West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-07-27
FROM WASHINGTON.

The hot wave Of the West reach
ed here, as Genl. probabilities"
Myers had predicted, last Thursday
and Friday, beating upon us with
unspent fury. So intense was the
heat that within three days fifty FIVE
poor creatures lay down and died
from it's effect. Not all from Sun.
strokes, but all from the direct
effect OF the extreme heat. In that
time the total numb Der of deaths in
the city was 1877. The street car
and chariot horses dropped down by
scores, poor things, and those that
survived were only driven short
distances and their legs and nostrils
were frequently bathed. Sponges
have been In great demand. Big
ones saturated with water are placed
between the horses ears. and email
ones worn in hat crowns bot by
ladies and gentlemen.
There are many classes OF people
who call forth our sympathies such
weathers and such seasons as this.
We can but pity the trsmps, roam
ing about the country without work,
money, clothing, nor friends. There
must be little comfort, either mental
or ply steal, 10 be taken by them,
even if they do manage to beg
enough to keep from going very
hungry. We pity sick people every
where. But most of all we pity the
POOR, people who live in city ten
ement houses, They do not liue
though they exist. They swarm.
Think Of it. From 2 &c 4 hundred
human beings often ipbabit single
building Of 5 or stories. The
smell of bacon, ctbbage and onions
is never out OF the air. Bedrooms
are ventilated only from the heated
filthy hall ways. Eating and
sleeping 90 on in the rooms ever
reeking with the steam and odor of
the washtub. Little lives 90 out,
and no wonder, for want OF breath
OF Gods fresh air, so pure, 80 fair, 30
free and go plenty. Alas that little
ones should die for lack of it!
Mothers, who live on farms, who
can lay your children to sleep in
cool clean sheets after refreshing
bath-you do not know the begin
ming OF the word poverty" even
though your floors are bare and
your little ones go barefoot.
To have seen Alex H. Stephens
any time during the last two Con-
gresslonal sessions, one would have
supposed his political race was com.
pletely run. Old, white haired
withered, with voice and physique
equally alternated, helpless in a
great degree, he seemed more than
half given over to the Great Reaper"
The last time we heard him speak
was on the occasion OF the presen-
tatiou to the Government of the
Carpenter picture OF Lincoln sign
\ ing the Emancipation Proolamatio
The hali-paralIzed old man cannot
stand, and delivered his speech
sitting In his green wheeled chair,
which be propelled back aud forth
with a vehemence corresponding to
the intensity Of his would-be ges.
lures. Ghestly enough be looked
and weird, tossing his arms about
and rolling to and fro. His chair
would sometimes fairly dart toward,
az II 1t would career over the desks
and leap upon the shoulders of the
men citing there. But the vener-
able old member is far from dead
yet. just now he is driving through
his own Congressional District with
a span Of snow-white horses, looking
Up bis prospect Of reelection. His
family cone,sts OF himself, bis secre-
tary (White) and his faithful body
servant (coIored). Mr.. Stephens Is
a bachelor Dearly 80 years old
Usually he takes bis meals in bis
own room and his tastes are pro-
nouuced and peculiar, Pork be
abominates with 20 Jewish a yea
that when a new waiter once brought
BIN a plate Of sausages be threw
them at his head Baked coon il
bic specially in winter.
Vice President Of the Confederac5
under JEFF Davis, Stephens wal
brought to Washington a prisoner
OF var and incsrcerstsd for time
al Fort Warren.
MERRILL.