National Republican., 1878-11-06
RECEIHINa RETURNS.
scenes About the City-A Dull Day Com
paratively-Ths streets at Night.

Scenes About the City-A Dull Day Com
parativeiy-Ths streets at Night.
Yesterday was one Of the dullest day before
the.election that Washington has experienced
for many years. Civil-service reform or some
other agency seems to have taken the buoy
ancy out of tho political spirit Of tho entire
community, Office. holders aud all besides the
times have been so dull aud the sporting mon
have been so squelched, as IL were, that the
accustomed feature Of noisy betting on tho re-
suit was confined TO very limited circle. In
the usual haunts Of the politicians small groups
Of gossippers and wiscacres were gathered at
odd times during the day for the discussion Of
their individual and speculative theories, and
the sterootyped salutatiou Of the period, well,
how's 1t coming out2' was TO be heard on
every side.
Later in tho evening, before there had been
any possible chance to hear anything definite
this salutation was supplantcd by the idiotic
inquiry, "How has II gomez II was not until
eight o'clock at night that any de6nitive news
was received the first dispatch Of the kind be-
ing one that indicated the probability OF the
defeat Of General Ben Butler. Its announce.
ment at THE NATIONAL REruBLIcAN build
ing aud the Democratic headquarters was re.
ccivcd with q Simultaneous round Of cheers.
At hnlfpast eight the news was received that
Tsmmany ticket in Now York city. This was
also received with great cheers in which, how
ever the Democrats failed to Join with any
overwhelming enthusiasm. After that the re-
turns began to come in thicker and thicker
and faster and faster, the variable results be-
ing accepted or received with cheers or grosns,
and later IN the night the excitement ran
higher under the joint inspiration of the news
and drinks between the receipt of dispatches
SCENES ABOUT THE STREETS.
The scenes upon Pennsylvania avenue and
about the hotels last night were quite lively
The Democratic headquarters were fixed at the
Imperial. A number Of Democratic lights
were cOngregated there, and bravcly exertcd
themselves to keep up the spirits of the crowd,
which occasionally failed under the reception
of come particularly dishcartening piece OF
news. Dispatches were also posted at Drivers,
corner Of Pennsylvania avenue aud Four.and-
a.hali street, and quite q crowd was congre-
gated at this point. During the early part of
the evening big bonfire was built to celebrate
Buffers defeat The news was announced also
nj the Riggs House aud the different telegraph
Offices. The attractive point was rHE Ma
TiONAL REPUBLICAN building, where the re-
turns was announced by means Of q stercopti-
con, ably managed by Mr.. l.. MOxley, which
threw the dispatches 10 illuminated letters
upon large sheet of canvas. 10 was stated
that the news would first he announced at ten
o'clock hut long before that hour the street in
front of THE REPUBLICAN, Office was filed. A
dense crowd remained about the building un-
til u late hour at night. During the intervals
between dispatches the crowd was entertained
by pictures and views. 1t was a goOd.naturcd
crowd, ready TO laugh at a comical picture or
cheer loudly good piece of news.