The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-11-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.



WASHINGTON, ID. c. Nov. 4th 1870
There are many signs on the streets, ahou
the hotels and in and around the public build
ings that indicate the approach of the congres
lsional session. Some members of Congress
and Senators are already in the city seeing Il
1.-The interests OF their wards in the Departments
or looking for winter quarters for themscvc,
and families. Some of our statesmen actually
bring their wives with them when they are
elected to Congress; they all ought to do it
Some wives also bring their statesmen with
them when they come here. have known
some who appeared to regard themselves as the
Representatives OF their district and who doubt
less regretted that they did not take cougrcs
sonal possibilities into consideration when
| they were married. If they had done this they
might have chosen more brilliant husbands
TO offset this might have been ~ there are
statesmen who are ashamed of their wives
when they are brought into contrast with the
sparkling, witty, Worth.costumcd spouscs OF
milionaircs and bankrupts who flock to this
Capital every winter.
The statesman, wife and daughter who come
fresh from their district and attempt 10 com
pete in the fashionable word of Washington
on a salary of $1,000 II year and perquisltcs
will learn some things during the season. Their
home prestige will not follow or avail them
here Members of Congress are common IN
more senses than one at the National Capital,
l., .;..a o,,J
are chapcroncd by Mammon they will be ccllp.
sed by many, but especially by the ladies Of the
Army and Navy. The ladies of the Supreme
Court and Cabinet are stars Of considerable
magnitude, but as eclipscrs they pale before
the rank and efiulgcnt hauteur of those whose
husbands and fathers have been educated at
government expense at West Point or Annap.
oils.
taste of the winter season. 4 few weeks ago
some citizens decided that Washington was a
fit place for Il National Fair. Yesterday the
National Fair as it Is called was inaugurated
cesson, Of four miles, in which the various
trades and handicratts OF Washington were
represented, marched to the fair grounds 1t
would appear from this procession that the
principal occupations of Washington are brew
ing, tailoring, dairying, and butchering, but
the great industry Of the National Capital, Of
flee holding, was not represented. The brewers
made by far the finest display, their wagons
were the most numerous their horses the larg.
est, latest, and most splendidly caparisoned.
As for the fair, looked at as an exhibition, the
less said about it the better The fairs that are
held annually at Pittsburg Cincinnati, ST.
LOUIS, and many other cities are so immeasur-
ably superior to tins as to make comparison ri
dlculous.
All indications forctel an unusually inter
esting session. Washington during the COM
ing winter will be tho base of. operations for
both political parties in the Inauguration Of
the most exciting presidential campaign IN
American history The recent preliminary en-
gagements in Maine, Ohio, Iowa and CaIitor-
MIA have slain asplrants, and defined issues,
but there Is much that is still unsettled both as
relates to measures and to men. The Govern
ment Departments are draped IN black for Mr.
Chandler With many Western Republicans
he was the tavorite candidate for the Preslden-
cy, and with a majority, perhaps he was
thought to be the most available candidate for
the vice,Presidency