The Cairo bulletin., 1876-04-12
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.



O1trs In Washington Demon
iuatiOms -bDcyOWt Habits Of wash
s"Eeon People. ETC.. Etc.
WASHINGTON. April 8.
Travellers have very often remarked
that In the east, where the civilizations
have grown drowsy with age, crecds am
traditions are implicitly believed, Will,
In the west. where younger nations ar,
vigorously trying their own ambitious
methods of solving mysteries with I'm
questioning faith in their own ability, be
liefs are more rare, and traditions ar,
only received with indulgence. not will
authority. There comes period in th,
life OF almost every individual, NO matter
how rigid may have been the training Q
his::yOuth, when he wishes to cast asid,
the religion OF his fathers, when h,
would assert his own right to examin,
and decide for himself concerning tn,
present and the hereafter. Sometime.
the stream Of doubt upon which n,
eagerly launches his frail craft bears hin
away forever from the old creed. bu,
more frequently. as Its swift current hur.
ries him In sight of etcrnity's dreadful.
limitless expanse. he Is fain to struggle
back and anchor to the faith of his child.
hood. To most, natures religion of
some sort Is necessity, as all over this
young land the church spires are quite as
frequent as the minarets of Islum's
mosques, while the chimes call the devout
to matin or yesper service quite as iegu.
larly as in that older east the muezzin
reminds the followers of the prophet of
the time for prayers. Especially is this
the case in Washington. You hear from
afar of its gayety, its ceascless round of
its political entangemcnts,
It's rings" and its extravaganza, but
who has spoken OF its charities. OF its Sab
baths, or Of its missions among the
Ignorant. ] know no city in all our fair
where the Sabbath has n more
sacred observance, outwardly, at least;
our national congress begins its daily scs-
lions with an appeal to heaven for guild
lncc; no one has thought of reducing
he chaplain's salary in the present spasm
If economy, while the gentlemen who
make the laws think the possession OF a
pew In some popular church regular
part OF their winter establishment.
The Episcopal and Methodist Episco-
pal chimes are most numerous then
come the Catholics after them the Pres
oyteriaus and Baptists; the Hebrews
nave their synagogues; the Unitarians
heir place of worship. and the followers
If Swedenburg meet to rehearse their
aith in that later revelation. The slender
graceful spire of
rHE METROPOLITAN METHODIST CHURCH
Marks the place where the presi-
lent is regular attendant. It's
audience room Is lofty and spacious its
,rgan and choir are thoroughly well
and the tame OF DIR. Newman
widely spread. Its membership is very
arge. and then, of course, strangers will
always throng wherever a peep may be
lad at the chief magistrate. The Office
# president demands our respect, wLat-
ver may be our sentiments concerning
he Individual occupying the place. Be
ore the hour OF service the |
'ews are filled; folding chairs
re placed in double rows |
lown the wide aisles and the galleries are
One pew remains open till the |
'pening hymn has been sung, very often |
i'll the opening prayer has been offered |
hen there is bit Of polite rustic and
tir; leveling OF all eyes in one direc-
ion, while President Grant threads his
Vay between those chairs. closely follow.
d.by guests or members Of the family.
irs. Grant comes but rarely; Col. Fred
more seldom still, even when he Is in
own; young Ulysses finds something
iore congenial, but Col. Fred's lovely
rife almost always accompanies the
resident. There was any amount Of
onsense written about this young girl at
he time OF her wedding the splendor
nj variety OF her reception toilettes has
''en ",i "'iia''ih. topic Tor correspon-
'en's' ' p"' ! never yet saw her on the
.,e.,' .o,,'n u al ennfe"' III any dress which
CIV Gu ~ 'a''e' conspicuous Sunday
- '.,ea. u"""s c'" '''s winter 'he bright,
>" 49,, g. ,, ,".e 'a' p'saeu out under The same
,"' |" ''u' mat WINE 'Ne dress matching
NE ''"'es. nat was her invariablc COS
,nn % ~. "on " wonder that the president