Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-07-20
Wnshinaton Correspondenee.
WAsuINGroN, D, c., I
July II, 1875. !
Mr Editor:-

WASHINGTON, ~, u, (
July II. 1875.
Mr Editor:
The stranger who arrives in Washing
ton on Monday. aud during the week
visits the Capitol, the White House, the
Departments, the Smithsonian Institute,
the Coreoran Art Gallery, the Navy Yard,
and some other places of interest, and
has "perambulated' Pennsylvania Az
enue to his hearts content, vainly
imagfnes that he has "seen" Washington,
and leaves on Saturday with the mistaken
idea that he knows all the "manners aud
customs" OF the metropolitan elephant
To see and know Washington stranger /
must stop here on Sunday. There are
many circumstances TO which tho de- |
scendant OF The ''PGritaaN has yet to !
learn to adapt himself, For instance,
with all the perlinacity or stubbornness
of the Pilgrim Fathers, our New England
people not only claim but exercise the
right OF dying when their time comes,
no matter what day OF the week 1t may
happen. have known people in Maine,
considered respectable in their several
walks OF life, to die on Monday, (wash-
ing day. apparently with desire to
make the day more disagreeable than
usual. il possible. We have notable in
stances in New England, of persons who
had years OF opportunity in which to
select proper day on which to die. but
who slubbornly neglected, and finally
died on the Fourth of July. OF all the
days in the year, when the Eagle was
screaming. and Young America firing
crackers and whistling Yankee Doodle.
No such improprieties occur here. No
respectable person here dies before Fri
day in any week, aud all funerals occur
on Sunday. This is as it should be-the
day seems peculiarly adapted to the &C.
casiou. But the custom has extended
itself beyond the strict liniHS olrespecta'
bilitv. | am told that Office seekers
whose claims were finally rejected, on
Monday have been known TO pay their
board bills. and from a mere sense OF
Dropricty wal, until Friday before com
uniting suicide. Oar c0lored brothers
and sisters, with hat spirit OF adaptation
which so peculiarly characierizes the
race. am informed universally conform
to this custom. No respectable colored
man or woman dies before Friday in the
warm season. Ynd Thursday Z. NJ. in tue
winter, aud either would give up the
Constitutional Amendments, aud even
abandon the Civil Right, Bill without
sigh, before yielding one lot or titIle' OF
hight to toe "luiled 10 their last sleep on
Sunday by 4 solemn dir2e, perlorme by
a .Coluied Brass Band ol ii least -
pieces. Should you witness one oil these
instruments, notwithstanding your Pnrl-
,Aul,.., training as to the future duties OF
Gabriel, =" the idea would punlG'ly I'M
pttSs itself on your miLd; in fact you
could no. resist ,he conclusion, that u
soul thus biocu TO sleep. could Hcccr be
= awakened by any ,riad instrument unless
=. i .PaieHt- Improved High pressure steam.
Fog WhiStic.' that can be heard distinctly
., least twelve miles at sea, can be con.
, Slrued to be q trumpet.
would not haze yoa think that Sun
, day in Washington Is made up OF funerals
alone. Her chuIches compare layorabIy
with those of any CITY in the Union, and
the audiences which I'LL them to reple.on,
from the very force of circumstances
which calls many of them here, are more
than ordinarily intelligent and apprecia-
tive. and her preachers. pious, LEANED
and eloquent, are fully equal 10 the sill
uation." T. the wandering New Eng
lander here, nothing brings so wildly
before his mental vision home and its sur
surroundings, liz Inmates aud its absent
ones, its Joys and its sO:roTs, It's hopes,
and The skeleton in It's closet, for every
home Is said 10 have one. rs DO tie
chimes ol the Metropolitan on L. church,
when they ring out upon the still, sultry
air OF The city the familiar notes OF Old
Hundred, Pieyei's Hymn, aud other kin.
{ bred music. There is one other peeuli.
arily Of Sunday in Washington. While
il is quite as impreSsice "a 10 New Eng
land, il is much Jriet,r. 1t begins !dter
10 the morning and ends earlier a. night.
The average Week Lere contains more
than six full days beside Sunday, particu-
larry during the sessions of Congress and
also when Fourth ol july" happens on
Sunday. But to change the subject.
A Maine man Visiting Washington
need have no fears in announcing his
locality. The reputation Of his STATE.
! The high standing and capacity Of lis DEL
egalion in Congress as well a that OF its
appointees in the various Departments,
all induce him to claim to b. citizen OF
Maine, aud Notwithstanding the absence |
of his delegation he will by no means |
lind himself a stranger He will meet |
among other former residents OF Maine, |
closely connected with her history and |
interests, ex.Gov. Anderson, upon whose /
erect figure and genial countenance The |
cares and burdens o! forty years OF inn
&