Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-05-15
From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, May IL

The presence of Russian naval officers
in Washington. during the past few days
has renewed tho interest in the so-called
"CiInbria Mystery" Count Shohelinsky'
accompanied by two other officers whose
names terminate in sky" are staying at
the Russian Legation here, but persistent
ly decline to be interviewed, answering all
interrog tories with a shrug. That, oil
course, increases tho mystery which hangs
over these foreigners, and reporters of our
local press may be seen standing guard at
the Shiskin mansion, on F Street, from
morning till night in the vain endeavor oil
entrapping some of its inmates. from the
minister himself to his colored butler. to
say something that can be turned into an
" interview" Last week, Baron Shiskln
sold large quantity of his paintings.
statuary and other articles at auction,
preparatory to leaving for New York,
which will he his official headquarters
,fter the first of June next, rs he will
have II better opportunity oil watching
Russian preparations in the "Cimbria "
line from that city, than from hero.
Up at the state department. everybody
is very taciturn on this subject; and when
[ asked Assistant Secretary Seward what
action would be taken regarding these
Russian cruisers in our waters in the event
of the breaking out of hostilties, he bland
" replied that Bret Harte had been APP
pointed Consul at Crefeldt, Prussia. That
is the sort of information you get out of
diplomats! Poor Bret Harte! He had set
his " hole hart" on the China mission,
with its thirteen thousand dollars salary
and then they stow him away in an OBJ
scure manufacturing town in hhenish,
Prussia, at twelve hundred year, where
there is not heather Chinee or a euchre
deck within thousand miles. Such is
fame!
In congress, the bill which provides for
the repeal of the bankrupt act is still
hanging fire in the senate judiciary COM
mittee, although there can be little doubt
that it will ultimately pass. The bill for
the re organization and re-vamping of the
fprm of government for the District Of
Columbia is also under conside ration by
the senate district committee. it having
been promptly passed by the house.
Several measures, providing for the re-
trenchment of the army, and q more
economical management of the govern
ment departments generally, are also
pending, meeting with strong opposition
from the republican side of the house. AS
congress will doubtless adjourn next
month, it will require hard work and sew
eral night sessions to get through in time.
The latest contribution to the silver con-
trovcrsy is phamphet from Mr. Henri
Cernuschi on the Bland BILL as he calls
the silver bill as passed; " its grounds, its
alleged dishonesty, its imperfections and
its future" Somebody has taken pains to
pay for the free circulation of this bro chure
among our law makers, evidently. 1t is sutfi
GENTLY well written to be interesting; but
is in places too dithyrambic for argument
The author has adopted the exploded west
ern story about the secret passage of the
coinage act of 1878, but has slightly i'm.
proved upon it by saying THAT it is even
alleged not to have been regularly voted!
a letter has been received at the dead
letter office here, returned from Japan,
with its envelope profusely decorated with
post Office and carrier stamps, and with
nine slips of rice pnper attached to it, on
which the unsuccessful carriers and per-
sons to whose houses the letter has been
sent, have written brief statements of
What they know or don't know about Mr..
K Omujn, the person to whom the letter
) addressed The japanese carriers
,howed considerable persistence in their
,earch for Mr.. Omnj,. but were entirely
surpassed by seventeen German carriers,
Who endeavored in succession, with com
nenl ,ble perseverance, to deliver letter
addressed to" SlnLa Claus, On the Han t.
Mountains, Germany" The joke did not
pierce the German official head, and the
elter was returned to this country with
the names of seventeen unsuccessful CARR
ers pasted conspicuously on the back OF
the envelope. The Germans do not seem
to recognize Santa Claus. Another letter
sent to him at Berlin was also treated seri-
ously. and returned to the dead letter
,ffice, peppered all over with stamps,
printed statements and written sentences,
in which the postmasters and carriers
have given vent to their feelings. The
fame of the same individual does not even
seem to have reached some portions of the
United States. A letter addressed tc
- Saunlie Chlause, North Platte, Neb.,
was strangely enough unclaimed. 1t was
thereupon duly advertised, but no response
being received, it came here and now
makes up the trio of curious Christmas
lead letters.
Yesterday. Joseph Hallermeier, an Aus
trian about thirly-two years old, as brown
rs Il nut, poorly clad and travel. stained
walked into Treasurer Gilillian's office
He was from Pulaski county, Mo-, about
thirty miles below st. Louis, and has
walked all the way to Washington He
had in his hand an envelope containing
fragments of masticatcd greenbacks, which
he wanted, if possible, to have redeemed
Some time ago he dug hole near tree
at home, and for safe keeping PLACED
therein two hundred and fifteen dollars il
five dollar greenbacks and national banl
notes. all the money he had. The hogs
in roofing around the spot, unearthed tn,
pocketbook containing the money ant
chewcd and tore the notes into little bits
Upon discovering this, Halermeier gath
cred together the pieces and tried to dis
nnse of thom in his neiohborhood and il