The Republican journal., 1877-02-08
Letter from Washington.
Correspondence of the Journal.

of that blessed Electoral bill, we have had days
of sunshine and nights of such sottness and
beauty as January never saw before? Until
then Washington was i'll meteorological sulks,
SO to speak; now, with streets and skies in
sympathy, she is herself again, and l am sitting
with both windows flung wide open close to my
writing table, while the air drifts i'll over vase
Of my fayoritc flowers, Niolets, satfrona roses
and lilies OF the valley. Had [ arranged to
send you kilograms instead of letters, suppose
it would be my duty at this moment to be
sitting with other unhappy reporters in the
House Gallery. | prefer TO sit here, thank
you. and allow those telegraphic machines in
the corridor to tell you how pulses are beating,
while the counting goes on. II won't amount
10 very much to-day They will only get as far
q Florida. and then they'll adjourn till to-mor-
row To talk oyer those everlasting "rPturnS' OF
which we are all % sick. Let me see, ii they
agree about Florida, what viii be the next
hitch: d., H., l., j., H., L,-i,ouisana! Yes
that's the most provoking muddle of the whole;
but there will be little OF interest Tor gallery
spectators. The tuning and fusSing. the quar-
rPltn" aud threatening, are mostly done in eau
ems. When Brother Randall gives up his chair
for Rrother Ferry's occupancy during the Joint
convention, the rehear>ing will be all over. and
If the actors have their parts perfectly the show
will be rather tame. I'm thinking how delight
ed the venerable Bancroft must be, that all this
has occurred in his time; that he has actually
seen with his eyes and heard with his ears the
occurrences of the past months; and rs | saw
watching all that was passing with such eager
eyes, | laughed to imagine how another genera
ton would wade through an entire extra vol
lllne on account Ct these mixed ''returns." The
Commission viii sit in the supreme Court
room; the chamber where of yorr the Senate
held its sessions; where Webster ami Clay and
Calhoun delivered their most eloquent argu-
mentS where the walls are full of reminiscent
ces 10 those who know that Aud Lang Sync"
Very often, when I have gone into that solemn
place for a peep at some famous lawyer, | have
noticed that tie Old men in the audience seemed
utterly unconscious OF what Was passing around
them. Their lips wore the pleased smile which
reyerie SO often brings with it, and know they
were recalling faces that had faded or tones
that were forever hushed. At their time Of life
the past burns With richer treasures than the
hurrying present; yet Bryant's beautiful lines
came to my thought very frequently,
ave are living. are dwelling
In grand and awful time,
In an age on ages telling
10 be living Is Sublime j"
| Think of it These days that are hnrryng BY.
so swiftly, are freighted with the material
which will make future generations wonder
| how it must have seemed to have lived in the
midst OF such events! During the war Il gen
| tleman having All extensive legal practice was
nominated Tor Congress and elected. He al
| lowed his name to be used most reluctantly. d.,
claring his business would suffer severely from
| his absence, and at the end OF the first session
vowed he would never permit second nlmi-
| nation. When Congress rr-assembleQ, import
ant affairs demanded earnest thought. nv
| friend, interest was excited that personal
matters were of but little moment. With all
| the enthusiasm of most enthusiastic nature
| he threw himself into the work; he glored in
| it, was reelected TO the next Congress, and the
next after that, but when his party would have
| given him a fourth term, local matters 50 in
iiupnced votes that the opposing candidate WAS
! successful. On the last day of his congressional
experience, A. he was hu.ly clearing out his
desk, an associate who remembered how I'M
willing he had been TO accept the first nomina-
ton said Well suppose YOU are really glad
this Is over, and will be quite delighted to 90
| bac. TO Your old den and REGULAR practica!7
He looked up i'll astonshment. clad
What do y0u mean Gau to go out of this
"A.
the mos brilliant history OF All time, INTO the
tedious routine OF lawyers limited Held
former aversion to public affair, he 4miled and
replied-"i didn't know then SHAT know
1 now !"
IL il pitltul sometime IT, avr un W hat iight
| ptetente4 e>--con"rrssmen come to u .,5hinot0n
again and again. All other existence is meau-
| ngle54 and tlneI rnttal alter tim. -oine time
hay inr known the tricks ana manner" OF the
| lobby duIin" their official career, they return
to become members at large OF that powerful
"thiri house" Parties who arc IRVINE to Sc
cure the passage Of important bill are easily
beEuied into the beliel that the eE-con9teee man
has atl SOME marvellous power and so enoi-
| nous sums have been pa, for their supposed
influence. 1t i cay to lind them easy to see
what they are about. and they have crown 20
| nlneIGna nt late that tiitir az ileni5 tia Very
9nl4li.
Ile social &, ent OF he WreI. o,,ureA ON
Monday evening, wien secretary and AIRS
Chandler gave i large reception Here Wa7
never a hint of hard times III The brilliant
rooms where such superb Gems flashed, and
where the fabrics worn made the ttbed mag
nihcence Of Monte tristo seem possible The
rereiVin" party al Mr.. Chambers is an rXcep~
tionally pleasant one always. Mrs. Chandler
herself is picture; her tail, elegant figure dis
plays a superb toilette with unusual effect and
this time the modste who designed her dress
must have had special inspiration. Her court
train and high basque We're of bronze-srepn
vrlye the petticoat of cleaning white silk
bore garlands Of blossoms, lia@onaly arrang-
ed; while some my Ster0us drapery ut the
sides Of bronze-green velvet striped with gold
added that hint Of Oriental ivle which il now
"the thing"
Mrs lIale's costume was Il combination of the
iaintest rose silk with the most delicate green
or blue, for "under the gas-light" | can never
diamonds which make rs all enyious. Mr..
Chandler, to whom these things must be insult
ferdble bores, bore himself with Christian re-
Signation, and babe every one welcome so cor
daily that before twenty had shaken hands he
had fairly cheated himself into believing he
liked the operation. Mr.. Hale-well. he is al
ways delightful. | mean socially; that is to
say, good gracious, what a mess I'm making
of it, in parlor the most violent political an
tagonist couldn't help liking the handsome
man, whose manners are SO courteous; who
always has his wits at command, and whose
mellow voice can put more dangerous meaning
into IA common compliment than most men ever
get into their elaborate love making Other
wise, how did he ever win his charming wife,
before whose clear eyes and bright intelligence
50 many suitorS We're found wanting: Am [
gushing: Can't help it, sir! | like that house
hold thoroughly, even to the blessed golden
h.li,, a1 hob /