The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-02-27

Oomo years dsO, kduu uOb very many, eltncI)
the birthday of the "father of his country was
invariably made the occasion for some public
demonstration here in the city which bears his
name, such as parades, display of flags, the
firing of salutes, and fireworks. Congress
would adjourn in honor of the day, the Govern
ment Bureaus and Departments would be
closed, and the little steamer which carries Wis
itors to Mount Vernon would be loaded with
pilgrims en- route for our American Mecca.
Mails nous GU0nS change tout celia! No more
fireworks, no. even so much as single fire.
cracker; no parades, scarcely any flags, and
very little government powder wasted in sa-
1utes. Congress and the electoral Commits
sion" went on as usual, and many people were
utterly forgetful of ''the day we (didn't) cele-
brate.'' Not even half holiday for the De.
par.ment clerks-yes, believe the War De-
partment did close at twelve o'clock, but that
was the only exception. We have absolutely
come to this, that Washington's birthday is
scarcely noticed here in this city which was
founded by him, except by few Of the Oldest
inhabitants who are in the habit of going up to
the White House on that day to shake hands
with President Grant, and then, after that cere-
mony has been performed, cross over the
White Lot, take a look at the Washington
monument and shed some appropriate tears.
The Electoral Commission absorbs all interest
somehow or other, in some unaccountable way.
1 always associate it with spinal meningitis
we hear it so frequently mentioned and become
so accustomed to the sound With all due def
erence to its high-sounding name and awful re-
spectability, there is no denying that it is a
bora, and tina. it will be refreshing when it is
pt IN hava
mission for breakfast, dinner, supper and be-
tween-meals; to have your barber lather you
with it, the postman speak it through his eyes
every time he hands you letter, and even have
your washerwoman sling it at you. The news
papers speak of nothing else and they say that
there is actually Corner in type on account
of the great demand for capitals 'E's'' and
"C's." Therefore, won't speak aaother word
about it!
Among our latest arrivals are half dozen or
so upholsterers end furniture dealers, who have
come here from Cleveland Boston, New York
and Philadelphia with view to secure the con-
tract for re-furnishing the White House. 1t is
customary to refurnish the Executive Mansion
fIom garrett to cellar every time new Execu-
tive enters upon his duties, and the Executives
wife (if he has one, is generally consulted on
the subject. The color and pattern of the car
pets, the style of the sofas, chairs and divans
and the make of the coffee pots and rolling pins
are selected by her, and her orders executed
accordingly. As Mrs Hayes taste runs in light
blue, we shall probably have White House
where the prevailing color is blue. If Mrs.
Tilden (oh, 1 forgotD if Mr.. Tilden, should
say, had been elected, then we should have had
a snuff .colored White House. Upon the whole
blue is preferable.
As 1 have said, these furniture men are
here, but SO far they have received no contract.
If we don't hurry the appropriation the next
President will have no chair to sit on. There
won't be any cups and saucers to give him a
cup of coffee in after he comes home from the
Inauguration, and there won't even be a peg
in the hall where he can hang his hat! As
there will be no beds and bedding furniture, he
and his will have to sleep standing!
Our beaux and bellies are in distress because
there will be no Inauguration ball-at least, it
is not likely that there will be. The last inau-
guration ball, four years ago. was dead fail
ure, financially as we'll as socially, and our
business men, who took the lead then, and
were stuck to the amount of several thous-
and dollars, have grown wise by experience and
sides, some of the very men who were in the
front then, such as Alexander Shepherd, Ex-
Governor Cooke, Senator Sprague, and others,
are now financially embarrassed and not in a
condition to assist at such an enterprise. AS
an Inauguration ball costs money land good
deal of it) and as money is not forthcoming no
ball will there be, for The first time in fifty
seven years.
h4~ Ds1XA Al.
and he looked like man who knew he was the
subject of everybody's gaze. Since be wrote
that villainous editorial in the Capital and was
arrested for it, he has been spoken about and
written about more than anything-else in
Washington always with the exception of the
e. c., and it is evident that he "feels' it.
Lent being on us, balls and parties have sub
sided to some extent. Amateur theatrical per-
formances are, however, en- regle, and Wash
ington can beat any other city in that line.
Professor Remington Fairbanks amateur COM
pany composed exclusively of amateurs
mostly pupils of the professor) have twice per-
formed no less important work than Gounod s
'Faust' to crowded houses; and, what is more,
performed it exceedingly well! Think of an
amateur Faust, an amateur Marguerite, and an
amsteur Mephistopheles! But the person who
took the last named part was an editor of a
Democratic newspaper, which accounts for his
success!
The weather (it wouldn't do to finish this
letter without some reference to that has
been delightful during the past week, in spite
of "Old Indications as he is now called, who
predicted rain and sleet. For consequence, the
avenue has been crowded every afternoon, and
our young army officers vie with the Legation
Lions" to flirt and coquette with the fair prom
enaders. Our city has always been famous for
its handsome women, and these delightful
afternoons bring them out The fashionable
hour is between four and five, and the broad
thoroughfare is then fairly thronged with
carriages equestrians, and pedestrians of all
kinds and coors. The direction is then from
the Treasury Department towards the Capitol
at the end of the avenue; but an hour or two
later, after Congress has adjourned, the tide
turns and sets in the opposite direction, from
the Capitol towards the Treasury and Fifteenth
street. Among those one is always sure to
meet are the French and British ministers, the
former often accompanied by his family and
suite, but the latter invariably alone, with his
umbrella) and many other distinguished peo-
pie
MINOR TEE,EERA