The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-03-12
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. d. c.. March Z. 1878


The last one of Secretary Evart's card
receptions, which occurred on Thursday
evening, was simply crush of silks and
surge of flesh and blood. There was no
possible enjoyment for any one in it. No
physical comfort can be had in o place so
crowded that it is impossible to raise or
lower ones arm, except gradually; there is
no possible mental enjoyment in place
where one can only be moved and swayed
by a throug of people, wedged in SO closely
among them that he can see back hair and
painted faces of women and broad shoul-
ders of men but it is the thing sin soci-
ETY." and SO it must needs go on. The won
der is that people will so sacrifice them
selves--or that sufficient number will do
it, to fill up the houses SO, night after night
for whole season. These great official
receptions, although cards are given out
are the most insufferable of entertainments.
There is, in reality, no entertainment about
them. They are just jams. Secretary
Evarts was all smiling hospitality the other
evening. Usually SO grave and pre-occu-
pied, he seemed like another man as he
stood with his wife receiving his guests,
or moving slowly among them with
word, and smile for all. Mrs. Evarts is
motherly looking in face and figure. She
is in mourning and wore black iron beerge,
her gray hair confined in a net and orna-
mented by Grape bow fastened with
diamond. Miss Evarts was in two shades
of lavender silk, Miss BERTHE and Miss
Minnie, in white silk, and the two next
younger sisters in white over pink silks.
1t has been noticed that all these young
ladies and the mother wear their hair with
out crumps and brushed straight back
without parting. The reason is that they
all have heavy ''cow-licks" that will not
part or crimp or anything but lay right
back. There is not beauty in the family.
Secretary Evarts lives in very large and
fine honse, richly furnished and in every
way suitable for his position. On Thurs
day evening coffee-room was arranged
adjoining the dressing rooms and the sup
per room was open all the evening, where
cakes and ices were served, as was also the
wine and punch room. All the notables in
town were present, Congressmen, Diplo-
mats, Cabinet Ministers, Authors, Artists
and Correspondents. Quite mingling of
foreigners was apparent, prominent among
whom were the little Japanese Minister
and wife, the Spanish Minister and wife,
and Sir Edward Thornton.
1t took Congress less than two hours to
pass the silver bill over the Presidents
veto, and the day after it became law,
Mr. Hayes, in answer to the query, what
he thought of it, replied, I" think the bill
was rushed through with indecent haste" I"
And the Vice President said in relation to
it, am very free to say, that had no
favor for it, not only because doubt the
wisdom of it as relief measure, but be-
cause it violates the plighted faith of the
Nation. 1 was in Congress when the Gus
tom dues were pledged to the payment OF
the interest on the bonds, and the law SOL
emnly said these should be paid in gold.
Mark, am saying nothing now about
bonds some of them were certainly made
payable in coin. Senator Matthews resolu.
tion and the legal proposition are strictly
correct. l am in favor of remonetizine
silver under certain restrictions, but can
not sustain the present bill. 1t completely
wipes out the sacred pledge in making sill
yer receivable at Custom Houses. The
bill will work neither the good nor the evil
which has been prophesied. The amount
of silver that will be coined under it
will be like drop in the bucket. 1t will
effect the financial situation only in the