The Republican journal., 1876-03-09
Letter from Washington.
CorreSnOndence of the journal.

WASHINGTON, March 4th,

Ter until. untll-neXt time. Wilen unuef tie con-
venient shelter of that much abused adage ''the
spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" the
Devil will get his own again, AS he generally
does in the long run. don't think st. Matthew
had the forcasting spirit Of a seer to look for
ward to these degenerate days. OF ut least didn't
number on his visiting list any such people as
our modern financers, to call them by no
harsher name, or he would have affirmed that
not alone was the spirit willing but the flesh in
pretty much the same condition also, and would
have caused his eXhortation to be something like
thls-''Watch and pray, for 10, the DeNll Is
abroad, causing mems souls to lust after unlaW
fu gains, and to go roting III Credit Moblier,
Emma Mine Stock, Pacific Railways, Fort Sill
Sutlerships, and divers and sundry other wick
edneSses." Then watch and pray brethren that
your feet do not get entangled in whiskey rings,
and you may be brought to nought by Marshes.
However. this may be matter of opinion:
leastWioe it isn't pertinent 10 the subject of
Lent, since it is pretty generally case Of Dor
rowing without leave or license.
lou are not to suppose that this Just passed
unusually brilliant season of mirth and merry
making was allowed to 90 out in signs and de-
spair On the contrary it died gracefully and
happily, amidst dancing feet, bewiching music
and sound of ''revelry by night" The festival
Of the Mard Gras was held, if not in the roic
mg carnival style Of Europe and our southern
cities at least in truly regal indoor state keep
ing up the entertainment and gaiety until the
very midnight hour of Shroye Tuestlay-when
bright eyes ceased to lure, bewitching smiles
stayed themselves under sudden soberness
and occurrences, and flying feet desisted from
chasing the golden hours, to hurry hOmeward
and so be ready for mass and early morning
services OF Ash Wednesday, when, in remem-
berance that "man is but dust and unto dust
shall return, the sacred ashes are blessed and
distributed to the deyout and faithful. After
all the cutlery against the little time for amUse-
ment ard pleasuring, really don't know what
the deNoteeS OF fashion and society would DO
but for this most convenient Lentcn season,
coming in Just here with its rest and recupera-
tons its soberncss and consequent economies.
IT is certainly blessed season in more senses
than one. to stately doWagers and hard pressed
papas striving in tae face Of the most towering
difficulties to keep the slippery way. and so
give no occasion for comment by that curious
gossipng but never TO he discovered "thcy
say;" for the dancing youths with whom the
opera boxes theatre tickets, concerts, balls,
carriages, flowers and suppers have made sad
havoc, putting their pocket books very much in
the condition of having been stepped mon by
the traditional elephant even if it hasn't con-
tracted any outstanding debts, which is a great
deal more than likely, and quite probable; and
even still more 10 the blooming bellies and
young debutantes of society upon whom the
late hours and constant round of excitement
have told Observation-Disclosures the bright car
nation of Christmas tide into paest and most
delicate roSe-tints, and the rose tints into the
creamy WhteneSs of the royal cnmeias, attend
ed with languid airs and dropping ewes. But
even this ennui laSstude and loss of bloom
your society belle rontriyes to turn 10 an ac-
count and so arrays herself i'll the simplest and
plainest Of garments Casually having what Is
now known Us the Lenten suit in unprecnding
gray OF LACK made for the occa>ion) goes to
church regularly once or twice a day, gives
aims TO the poor in five cent pieces, 50 as not to
encroach too far upon next seasons allowance,
seWs for the helpless orphans, and generally
contriycs to make herself Il thousand times
more bewitching, enchanting and irresistible
to susceptible hearts than when in gay galore
they stood the centre Of an atlmiring circle in
the full flash of the ga~lights. There is Il high
church Episcopal organization here, which, in
close imitation Of its older Catholic precedent,
has established a sort OF >isterh0od. the service
of which is temporary and not permanent, and
it has proven Il real bonanza to these huttering
coy damsels, especially since they have found
out how charming, and sweet and attractive
they look in the coarse gray suits, dangling
cross and chain, and daintily white frlled bon
nets. So numerous are the volunteers lust at
this season that the managers experience much
trouble in finding ways to dispose of their many
aids. And it is currently reported that the
cause of so many weddings just succeeding
Lent Is due to the execution Of these same nun
like robes, and sweet, sanity looks. | don't
wonder at it, being convinced that should they
be suddenly trans lated like Elijah, whilst serv-
ing in this becoming novitiate, they would even
bewitch grim old St. Peter into unlocking the
gates, supposng he was determined to do
otherwise.
And now follow six weeks of fasting and
prayer, commemorative of the forty days fast
in the wilderness and the trying closing scenes
in the lite of the Saviour, terminating i'll the
glorious resurrection, more known as Easter,
which happens this year on April sixteenth,
Al,
first or Paschal full moon, after the twenty-tirSt
of March. The last week of this Lenten season.
known as Passion Week, celebrating as it does
the trial, death and resurrection of the Saviour
is observed With greatest solcmnity here, by all
denominations, more especially the Catholic
churches, which during this period are draped
in deepest mourning, the sad solemn Miscrere
sounding almost necessarily along their broad
aisles and high vaultcd roofs until Easter
morn, when everything is agIow with light and
beauty, in the shape of burning candles and an
almost countless protusion of sweet, rare flow
ers, placed in every conceivable part Of the edi
fee, to adorn and typify the glad joy of the oc-
casion, whilst the eXultant strains of the Gloria
in EXcelcis diSplaccs the wailing Misercre. |
more ennobling, more calculated to lift the heart
and life into holier and higher action than this
same Lenten time and Services, which the Cath
Ole church has handed down to us, and which
all churches are gradually stretching forth their
hand to accept as Il much needed season Of rest
and strength, coming in as it does upon the fret
and worry of existence like IL blooming oasis
upon desoate desert, to life'S poor tired de-
sparing travellers, and by its prayers, pleadings
and recollections causing the jar and turmoil of
life to fade away like dim remembrance, and
plying Heaven to bend Il little lower to the
strained vision Thank you, Mother Church,
for the good you have done for us.
The all absorbing topic of conversation, at
every turn and and corner in Washington the
past few days las been the fall Of Gen. Belknap.
And it has been something curiol $, sometimes
amusing, sometimes pitiable, to note the various
comments and opinions, though there seems to
be but one prevailing sentiment of shame and
sorrow on all sides that our national honor
should be so lisgraced by the fall of one SO high