The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-11-08
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 4, 1877

WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. 4, 1879.
There are many signs on the streets,
about the hotels, and in and around the
public buildings that indicate heapproach
of the congressional session. Some mem
bers of Congress and Senators are already
in the city seeing to the interests of their
wards in the Departments or looking for
winter quarters for themselves and fami-
lies. Some OF our statesmen actually
bring their wives with them when they
are elected to Congress, they all ought to
do il. Some wives also bring their states
men with them when they come here. l
have known some who appeared to regard
themselves as the representatives of their
district, and who doubtless regretted that
they did not take congressional possibili-
tics into consideration when they were
married. If they Lad done this they
might have chosen more brilliant hus-
bands. 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
costumed spouses of millionaires and bank
rupts who flock to this Capital every
winter.
The statesman, wife aud daughter who
come fresh from their district and attempt
to compete 10 the fashionable world of
Washington on, a salary of $4,000 a year
aud perquisites, will learn some things
during the season. Their home prestige
will not follow or avail them here. Mem
bers Of Congress are common in more
senses than one at the National Capital,
and unless their sisters, and cousins, and
aunts, are chaperoned by Mammon they
will be cclipsed 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 eclipsers they pale before the rank and
effulgcnt haateur Of those whose husbands
and fathers have been educated at govern
meDt expense at West Point or Annapolis.
The National Capital is just having a
fore-taste of the winter season. A few
weeks ago some citizens decided that
Washington was fit place for National
Fair. Yesterday the National Fair, as it
is called, was inaugurated by short adj
dress from Mr.. Hayes, and procession
Of four miles, in which the various trades
and handicralts of Washington were rep
resented, marched to the fair grounds. Ii
would appear from this procession that
the principal occupations Of Washington
are brewing, tailoring, dairying and butch
ering, but the great industry Of the Ma
tioBal Capital, Office holding, was not rep
resented. The brewers made BY far the
finest display, their wagons were the most
numerous, their horses the largest, latest
and most splendidly caparisoned. As
for TX tair, loob "a at as an exhibition, the
less spid 1h,at it the better The fairs
that are held annually at Pittsburg, Gin
cinnati, ST. Louis, and many other cities
are so UNNECESSARILY superior to this as to
make comparison ridiculous.
All indications foretell an unusually in
teresting session. Washington during the
coming winter viii be the base Of opera
tious for both political parties in the inau-
guration Of the most exciting presidential
campaign in American history. The re-
cent preliminary engagements in Maine,
Ohio, Iowa, and California have slain as.
pirants and defined issues, but there is
much that is still unsettled, both as relates
to measures and to men. The Govern
ment Departments are drapcd 10 black for
Mr.. Chandler. With many western Re-
publicaBs he was the favorite candidate
for the Presidency, and with majority,
perhaps, be was thought to be the most
available candidate for the Vicc-Prcsi-
dency. c. AS.
!