Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-02-28
(From our regular correspondent
Our Washington Letter,

HOUSE NOTES: BLUE VS.. SNUFF COLOR
NO INAUGURATION BALL!-DONN PIATT
AMATEUR THEATRICALS-A STROLL ON
THE AvENUE-THE WEATHER, ETC.
WASHINGTON, Feb. %, 1877.
Some years ago (and not very many, ei-
ther.) the birthday of the father of his
country " was invariably made the occa-
sion for some public demonstration here
in the city which bears his name-such us
parades, display of flags, the firing of 81
iutes, and fireworks. Congress would adj
iourn in honor of the day, the government
bureaus and departments would be closed,
and the little steamer which carries visit
ors to Mount Vernon would be loaded
with pilgrims en- route for our American
Mecca. MATS nous aUOnS Cbange tout celia
No more fireworks, not even so much as Il
single fire. cracker; no parades; scarcely
any flags; and very little government
powder wasted in salutes. Congress and
the Electoral Commission" (Which has
already become bore second only TO the
" Centennal,') went on as usual, and
many people were ut erly forgetful of "the
day we (didn't) celebrate" Not even a
half holiday for the department clerks
yes | believe the war department did
close at twelve o'clock, but that was the
only exception. We have absolutely come
to this, that Washingtons birthday is
scarcely noticed here in this city which
was founded by him, except by IL few OF
the coolest Inhabitants" who are in the
habit to go up to the White House on that
day and Shake hands with President Grant
and then, after that ceremony has been
performed, cross over the White Lot, take
II look at the Washington Monument and
shed some appropriate tears.
The Electoral Commission - absorbs
all interest, somehow or other in some UNI
accountable way. | always associate il
with "spinal meningitis" we hear it SC
often mentioned and become so accus-
toned 10 the sound. With all due defer.
ence to its high-sounding name and awful
responsibility. there is no denying that il
is IL bore, and that it will be refreshing
when it is over. You don't want to have
Electoral Commission for breakfast
dinner, supper, and between-meals; tc
have your barber lather You with it, the
postman speak it through his eyes every
time he hands you letter, and even have
your washwoman sling it at you. The
newspapers speak of nothing else, and they
say that there is actually II corner in type
on account of the great demand for capita
"Es" and "C's," therefore | won't speak
another word about it!
Among our latest arrivals ale half Il
dozen or so upholstcrers and. furniture deal
ers, who have come here from Cleavcland
Boston, Now York and Philadelphia, with
view to secure the contract for rcfurnish-
ing the White House. 1t is customary tc
refurnish the executive chamber from gar
ret to cellar, every time u new Executive
enters " on his duties, and the Executives
wife (if he has one) is generally consulted
on the subject. The color and pattern OIL
the carpets, 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 II White House where
the Prevailing color is blue. If Mrs. Til.
den-(oh, l foIgotD if Mr.. Tilden,
should say, had been elected, then We
should have had snuft-colored White
House. Upon the whole, blue is prelera-
BILE.
As have said, the furniture men arC
here, but, so far, they have received NJ
contract. If we don't hurry the appropri
alton the next president will have no chail
to sit on! There won't be any cups anC
saucers to give him cup of coffee in aftel
he comes home from the Inauguration, ant
there won't even be II peg in the hall tha
he can hang his bat on! AS there will be
no beds or bedding furniture, he and hi
wife will have to sleep standing.
Our beaux and bellies are in distress be
cause there will be no inauguration ball
Mt least, it is not likely that there will be
The last inauguration ball, four years ago
was dead failure, financially as well IL
socially, and our business men, who tool
the lead then, and were "stuck " to thu
amount of several thousand dollars, have
grown wise by experience and do not wan
to burn their fingers again. Besides, SOM
of the very men who were in the from
then, such us Alexander Shepherd, Elk
Governor Cooke, Senator Sprague an'
others, are now financially cmbarrassc'
and not in II condition to assist in such al
enterprise. As in inauguration ball cos,
money, (and good deal ofiD and us mon
ey is not forthcoming, no b9ll will her
be, for the first time in siXty-seven years
saw Dom Pltt on the avenue ycsteI
day, and he looked like u man who kney
he was the subject of everybody's gaze
Since he wrote that villanDus editorial i
the CapHal, and was arrested for it, he ha
been spoken about and written about NOR
than anything else in Washington Galway
with the exception of the +. CO., and
is evident that he "fccls it, Look OF
for blood and thunder in the CapitaI mex
Sunday!
Lent being on us, balls and parties hav
subsidized to some extent Amateur thGai
rical performances are, however, en- rGglt
E and Washington can beat any other cit
in that line. Professor Remington FAN
lambs amateur company, Composed ca
} ctUSirelQ of amateurs, mostly pupils OF tn
professor) have twice performed II no les
important work than Gcunods Faust
crowded houses; and, what is more, pei
formed it exceedingly WE'LL think of Il
: amateur Faust, an amateur Marguerite
and an amateur Mephistopheles But til
, person who took the latter named part wa
} IN editor of Il democratic newspaper
which accounts for his success.
The weather, Git wouldn't do to fms
J this letter without some reference to that
f has been delightful during the past weeI
, in spite of "OlI Indications, y rs he is nov
called. who predicted rain and sleel. |
consequence, the Avenne has been crowd
every afternoon, and our young army OIL
GERS vie with the Legation Lions y
flirt and coquet with the fair promenad1r
, Our city has always been famous for il
e handsome women, and these dclightlI
afternoons bring them out. The fashion
t able hour is between four and five, an
the broad thoroughfare is then fairl
thronged with carriages, equestrians, an
pedestrians of all kinds and color
The direction is then from the Treasur
S Department towards the Capitol, at Il
end of the avenuc but an hour or tw
! later, after Congress has adjourned, Il
i tide turns and sets in the opposite drectio
y from the Capitol towards the Treasury an
n Fifteenth Street. Among those one is II
ways sure to meet are the French IN
British Ministers, the former often accom-
panied by his family and suite, but IL
latter invariably alone with his umbrella
and many other distinguished people.
3 TIE VENoMOUs SpITz.-One of tt
= Committees of the Massachusetts Legisl
: ture has lately been making an investi e
:. ton into the peculiar character of Spi