The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-12-23
prom our regular Corespondent.)

tFrom our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, ID. G., Dee. 18th. 1876.
There is one element which enters
largely-too largely-in American poll
tics, and that Is the lobby. Although by
no means confined to this hemisphere,
for lobbyists thrive M the courts of st.
james. Berlin. Madrid. st. Petersburg.
and even in republican Versailles, as
well a, here, yet they do not with few
excoptions) confront the great public
with 90 bold face and curry on their Oh.
Grafton, as openly and unblushingly on
the other side Of tho Atlantic ocean, as
with us, where lobbying is a regular
trade, having the capitol for it, work
shop AMI the members OF our national
legislature tor its tools. Cora Pearl and
Lizzie Blackford, though they both med
died with politics and both got into
scrapcs accordingly. one in Russia and
the other in France, were courteZans
rather than lobbyists; differing in that
respect from 1.-THE Mctternich" of the
second empire, who was lobbyist
rather than q courtczan, and who had
more 10 10 with shaping the destiny Of
France than any other woman during the
reign Of Lo.,., e. PtH, Eugenie not eX-
cepted,
II does not, indeed, require a long resi-
dcncc IN Washington or much scrutiny
10 become acquainted with the fact that
lobbying here j. carried on on q gigantic
scale. but yet with peculiar
tact and fucsse that makes 1t,
in certain sense. attractive, il not re-
spectacle. do not here refer To the
Banging curbstone lobbyists of the
fourth or fifth degree, who conilne their
operations to small private bills ranging
from 4 few hundred TO one or two thou
sand dollars, and who are recruited
chiefly from the dcHi monde and the
members friends" Of which our city
has such an unduly large proportion !;
but to that class which moves in upper
tendon exclusively and only on rare oc-
casion, put in an appearance al the capt.
toi. II IS mistake 10 suppose, as many
DO, that the gorgeously dressed and
painted ladies one sees, on every fair
day. in the lObbies or galleries Of the
senate and the house, Pre- lobbyists no,
| the genuine lobbyist knows a thing or
two, keeps aloof from the east end OF
Pennsylvania avenue and seldom refers
e 70 the capitol in conversation-acts, IN
fact, as if she were utterly ignorant OF
the existence OF that structure or the
purposes for which it is employed,
With the male lobbyist, however, the
case IS different. lie haunts the mem
bers in their committee rooms, while the
=. fcminiuelel them haunt her in her draw
ing room or boudoir. lie goes TO them,
they come to her. His destinations are
shares, good wine, lunches at 1.-The Con
b.. gressional" and late dinners with draw
!. poker as dessert) at Welcker'si hers con
sist in soft eyes and softer hands, seduc.
tive smiles, fair promises and an eXhu'
berance OF magnetism. Her eyes attract
you. her iaintest touch sends q Thrill
l. through your body from the tips of YOU
toes to the end of your nose, and bel
" voice IS Of that quality which makes il
absolutely impossible to reply 10 il with
n no-with the grace Of a Salisbury she
combines her motto: Ho,d soft 9''i ma
1 Y Pense.
Every body knows that sam " ard stand
= at the head Of the profession; he Is th'
king of the lobbyists. and has lobbieC
more bills through congress than any
other man living. Next to him, as a sta
OF the second magnitude, comes probably
N. W. the great inventor ant
= gun manufacturer but, then, he lobbie
chiefly in his own interest lie has {
/ claim OF sou4 hundreds Of thousand
=, now pending before congress. Colone
- c.; Mr. F., OF New York, and
q well-known ex-senator, who shall b
Z nameless, are also notable instances {
"a. successful lobbyists. But besides these
4, whose operations cover hundreds
o thousands. there is a shoal OF smaller fry
"a many OF them relatives, constituents o
&, intimate acquaintance of members, VIII
y make it point to "know" dozen Q
- two congressman and claim 10 be able t
e influence all they know, you know
This class has its headquarters chiefly i
=, the Hobbies OF Wizards and the Metro
e. poitan hotel. Most of them chew tobacc
- and drink whisky straight, and as rul
. they are impecunious and always waitin
= for something to turn up" Not FEY
iiry ex-mcmbers, who have run to seed bt
by make the most of their privilege OF aece'
he to the floor of the house, belong TO IN
or unenvlable class,
$ The queen OF the feminine branch
ca lobbyists, is lady who was born in Ale,
-. andria but has lived in Washington tor
un- number of years, She is widow
nty rich, stylish, and extremely tsscinatin
to She has had some hundreds of offers
an. marriage but with marriage her pow
!sn would be gone, Ito considerable extel
at least; SO she prefers to remain sing
= She drives a stylish but quiet turno'
IN frequents the presidents receptions oc'
siOnaliy, and drinks Il pint bottle OF cha