The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-04-15
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON. April 10Th. 1870

WASHINGTON, April 10th. 1876
DEAR WHIe:-Ths being the last week
of the Lenten season, or as it is termed,
holy week, the services in Catholic and
Episcopal Churches will be of the most
impressive order. Most, if not all, of the
churches have added additional services to
the usual Lenten programme, and to judge
from the attendance at the various places
of worship yesterday, it will prove to be
decidedly the most sacred of the entire Len
ten season. The angelists-Hammond
and Bentley-are still with us, and am
Informed are meeting with unbounded sue
cess. The great feature of their soiourn in
our midst was the unprecedented
"oPEN AIR MEETING"
yesterday at the Capitol The sunshine
and balmy air of Spring naturally led many
devout worsbipers of the morning to wan
der out in holiday attire in afternoon. The
square on the east side of the Capitol
seemed however to be the point of attrac-
ton. A stranger would have supposed
that great political demonstration was to
be held, and that some of our patriotic ora
tors were about to discourse on the glory
OF our flag and country; and had that un-
suspecting stranger been told that it was
only two evangelists vino were to hold an
open air service of preaching and song, he
would have been inclined to believe that
the age Of corruption and venality had
passed from our city, and that the COM
munity had risen to high tide of religious
life. 1t was motley assembly. Men and
women of every rank and condition in life
gradually filled the broad steps leading up
to the rotunda of the Capitol until every
inch of space from top to bottom was filled
with a densely packed mass of humanity
And still they came. Standing on the COL
onnade, and looking away in the distance,
the streets seemed alive, while up the hill
from all quarters toled hundreds, until
stretching away back to the statue of Wash
ington, the eye met nothing but vast sea
of upturned faces, being variousiy esti-
mated from ten to twelve thousand per-
sons. 1t was decidedly the most remarka-
BILE sight ever seen in this city. There
under the shadow of that mighty dome,
and protected by the 9gis of the Goddess
of Liberty, who lowered high above them,
men of all colors and shades of religious
and political life were gathered together
under the bright sunshine to hear the SIM
pie Gospel preached. The members of the
choir, who assembled in great force, were
led by Mr.. Bentley, assisted by cornet
player, and when the grand strains of
Coronation and ''Od Hundred 'swelled
up from the voices of thousands, there were
few present who could have been other
wise than at least deeply impressed.
The various speakers were listened to
with wrapt attention, and Mr.. Hammond S
deep and powerful voice was heard dis
tinctly by every one present His remarks
were devoted chiefly to an account of his
experience in the far West among the pro-
fessional gamblers and sporting men of that
section. Mr.. Bentley rendered the solo,
Prodigal, Come Home" very sweetly and
effectively, and after the doxology had been
sung and the benediction pronounced, the
vast assemblage quietly dispersed.
SHOWS.
O'Brien's circus and menagerie is here
and our juveniles are in high glee. The
circus like the street car, is democratic
institution. Everybody goes to the circus
for their own amusement or "to please the
children" and with an opportunity afforded
of seeing first class menagerie and mu-
scum, and double circus combination for
the extremely low price of twenty-tiv cents,
"breaths there man with soul so dead ="
that he would not invest at quarter head,
lOT llc duluSeLueuI VI llle juvenile TeSpOu-
sibilities surrounding him? Not much.
correspondent was disappointed, and felt
like exclaiming, "shoot it, for fraud.
1t was excellent, however, in comparison to
our great political show" at the
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
which drags along its weary length from
day to day, and is as tiresome and moneto-
nous as Chinese play. 1t has not the
good features of the latter, even as re-
deeming quality, for where the Chinese
audience may fairly expect at the termina-
ton of the endless volums of talk and
clamor, to perceive some wholesome moral
lesson com pletely unfolded, there is nothing
to expect from the House of Representa-
tives but a spectacle of selfishness, sensa-
tonal acting, and narrow minded ambition.
The dramatis persdn9 having charge of
the boards, have only one point to gain,
namely: Self ACKNOWLEDGMENT, and all the
plot and the by play, the wit and humor
that is thrown in to hold the interest. and
the mock heroics that are INDUCED in by
the heavy characters, are the thinnest of
illusions, gotten up fo- effect and nothing
else.
The performance was somewhat varied
on last Saturday, by set-to between two
of the chivalry, Col. Dick Wiptersmith
of Kentucky, Lobbyist, and one String
field, of South Carolina, whose daily prov
ender is earned by manipulating the door
knob of the members gallery in the House.
Springfield lad been investigating the
crooked, and turned up at his post heavily
laden and ready for fight with his mother
in law or any other man. and accused Col:
Wintersmith-who had likewise been in
gating-with using truth with penu-
rious frugalty, whereupon the Col. knocked
him down. A mill Of half dozen rounds
followed, and the enraged contestants were
separated. After considerable chin music
they shook hands, and adjourned to a
neighboring "gin mill a. to Investigate the
Democratic remedy for all evils" bourbon
Balm of Gilead." J. II. P.