The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-01-30
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

daily seen there, and even those who DO
live in cities, if their daily walk and
conversation is confined to respectable
society. have hut little idea Of what is
going on around them. The men and
women whose days are spent in seeking
their own amusement and i'm the con-
temptation Of peace and plenty, know
little Of the shifts and straits Of those
who barely exist by their wits. Aud
when a cold snap comes on, like that
through which we have just passed,
there are many Ttrange and distressing
sights to be witnessed by those who look
about them and some very funny
things to be observed as we'll. Warm
clothing is in demand at such time,
though there are plenty IN every city
who haven't got it. And when old
boreas whistles around the corner at
such a terrific rate, it is suggestive Of
something 10 keep the inner man warm,
aud there comes an increased desire for
hot "Scotch" and "Tom and jerry" the
aroma Of which floats in a most tanta-
lizing way from the half-open doors Of
sample-rOoms on every corner. The
man who draws his decanter of French
brandy, and his fine old wines from
well-filled cellar, knows nothing about
the lodges Of the cold buns" around
town, who must beat a barkeeper to get
even an "eye-opener." 4 good-uatured
manipulation Of the vinous fluids, who
prides himself on being up to all the
tricks Of the bumming fraternity, was
"done' by one Of them the other morn
ing, in a way that makes him hang his
head in grief While arranging the
paraphernalia Of the bar preparatory to
the days business, moderately seedy
bum appeared at the counter, and i'm "a
business-like manner slapped his hand
on the bar, wherein was heard the jim
gle Of coin, and asked for "leeltle old
rye" Taking a drink which, in the
parlance of the knights Of the road,
would be denomiuated "snorter,H he
raised bis hand from the counter and
disclosed a two cent piece. "By jingov'
exclaimed the bum, "I Thought 10 was
a quarter" at the same time fumbling
in his pocket for "change" that was not
there. One look at the quiet smile lurl-
ing in the corners Of his customers
mouth, and the siing-maker realized
that he was sold, aud as the hummer
slowly wended his way out, put the new
trick away in the cavities Of his menu
ory. The other morning rather gem
teelly-dressed individual stepped up to
the bar Of one Of our hotels, aud after
slight remark about the Inconvenience
of uight travel in cold weather, borrowed
o quarter TO get shaved, which he would
return as soon as the landlord opened
The safe, where his valuables were locked
The art of getting three beers and
enough crackers and cheese for a square
meal for fifteen cents, has been reduced
20 an exact science by these chaps, and
they all have a regular route. But re-
Gently an Improvement has been made
on this system by a tall cadaverous-
looking individual habilitsted some
thing like Mr. Brocklehurst i'm the play
Of Jane Eyre" badge OF mourning on
his plug hat, and an old umbrella under
. his arm. When the bsrkeeper is busy
he glides gently uF to the counter,
hangs his umbrella near the cracker and
cheese bowl, and when his eyes are
/ turned drops several fistsfull Of crackers
. in bis rain protector. Ia the same quiet
and subdued manner he lays down his
nickle for a glass Of beer and stalks out.
The thing is doue-the umbrella con-
tains crackers and cheese enough to
lunch on the remainder Of the day. The
extent Of the tricks played in this line
may be partly realized when il is known
that every morning there awakens al
least five hundred dry, impecunious
chaps, thirsty for a dram, and who man.
age before the sun goes down to gel
one. There is no use Of getting mao
and kicking them out, for they are moi
only used to that, but after their drink,
would as soon be kicked out as not
some Of them rather, as it makes th,
feelings Of warmth given by the dram
extend further down their systems.
lam not writings temperance lecture
though every story has its moral. tn,
most practical suggestion have lately
seen in the direction Of temperance re
form is that Of c. T. Campbell, VIII,
recommends to the man that mus
drink, TO make his wife the barkeeper
Every time you want a drink pay he
the regular price for it, and she vii
make enough oil Of every gallon yor
consume to buy a dress. "When yor
have become an inebriate, unable 4
support yourself, Stunned and despise,
. by respectable people, she will hav
money enough to keep you until vol
get ready to fill drunkari's grave"
Congress is at it again. The well-ip
armed politicians who are always stand
ing about the halls in great number
. have settled the question Of an extr
, session, which they now say is TO b
= held. That is, they think there is poin,
TO be so much difference between IN
H use aud the Senate, on the importan
= appropriation bills, That an extra ses
sion will be necessary. The theory i
' that the Democrats want it in order 1
get possession Of the Senate Offices bu
that they will so manage matters as {
/ throw the responsibility on the Repub