, 1877-02-03
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

A Sleighing Carmiral = Democratic
Mass Meeting-1ne Patent Office
,cithout a Head A Bill to Abolish
the Duty ON Books, ,&c.-The Louis
lana Im6roglio = Anticipated Ar
raral Of the Russian Grand Duke.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 1877.
The week just past has been one
of considerable excitement, socially
and politically. The Bennett duel
in which Mr.. May, who is well
known here in Washington, was one
Of the principals, the death of Van
derbilt, the recent treasury robbery,
the Democratic mass-meeting on
Monday last, the promised arrival
of the Grand Duke Alexis---all these
have furnished topics of conversa-
ton that have been eagerly indulged
in at the dinner parties and soirees
of which the week was so prolific.
For here at the National Capital the
social season does not commence
till after New Years, but is then
continued upinterruptedly till Lent,
which is sufficiently long to wear
out the stoutest constitution, and
make rest and relief exceedingly
welcome to the votaries of fashion.
should have mentioned. as an
other event quite unusual in this
latitude and, therefore, hailed with
more than ordinary delight, the
sleighing carnival which came off
on Pennsylvania Avenue on Satur-
day last. The rain and sleet not
withstanding, it was grand sue
cess, and as grotesque as it was
grand. The last carnival Washing
ton saw was in 1871, when the new
pavement on the Avenue was inau-
gurated by similar peculiar de-
monstration; but then the ''beauti-
full snow" did not lend enchantment
land slush) to the scene. Last
Saturday, the masks appeared IN
sleighs, and substitute for sleighs,
of all conceivable kinds; everything
that was capable of having horse
or mule hitched onto it seemed to
have been pressed into service Tor
the occasion; and mingled with
stylish "cutters'' were hogsheads
sawed in half, dry-goods boxes on
runners, crockery crates, pine logs,
and wash boilers. Surely, such a
medley of articles for the propulsion
of man the world never saw before.
Among the masks were, of course,
many public characters, conspicu-
Gus among which were General But
tier, President Grant, Secretary
Fish, and Mr.. Cronin, the Oregon
elector. Among the more promi-
nent shows on runners were "the
Louisiana Returning Board" the
"Oregon electors" Sitting Bull in
pursuit of General Crook" and
many others equally amusing and
grotesque.
The Democratic mass-meeting
held on Monday last (the sth) was
very largely attended, every inch of
space in Ford's Opera House being
occupied. Among the audience
were a large number of ladies, who
seemed to take as active an interest
in the proceedings as the sterner
sex. AS the 14th of February-the
day for counting the votes--draws
nearer, anxiety as to what the final
result will be increases, and, espe-
cially in the Government depart
ment, there prevails feeling of dis
quietude and uneasiness that is very
apparent. This is particularly the
case in the Patent Office, which,
since the resignation of Commits
sioner Duell, is left without an Off
cial head. Many names are men
toned for the successorship, among
them Congressman McDougall of
New York, and Mr.. Leonard Myers,
of Pennsylvania, but why, in pur-
suance of the much-boasted Civil
Service Reform, successor cannot
be found in The Office, is, as Dun
dreary would say, zone of those
things which no fellow can find
out" Although the members of the
Board of Appeals are understood
not to be candidates for the position,
there is material among them that
would make a good Commissioner,
notably in T. G. Woodward, whose
recognized legal talent and ability,
long service in the office, and un-
questionable integrity, qualify him
peculiarly for trust than which
there is none more delicate or i'm
portant in the gift of the President.