The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-10-23
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


WASHINGTON DC, Oct. 18th, 1877.
All attention is centered now of course
in the Capitol, and the doings there. Sun
days trains wero literally loaded with Con-
gressmen, SO that Monday morning the
city was fairly alive with them. At an
early hour the corridors of the Capitol
were crowded, the throng increasing min
ute by minute, until the jam was almost
suffocating. The gallery doors were not
opened till nearly eleven, when once admis-
sion was gained, every available seat was
soon filled. The members were nearly
all in their places and the floor of the
House of Representatives presented pleas
ant scene to look upon. Many of the Con-
gressmen are very fine looking gentlemen,
though, to tell the truth, Representative
or a Senator is not lionized in Washington
and made such a hero of, as he is at home
and in other parts of the country, where
crowds rush to railroad depots to shout and
cheer and throw hats into the air in his
honor. Here there are so many of them
that they are sort of common and every
day affairs. Here they ride in the street
cars with market women and clod-hoppers
of all sorts. They drink and smoke and
loaf around corners, and dsport themselves
SO much like other people, as really to be
undistinguishable from our unpretending
ministers, lawyers, sc.
But to return to the floor of the House.
Some of the members busily and vehement
ly "laid down the case" to their nearest
neighbors; some wrote at their desks,
seemingly oblivious to everything around
them, even the fact that in few short
minutes the gavel would strike and the
much talked of Forty Fifth Congress would
commence some sat, with feet outstretch-
ed in the aisle, reading the morning news
paperr-reading, perchance, of their own
arrival here and of their appearance,
positions, &C., while still others sauntered
idly to and fro, nodding, speaking and
shaking hands with friends and acquaint-
ances. Messengers hurried back and forth
bearing cards, letters, bouquets and baskets
of flowers to various members, and the ;
whole view, as saw it from the Report
ers' Gallery, was right fine.
The snow-white head of Martin l. Town
send was conspicuous, as he, occupying a
back seat, busted himself, with no appar-
ent haste, among his papers. When men
reach his age they have generally learned
the valuable lessons that "haste makes
waste" and that the wisest way in this life is
to take the world as one finds it. Directly
in front of him sat "Bluff Ben Butler"
bluff as ever and recognizable anywhere
"Bluff'' and "Bold" are the words of all
others that should be applied to Gen. But
ler. / could think of none other so appli-
cable as watched-him yesterday. On his
desk was huge bouquet of many colors,
and in his button-hole was a tiny one, ditto,
going to show that he has his friends
When he moved he was and is, ''bluf'
and. when be looked he was, and ever is,
"bold." Boldness and bluffness have their
uses--are good in their places-~and bold,
bluff Ben has his friends yet. Gen. Gar
fields shining pate bent calmly over his
newspaper Garfield is not clustering
man. Brown little Eugene Hale sat, as
usual, with crossed legs, stroking his little
brown beard with his little brownhand,
his bright brown eyes leisurely scanning
the great assembly. Fernando Wood
stalked Importantly about, intent on moth
ing, his white hair brushed forward and