, 1877-01-13
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

|
PRESIDENTIAL MANsIoN-"No CARDS
NO CAKE'--"REPEATING" OF NoN-Po-
LIr1cAL NATURE COLD WEATHER AND
sorJp HousEs--ALMosT A CATASTROPHE
/ VALUABLE ADDITIONS TO THE CoRco-
RAN ART GALLERY--ErC, ETC.
| WASHINGTON. D. c.. Dec. q. 1876.
Christmas week has been marked oy
q gray sky, chilly atmosphere and an
abundance Of snow. It has also been
marked by an unusual stir on the
streets, because some of the Depart
ments have granted half holidays
during the time intervening between
Christmas and New Years. closing their
doors for the transaction of public busi-
ness at twelve o'clock instead of four,
and the clerks, of both sexes, prome-
made the streets and make the most of
their freedom. In view of the fact busi-
ness is uery much behindhand in nearly
all of the Departments. it is. to say the
least. questionable if this practice is in
good taste; nor do 1 perceive clearly why
government employees should be priv
ileged in this respect. This is one of
the things which mo fellow can find
out, as Dundreary would Say; and SO l
will give it up also!
Meanwhile. preparations are being
made for New Years and for the recep-
tions and levees, public and private.
which form SO prominent a feature of
that day. At the White House. which
is the centre of attraction, the carpets
are being covered with linen preparato-
ry to their receiving the impressions of
plebeian feet. aud a stand has been erec>
ted tor the marine band in the alcove
at the west end of the hall. This being
the last New Years reception of Presi-
dent Grant as Chief Executive, it will
possess unusual interest and probably
attract larger crowd than usual on this
occasion. Mrs. Grant will be assisted"
by Mrs. Fred Grant, who is now in the
city; and either Col. Grant or General
Babcock will act as master of ceremo-
nies. Of all the trials which the Presi-
dent of the United States is ever called
upon to undergo doubt if any one is
more trying than this continuous hand
shaking lasting uninterruptedlyf for three
or four hours, with people great many
of whom he has never seen before and
and does not expect ever to zee again,
and not all of whom appreciate the
maxim thst cleanliness is next to god
liness! To make pump-handle out
of ones arm for such length of time
not only taxes the patience, but the
physical powers of endurance; besides
this. 1t is an expensive affair. as it wears
out dozen or so of white kid gloves. to
pay for which there is no item in the
annual appropriation bills although the
President wears them out strictly in the
service of his country!
All the Cabinet Officers will according
to custom. hold "open house" on New
Years day. but. for obvious reasons, no
refreshments will be furnished to call
ers. When Mr.. Delano was Secretary
of the Interior. he used to provide choc-
olate. cake, ices, fruit, etc.. for all who
called, and 1 have seen his table fairly
loaded down with such delicacies. But
when this became generally known
about town the rush to attend secretary
Delano's reception became SO great that
be found it necessary to have a posse
of police stationed in front of his resi-
dence to keep order and so far as posi-
ble prevent repeating" for "Repeat-
ers" were of moro common occurrence
there than at any political pool in the
country, and not only would they eat
and drink their fill at the table. but they
would cram their pockets and carry of
what they could not eat. At last this
became SO great nuisance that Mr..
Delano had to stop the refreshment
portion of his New Years programme.
and his successor in office has not
re- adopted it.
Congress met to-day at IL O'Clock.
and is still in session. but will doubtless
adjourn over till Saturday without
transacting any business Of Importance.
Messrs. Bayard and Gordon of the
Senate, and Randall and Hewitt of the
House, returned late last night from
New York, where they had been having
an informal conference with Governor
Tilden, and Mr.. Lamar, who accomp-
anied them, is expected back to-mor-
row. These gentlemen are exceedingly
reticent as to the nature or result
of their interview. and all published
newspaper reports purporiing to give a
version of thee affair are sheer fabrica-
tions. without foundation in fact.
The sudden cold weather has, of
course, greatly increased sofceriDg
among the poor, and the churches are
doing yeoman's service in collecting
funds and clothing for their relief.
Several soup houses have been estab-
lished. and more are talked of. It is es.
pecislly among the colored people thai