The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-05-16
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER,

V01 ap614N91VN 4GIIGh,
The delights of our rural Congress
men-The pride Of their visiting
constituents-General Fremont,
the distinguished explorer, and the
nominee for Presidency By the
Republican National Convention
IN 1S56-Our meat House of Rep
resentatives-Ihe Florida cleo
ton.
From u regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 9Th rs.
One of the most delightful sights
at Washington is to see the Honor
able member from the sixteenth
district of Iowa or the ninth district
of Delaware, or some other rural
section, escorting a party of his con-
stituents through the Capitol and
the Smithsonian. Their evident adj
mirat:on oftheir Representative, and
their confiding belief in the absolute
veracity of all that he tells them, are
pleasing to witness. Then he intlo-
duces them to MIR. Spofford in the
library, as the man who knows every
thing, and supplies information on
every known fact; he shows them
the statue of Governor Shepherd in
full continental regimentals in the
statuary hall; be tells old stories
about Henry Clay and excellent
jokes about Daniel Webster, and his
tongue wags like a water-wheel. Oh!
if he would only talk so brilliantly
at one Of Sam Woods dinners, or at
one of Speaker Randall's pleasant re
ceptions. But he cannot. Old jokes
and rehashed stories don't pass cur-
rent in Washington society. How
sweet-then to him is the adulation of
his constituents, and their admiring
attention. And when he has taken
them down in the Senate restaurant
and there treats them to n of the
fine lunches, they are more firmly
convinced than before that their
member is the greatest mar in Wash
ington.
An absurd story has just been
started by one Of the New York pa
pers to the effect that General Ere.
mont and his family had become so
reduced in circumstances as to actu-
ally stand in need Of bread. The
General has been here for some
weeks, at the Arlington Hotel, and
busted in looking after some impor-
liant business matters in which he is
interested. His family have recent
ly been residing on Staten Island,
and, although not surrounded by the
luxuries to which they have so long
kbeen used, still retain their old SER
wants, and have always had a spare
seat at their well provided table for
a friend. When the General, owing
to reverses growing out of his too
coniding nature-was compelled to
part with his magnificent country
seat on the Hudson, and his valua-
Bile pictures and furniture, friends
were not found lacking, and many a
highly valued thing was bought in
and presented to them-so many, in
fact, that Mrs. F., in speaking of the
kind devotedness of their friends,
said it reminded her Of stories she
had read of Fairyland. One of Gen
eral Fremont's sons is in the navy,
and the other, who was formerly at
West Point, but resigned on account
of i'll health, acts as Secretary to his
father. The only other member OF
the family is Miss Lila Fremont, an
adopted daughter. Yesterday Mrs,
Fremont arrived here, and with the
General and their son Frank have
taken rooms at the house formerly
occupied by General Belknap.
The Importance to both parties, Of
the control of the House of Repre-
s~entatives is fully recognized BY the
preparations which are being made
for the approaching election. A
change of eight members would re.
verse the Democratic majority and
place the Republicans in power.
Both parties are carefully study
ing the composition of the present
House and mapping out their plans
for the campaign. The Democrats
have their eyes fastened on the thir
teen Republican Districts in which
the m~ajorities at the last election
fell below 500. The Republicans or
the contrary, are regarding with
friendly interest the fifteen Demo
cratic Districts in which the MAORI
ties are so small as to render future
elections exceedingly problamatical
The lists of the close districts are as
follows:
Democratic Districts in which The
majority was less than 500.
District. Dem. maj
Fourth. California 4