The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-02-12
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


MIS-. IldyeS DaluIuhy dite'0OOn feCeD-
tions keep occurring as tho weeks go by,
and are the scenes of very much beauty
and pleasure and pleasantness In general.
What some has called "Mrs. Hayes Gen
eralshp" has brought about a good change
in these receptions. From time immemorial
the custom has been for the receiving party
to stand in the Blue Room Ia small central
parlor) and the crowd had to pass straight
through to make way for the crowd but
the last two Saturdays the great East
Room has been used instead aud the diff
ferent way is most agreeablo-for people
don't have to be hustled along, get out of
the way-somebody isn't forever telling
you to keep "movin' on" J don't know
why the Blue Room has always been used
as a Reception Room unless 1t be because
it is perhaps the handsomest room in the
White House, at least it is the most deli
cate finished in gold and white and furnish
ed in sky blue damask, curtains, carpet and
circular divan occupies the centre of
the room, the top of which usually sup
ports huge boquet, potted tropical plant
or some floral production. Last Saturday
Mrs. Senator Dawes assisted Mrs. Hayes,
and only those two stood in their places
and shook hands with the people for the
allotted three houre, the young lady guests
at the White House, moving about the
room among the assembly Mrs. Hayes
was dressed in maroon colored silk and
velvet, cut square in the neck, with half
sleeves, long white gloves, lace finishings,
and knot of rosebuds at the throat. Mrs.
Dawes wore drab silk, cut without sleeves
and with train two yards in length. Her
arms were covered with black lace N iss
Platt and Miss Foote were dressed in dark
rich suits which were neither snowy nor
handsome. The East Room was we'll
filled, and when you remember the size of
this apartment 80 feet by 40, you will
have an idea of the number of people
there.
The weather is getting colder, but re-
mains bright and clear for the most part.
One dav last week we had an old-fashoned
snow storm, which ended up with sleet
and rain.
Another terrible marine disaster off the
Carolina coast refer to the wrecking of
the great steamship Metropolis
filled our hearts with sorrow and dismay.
Following so closely upon the loss of the
"Huron," it is doubly dreadful and no one
can doubt but there is blame somewhere.
The Life Saving Service appears to have
rendered little or no assistance to the perish
ing hundreds who were the victims of the
wreck, and much comment has been the
result of that fact ; but when we remem-
Der the scanty remuneration received by
the keepers and men of the Life Saving
Stations, no wonder that more is not accom-
plished by those classes for the most eff
ficient service can scarcely be commanded
for 5000 year, which is the salary the
ing Stations. l wonder if better state
of things might not be brought about if
our Republic should adopt the cruelty
strict rule of the Chinese nation that sone-
body must be convicted and suffer death
punishment in case of calamity, as those
above mentioned ?
Now and then joke is perpetrated in
the Halls of Congress, and when such a
thing transpires, the most is assuredly
made of it. Ben. Buffers scriptural brick
furnished good laugh the other day, but
better one has since occurred, the best of
it being the artlessness of the joker He
is the n-year-old son of Congressman
Williams, of Wisconsin. Visiting the
House of Representatives, few days ago,
with his father, his attention was attracted
by little old man wheeling himself about
in big green chair in the area before the
Speakers desk. Z" Who is that, papa ?"
inquiries the lad. ALEXANDER H. Ste
| phens, who was Vice President of the
Southern Confederacy," replies Williams.
"Where is jeff Davis Isn't he here
too?" asked the boy the next moment
He went about with his father last Fall
during the canvass, and wakening one
morning after parade the night before,
where were professions, band music, a
speech by Williams and torch-lights, he
said, "Where do we show tonight, papa?"
And still we have no winter. Our ther-
mometer has reached zero but once this
winter.
OLIVE.
M;eonIIono0ua Noxue Tkov,,e