The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-11-08

Washington 11sffer.
From our Regular Correspondent

4 w ASHINGT0E ~. ". Wei. ~ ..
The Capital of the United States is
lust now being surprised with her
yearly ablution. The enormous priced
stores on Pennsylvania Avenue; the
group of expensive hotels near the
Treasury Department; the many cheap,
small but good hotels and restaurants
that sourround the Patent Office; in
deed everything except the Hebrew
shops on 18th. street, have been aston
ished by applications of soap, water,
paint, and gliding. I must not forget
to mention that Senator David Davis,
of Illinois, has ordered the architect
of the Capitol to have his chair in the
Senate Chamber enlarged. These ex-
traordinary preparations togeather
with the approach of the first Monday
in December indicate that Congress is
coming. Congress means more at this
end of the line than the individuals
elected from their several districts and
states to vote with the party and Sc
cure local appropriation. 1t means
here large retinue Of retainers of the
lobby and snobby class, hosts of WISH
tors of the fashionable, genteel, demi-
genteel, and vulgar classes; all of whom
viii drop more or less money into the
tills Of the trades-people and boarding
house people, of whom the population
of the Capital is so largely composed.
All the prophets agree that the COM
ing session will be both interesting and
exciting. 1t will be the session pre-
cceding the presidential contest, and
the Capital will be the center of much
caucusing and intrigue, while the re-
cent business revival, it is thought,
will bring to this winter resorts an
unusual number of the satellites and
parasites of fashion.
This week we are TO have a fore
taste of the winter season in the shape
of what is called the "National Fair"
which, it is anticipated, will attract a
large number of visitors. Some dis
tinguished horses are to be on the
ground, and men who have become IL
lustrious as oarsmen. How cheap fame
is nowadays! Hanlon and Courtney
are expected to row on the Potomac,
and Mr.. Bonner, tits said, will drive the
President around the course behind two
of his thirty Thousand dollar horses.
Next week the Equestrian Statue of
Gen. Thomas is to be unveiled with
imposing ceremony, and ex-senator
Stanley Matthews will deliver an ora
ton on that occasion.
ltmay be interesting to some of your
readers, who may expect to visit the
Capital during the coming winter, to
know that there has been further re-
duction of hotel and clearinghouse
rates. Those who do not wish to pay
for what is called stylem secure very
comfortable lodgings and excellent
board for ten dollars a week, or from
$40 to $35 per month. 1t is always a
little difficult for a stranger to tell
where to spend his money to the best
advantage, but in the matter of hotels
it will be well for him to avoid those
on the northern side of Pennsylvania
avenue, and also those near the Treas
ury and White House.
Tomorrow the National Fair will be
inaugurated with imposing ceremony
and, it is said, the grandest street pa
geant that has been seen since the com
Ibined hosts of Grant and Sherman
marched through the city at the close
of the war. As for the fair, while it
is something unique for Washington,
/ do not think its attractions will repay
long journey, though it is always
worth the while of the American citi-
zen to make pilgrimage to the Cap
ital OF his country to see its many his
toric monuments, as well as the paved
streets, palatial public buildings, and
fat government contractors, upon which
his money has been SO prodigaily spent.
TT ic ,uh alnso,,,a md al;fy.,,o. $500,