The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-12-16
Letter from Washington.
COrre Sl0ndcntt OF the journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec, 18th |

pAteNoiNeth
stration Of the time old adage ''the dust
flies the Droom,' 50 Dame Nature has
been most protuse in her ransacking,
overhauling, clearing up, and cleaning
out that is to be entered into by the new
Democratic House. Anyway, she has
been most generously pouring out her
pent up tears, until everybody is thor
oughly satisfied with the general wetting
down, to say nothing Of the thanktulness
Of the few who have escaped her other
literally bestowed gifts in the shape of
coughs and colds. But despite the ills,
despite the wind and weather, one half
the world seemed abroad on Monday.
Judging from the crowd that at an early
hour thronged the corridors of the Capt.
tol and beseiged the doors Of the gal .e-
ries, all eagerly anxious for even Il
glimpse of that most wonderful Of all
wonderful sights, q Democratic House of
Representatives organizing at the Ma
tional Capitol. 500 early" suggested a
friend who has had much experience in
such matters, and did, before breakfast.
or so soon after that important event as
to leave doubt during the balance Of the
day as to whether had had any or not.
And vet on arrival at the House galleries
there was nothing but heads to the right
of me, heads to the left, without an inch
of room to spare in any direction, so far
rs the eye could see. Before despair had
time to do much havoc however, a friend
ut court spied out and secured an avail
able seat on the reserved side of the
House. Of which Immediate aud thankful
possession was taken. Possibly there
were -" maledictons in Rome when
somebody came and found that seat occl-
pied, but if so | was blisstully ignorant,
and thus happy. And after all this hurry
excitement. and hot haste the clock still
pointed only ten, two long hours of wait
ing before the Clerks gavcl should de
scend to assemble for the first time the
Forty-Fourth Congress. Swift, pleasant
moments they proved, nevertheless. with
! good natured, gossiping crowd on all
| sides, and the changing notable scene be-
low. A not unpleasant place of waiting
is this House of Representatives, with is
| spacious dimensions, its broad, massive
| galleries on every side. IFS rich, tasteful
recommendations, its pictures and adorn-
ments, its associations, and the soitened
| light let in from the stained glass root
| above. And now that the new carpet is
laid, with its fresh, pearly tints contrast
ING so prettily with the polished oak of
the desks and seats, more attractive than
| ever though this seems likely to prove
| good taste at the expense of economy,
since already the trampling Of many feet
has made sad havoc of its daintincsS, and
| left inetlaceable marks upon its bright
ness. The indications are now that at
the end of this long, busy session the
rich, heavy fabric will not be worth as
y '
| its construction. But the one thing that
is needed to add alike to attractiveness
and comfort is little ventilation-not OF
schemes, Jobs, and corruptions, though
that is nearly always 4 necessity, but a
little of heavens pure air let in upon the
sitting, su1locating crowds that 50 fire.
quentlv collect here. On occasions like
Monday, and whenever some unusual
event has brought together a denser col
lection Of humanity than usual, the stencil,
il one may be pardoned the Use of such
an expression, is something fearful to en-
counter SO that days visit at the Cap
itol is almost sure to be followed by head
aches and colds, even if no more fatal
mischief is done Pray let us have lit
| tie more air-it's cheap.
\ few moments before the opening
hour, Mrs. Blaine, accompanied by her
young daughter, entered the representa-
tive gallery and took possession OF the
seats usually reserved for the Speakers
family. She was richly and tastetully
attired in stylish suit Of dark brown
silk, handsomely trimmed in Il lighter
shade of the same rich material, with hat
and gloves to match, the somberness OF
the whole relieved by knots of cardinal
red in the hat and at the throat And the
daughter seemed even more than usual a
miniature copy of her mother, arrayed so
nearly alike, in the same fashionable and
| prevailing dark brown, shaded by the
same much worn red The wife Of the
eN-Speaker is not Il pretty woman, the
| features are too positive and the color too
| dim tor that; but the abundant gray hair
| waves back from 4 face that if plain
would be noticeable any where from its
look Of power and determination, which,
added to the easy, self-possessed manner
| in which she sits the observed Of all OBJ
servers, gives the impression of woman
of strong force and much selt-relance-a
| lifting companion to her able and brilliant
husband Just after Mrs. Blaine came
Mrs. Bclknap, wife of the Secretary OF
| War, attended by one of the attaches Of
the English legation, who took seats in
the diplomatic gallery. Like Mrs Blaine,
she wore the universal brown SUIT, which
in velvet, silk, or wooden, or in combina-
tons of all, seems to form an indispen-
sable part Of every lady's wardrobe this
season. The next noticeable arrival to the
now densely packed galleries was Sir
William Thornton, the English minister,
a tall, erect, stately, but gracious looking
gentleman, with hair, mustache and heavy
side whiskers more than iron gray, and
fast verging on Snowy whiteness, though
the eye is as clear, bright, and penetrat-
ing as youth. lie is handsome man,
with an impressive face, and a proud,