The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-03-08
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Dur Washington Correspondence.
WAsnrXGToN, March 4. 1876

ASHINGTON, March !, 1876.
OF course there has been but one topic
of conversation during the past two days, |
and that has stirred all hearts with such
powerful thrills OF dsmay and sorrow
that we have talked in low voices. while
each one felt rs ii the national disgrace
was personal stain. No lady has been
in Washington for years whose beauty
and grace were so widely cknowledged.
and to think of Mrs. Belknap's queenly
head bowed in the agony of shame which
must rest upon her with no hope of re-
lief fills us all with pity in the midst of
our knowledge of her wrong. | shall
never forget the first time saw her. 1t
was her first reception after her baby's
birth, where crowds were thronging to
congratulate her. the beautiful parlors,
whose walls have crimson velvet paper
| with gildcd figures, were full of happy
faces there was the low murmer of we'll
bred voices, and ripple of light laughter
now and then; pictures and elegant orna-
ments were every where, but iarcr than
anything beside stood the hostess. Per-
fectly dressed, of course from the dia-
mond vignettc In the soft pufs OF her
dark hair to the toe of her dainty satin
boot. The costume was an artistic COM
bination of black velvet with shining sill
yer gray satin. Ii fitted her stately figure
without a fault; there was such light in
Ia beautiful Il, ,,l, 90 4,
on her cheeks the coral lips parted over
suck perfect teeth. that stood looking at
her a. ! might at some artists dream OF a
loveliness never known in actual lite.
There was only one feature to be criti-
cised; the nose was an unmistakablc pug
bnt one never thought of that when her
smiles sent their brightness oyer all the
face with an Irresistible charm. | re-
member that the secretary stood in the
front parlor, laughing heartily at some
droll thought, and that CLEAN from the
setting sun struck through his tawny
beard. \ bluff. jolly son OF Mars, much
more at home in camps than courts, but
personally liked by all who knew him.
Again ! saw Mrs.. Belknap, only two
weeks ago, standing in the same place,
and quite a. exquisite in every detail a.
when ! first met her; over on the piano
sat the baby with its French nurse. The
little Alice looks like her father; She ha.
bright golden hair, blue eye, and the
iairest skin. Not one Bit abashcd or dis
mayed she received the homage 80 freely
offered, chartered away in the unknown
jargon Of baby-land. got up on her little
feet now and thea, AMI ] wondered if all
her life would be- "a bright ami happy as
it. dawnug
Not a week ago Mr.. Bclkuap came
with some iricnd- TO The reserved gallery
in the House, wearing a carriage suit Of
black velvet plainly made, but extremely
| becoming. while from her girdlc there
hung the prettily gathered pocket with
1t, broad silver clasp and chains How
very brief hd, been the triumph, how
long will be the years OF humiliation and
| sorrow
| 4 ie N'Ni'bale' a. - hNla hHoND WAS
from Iowa; his present wife Is the sister
OF his second his first wife died many
years ago, leaving him three sons. Tie
babe OF his second wife only outliycd it,
mother very short time; think two
sons are dead. The most dreadful thing
In all the sad affair is the tact that at the
funeral Of her sister the present Mrs.
Belknap discussed the payment Of the
money which was TO secure Mr.. Marsh
In his post-tradership. OF course there
are a hundred rumors current, but
many OF them are utterly groundless.
and 1t Is cruel to heap more sorrow upon
one sufficiently crushed, sufficiently pun
ished.
CONGRESS on THURSDAY.
The Baltimore gazette was The first pa
per reaching the city with its startling