has been happening in
every household here at the Capitol for the past
month; not, however, as in her ease, the re-
suit of an outgoing, but Of many incomncs-
the average member, and the member who
is not average; Congressman whose imposing
dignity always keeps one thinking of what the
school books used to say about Jove'S awful
brow and voice of thunder. and Congressman
whose lamentable lack Of The same makes YOU
thnk-Well perhaps its Just lis well not to say
what you think about them; quantities of Con-
stltuentS with lakes to grind" hosts of hun
cry otficc-holderS Mrs. Shoddy, her household
gods and French tncry for "a season." Il few
real pleasure seekers, small number OF disn-
tercSted COOKERS on in Nienna;" some really
great. true, earnest gentlemen able and faith
full servers Of their country, that help to keep
faith alive in the old time traditions Of Con-
grcssional integrity, Congress ional intelligence
and Congressional honesty and confirms the
peilet that some good can still cone out of
American statesnnn,hil and the Lord knows
who all beside.
And such a preparation for this grand ,ol,l-
ing, such 4 humping of cari,cnter,. surb ,
brushing of painters, such Il Gathering of house
cleaners, such din Of uphoi>lercrs why the
traditional Sprlng-cleaning, where you eat cold
VlctuaiS for L week and can't find ANYTHING for
il month, is nothing iii comparison. tarprts
have changed rooms and sometimes owner, =:
curtains have been made over to look lis good
is new; broken-bacbcd chairs have taken a
new lease Of life: whilst layed and soed III
hol>tery has rs suddenly hidden its shame un-
der the glory of new coverings in solid colors
or glowing stripes. 10 effect all this there has
been rs much ''hurrying to and fro" rs there
was in Belgiums capitol, on different orca-
sion And such Il lovely time a. the ladies have
had attending the sales.
" Sales " are particularly and peculiarly Il
Washington institution, lust is much rs Con-
SresS and the Departments. And if there j.
one thing dearcr than another 10 Il Washington
Woman'S heart it is Il sale; She reyeIs in them
dotcS on them, talks Of them by day, dreams
of them by night, and visits them al every OBJ
portunity. They are Of all ranks and kinds.
from high to low, and are patronized alike by
patrlcian and picbm. And their cognoncns
are as queer as the strange conglomcration Of
patrons-So that one hears Of the Russian min
listers sale the French minister's sale: the
Peruvian minister's sale: the sale of Judge q ,
senator L. and Representative o., and thu, ON
to the hunhlest colurrd brother the CaptOl
holds. Now don't g TO putting y covert mean
inc to my words, ana thinking mean To con-
vey even in the remotcst possible way, that
| these people ever sell themselves. An. no:
refer simply and solely to The disposal of all
their household goods, chattcs and effects. The
ever changing population of this beautiful city
renders this sale business an almost imperative
necessity, and Yet brings about some Strange
| commingng Of associations in the furnishings
OF house. | have seen il room here whose
| carpet once Welded to the stately tread of the
Chief Ju:st of the land and his many and dis
tngui>hed guests, the piano rcsoundrd to the
We'll trained touch Of his fair and ACCOMPLISHED
daughter, the curtains came from the late French
minister's. and though not violet velvet either
in hue or texture, Yet have often in their sad
uncertain rust lingS"