The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-02-10
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9TH, 1876.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 9th, 1876.
My friends, l wish had something
fresh and new to tell you, something that
you hadn't heard repeated a thousand times
or more in one way and another; but then
you know after little, it is always the same
round Of prosaic events, the same faces
everywhere, the same chatter purling in
and out between the spaces Of life, the
same thoughts. the same existence, varied
intensified and shaded, to be sure, by cir
cumstances and Northumberland that is
all. There is really nothing new under the
sun, unless it be Il genuinely honest gen.
Grafton somewhere away in the "dim
shadowy future'-tor which, and the ces
sation OF this reign of glitter and tempta-
ton and the restoration of prudence, tlu-
gality aud honesty we will all be humbly
and deyoutly thankful. At present mod
esty, worth and integrity seem to be at a
discount and fraud and deception and vii
lalny ut premium. SO quickly is one bold
crime succeeded by another that one has
hardly time to breathe between, and be-
ing surprised so much and 50 often. have
at last sunk into u state of apathy which
nothing starts DO YOU think that break
fast of vinegar cruets and tcn-penny nails
must have led to seeing the world thus
I'll IA .,t
50; have simply been listening to the re-
ctal of Il "Romance Ola poor Young man, ."
which isn't a romance at all, only the same
old story If criminally weak and foolish
parents. and child beginning life in hay
ing its own sweet way and winding up in
the penitentary. Says the prematnrely
old and broken hearted father, last hasten
ing to the grave, Il blame only myself
for my sons sad end In infancy | com
menced to yield my will to his, and until
now he has never known Restraint OF con-
troll" The sequel was the forging of the
names of his father and others for means
to 20 on in his fast career, and consequent
arrest by the laws strong hand and when
next he stands beneath Heavens pure sky
and on Gods fair earth y free man, he will
be past the prime of lile-with hope and
youth and strong manhood all gone, and
only poverty, shame and rcmorse as COM
panions for his old age. 1t went the length
and breadth OF the land through the watch
full press, at the time, and has long ago
been forgotten in newer more startling
and fast receding crimes. All but the poor
desparing father who never, never forgets
the burden of sorrow and shame. 1t is but
the brief outlines OF what has come to be
too common q story in our fair land, made
fresh and impressive to me in its details
by one long and nearly connected with the
family and its sad history. But who shall
lift the veil from all the successive down
ward steps. You may know the beginning
and see the end, but who shall read the in
teryening life or trace the insidious APP
proach Of the tempter?
| whats done we partly may compute,
| But know not what's resisted"
| But to pleasanter themes; and forget
i ting that there are such things in the
world as want, suffering and crime, lets
| trip gaily up to the private mansions OF
the great shining lights of our beloved
land, or with the long roll of the carriage
is the properest way to 90, and entering
modestly in ut the wide-opcn, hospitablc
| door, see what ell this enhancing Whirl
| of power and place and pleasure is like
| | have well-grounded belief that Wash
! ington receptions We're one of tie devils
| own inventions, WhcroWith to torment
poor struggling humanity, when he start
| ed out simply to have il nice time. Upon
your first entrance at the door you are
seized up like the Salem witches and
| treated to 4 8 ride through the air, .
| coming down occasionally upon q stair
| or some unfortunate neighbours sensitive
corns; next squeezed horizontally until
you gasp for the vanishing breath; then
perpendicularly until YOU are sure YOU
are dead, and begin to see stars; altef
which life is suddenly restored by q trc-
| mcndous whack in the back or Il punch
in the stomach, and you come reluctantly
back to u realizing sense that 4 stair BAN
lister is after all the chief hold on lite, and
d vague, rambling idea of setting up an
opposition to all philosophers and think
ers in u theory that mankind is all ell
bows, nothing more on nothing less If
YOU struggle brayely through all these
trying ordeals for half an hour or 50, you
will reach the dressing room and finally
the parlor, but oh, so shorn of your glory,
with your hair mashed and your garments
tattered, and be introduced to the host
and hostess, (if you didn't chance to know
them before and they viii remark to You
pleasantly that the weather is tair or the
weather is loul it is windy OF il is wet
it is warm or it is cold for which nlor-
nation YOU won't feel profoundly thank
fnl, but will bow and smile and murlnur
your thanks all the same and pass on to
the vast beyond" where You will he
sure to see never u face that y0u know,
and will wander around as hopelessly and
helplessly and aimlessly as the lost heir
IN II fifth rate novel; and after awhile
reach the supper room, and partakc gen
teelly Of the cold dainties and weak wine,
and then struggle back again; and 50
reach home thoroughly crushed, demon
allied and depressed, willing to vote all
lite's allurcmcnts vain snare and delu-
sion, and mentally resolved if you ever
discover Alladin's Lamp, or own q Ne
yada silver mine, or strike a big bonanza,
you won't invest in general receptions
for comtort-not much.