The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-03-11
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
lvROM oUn REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.


and that has stirred all hearts with such
pow srful thrills u dismsy and sorrow
that We have talked in low voices, while
each one felt an II the national disgrace
were . personal stain. No lady has been
Ia Washington for years whose beauty
AHf grace we're 80 widely acknowledged,
and u think u ATs. Belkns = queenly
head based IA the agony u shame, which
iAust rect UPON LsT sith NJ hope " relief
touched We al ~Ith pity Ia the midst "
DsiT sno~i.dzs - hes wrong shall ney-
I ~ forget t.ts nrst tIu4t ! go her II vac
7 LvI nsat f... ytiuE after her bsDys birth,
~LsA ors~as ~vfs thTonEng y cVngrstu-
ists Les tLs besJtligl paTloTs, whose
~4i-s lave -1A-s.u velvet paper SIth
sllauo t4vIcs ~err fvA n happy faces.
T tlss, ~ tLs ~. sssTsas5 II well bred
Y s.I..s . app, ~ IlsLt laughter NV aud
v tLeA. pleI asus aAS elegant ornaments were
e,esy aIsf, bst faiTef than everything
Dssla, sJ..a tAe hostess Perfectly dress
Ell ~ o..ngss fryi1 the ,i4AluvrAd algTett4
10 the sYit ylfs At her dark hair, 10 the
tie II her dainty s4sIH boot. The costume
wAs AZ artistic combination ~ black vel
vet ~ith shining silver array satin II it-
ted her stately form without fault; there
was such hight in her beautiful eyes,
such a glow ~ health on her cheeks; the
coral lips parted over such perfect teeth,
that ] stood looking at her as ] might at
some artists dream 81 a loveliness never
known IN actual life There was only one
feature to be criticised; the nose was an
unmistakable pug, but one never thought
brightness over all the face with an ire
sistible charm. | remember that the
Secretary stood in the front parlor, laugh
ing heartily at some droll thought, and
that gleam from the setting sun struck
through his taWny beard. A bluff, Jolly
son % Mars, much more at home in camps
than courts, but personally liked by all
who knew him. Again ] saw Mrs. Bel
KNAPP only two weeks ago, standing in the
same place, and quite as exquisite in ev-
cry detail as when first met her; over
on the piano sat the baby with its French
nurse proudly guarding her treasure. The
little Alice looks like her father; she has
bright golden hair, blue eyes and the fair
est skin. Not one bit abashed or dismay-
"a. the darling received the homage 50
freely offered, chartered away in the sweet
unknown jargon q babyland. got up on
her little feet nov and then, and ] won
derei II all her life would be as bright and
happy as its Gawning
Not week ago Mrs. BeIknap came
with some friends ~ the reserved gallery
ia the House, wearing a carriage suit of
black velvet, plainly made but exceeding
" becoming, while from her girdle hung
tine pretty gathered pocket, With it's broad
silver clasp and chains. How very brief
mas been the triumph How long viii
be the years 81 humil lation and sorrow
The Secretary, as is well known, was
from Iowa, his present wife is the sister
Of his second, his first wife died several
years ago, leaving him three Sons. The
babe Of his second wife only outived its
mother a very short time. | think all his
sons are dead, and little Alice is now his
only child The most dreadful thing IL
all the sad affair is the fact that at th'
funeral Of her sister, the present Mrs.
Belknap discussed the payment Of the
money which was to secure Mr.. Marsh in
his post-tendership. OF course there are
hundred rumors current, but many of
them are utterly groundless, and it is crue !
to heap more sorrow on one sufficiently
punished. Think too of the terrible temp
tation; think how easy it seemed to frame
exalted place, yet having very moder-
ate income, and be mercful. In almost
every other land high officials are allowed
such revenues as will sustain the stile re-
quired from their positions, bur Presi-
dent Grant chose to- invite to his Cabinet
a gentleman whose private income was tx
ceedingly limited; the pressure Of society
was very great, and the sad story quickly
ended
CONGRESS On THURSDAY.
The Baltimore Gazette was the first pa
per reae hing this city with its startling
dispatch the news spread with lightning
sNIftness, and when Congress came togeth-
er, business received precious little atten-
tion. Every heart was heavily burdened
there were few smiles visible; the leading
member clustered together in groups,
unable t. talk OF think Of anything but
the dreadful tidiugs; the galleries were
filled With spectators who expected i'm
peachruent proceedings to take place; adj
ditIonal scraps q rumor passed from lip
tn TN, ana N the Senate many bill owed
its passage a. the utter indifference which
senators felt concerning any legislative
action. II vas as II they said in their
I hearts. Where u the usc u Law or tie is-
SUING u any opinion upon public obliga-
tions, hen honor is So cheaply sold
/ " hen Ia the House the Committee made
their report, il VAS a strange scene. Mr..
/ Ciymur vas excessively agitated; mem
/ beers left tEeir desks 10 come crowding
down the AisIes, listening eagerly to every
word oi that fateful reading; a stiffness
like the hush before some awful storm
settled over US all; faces grew pale and
eyes we're shining with tears, for we felt
as ii flags must be st half mast when 50
great calamity had beiAllen the nation.
| Then vesterdav IN the Senate "A was Ike