The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-01-08
RaShingtOn Letter.
F-om our regular Correspondent. ]

lf-om our regular CORES pOndent1
Washington, d. c. JAN 3, $780,
Our New Year opened up as bright
and balmy as May day. The sun
shone brillianatly, and the beautiful
weather was enjoyed to the fullest
extent by our callers. Even our cold
est stlnhabitants," ," who, in resistance to
modern innovations, are as tenacious
and unyielding as the Bourbous, gen
orally succumbed to the seductive in
huences offered by the clerk of the
weather and our handsome ladies, and
Joined in the throng of callers, whose
carriages rolled through the streets
from early morning till late in the even
ing. In ante bellum times there was
no observance of New Years day as a
holiday wherever slavery obtained
The slave began his round of gaety
on Christmas eve and ended it with
New Years morning, going then to
work precisely as on other days of the
year. The master himself c0nfOrmed
30 the custom, and nowhere in the
or leisure. Hence the custom of devo-
ting it to calling on friends, and there
by keeping alive old memories and
friendships, came here since the war
as sn innovation which our native
old fogies have resisted and condemn
ID, though with annually iessened col
umns, until now a mere corporals
guard refuse to open their house and
usually hospitablo boards to their ac-
quaintance. These we will bury, with
their prejudices, in another year or
two, and then Washington may be
regarded as wholly rejuvenated.
The White House is of course, the
first and main object of attention.
Official etiquette requires the members
of the United States Courts, as well
IS each subordinate official from mem
bers Of the Cabinet down, and soldier
and sailor, to pay their respects to the
President on New Years Day. and as
the foreign legations are also included
in this compulsiOn, the White House
necessarily becomes the centre of an
immense throng of callers. The gilt
ter of gold and decorations is seen on
all sides, even to o'clock. when the
doors are opened to the common cit
izen, who pour into the mansion with
jam and crowd that is fearful to weak
nerves and costly dresses. The in
serior Of the White House was never
more tastefully decorated. The cor
ridors bloomed with potted plants,
whose fragrance filled the air. Flags
were arranged in various forms in all
she parlors, and their folds, as well as
the chandeliers and mirrors, were
festooned with flowers and evergreens.
The Marine Band discussed its sweet
est strains. The President and Mrs.
Hayes, with her assistants, "receivedn
in the blue parlor. The toilettes of
these ladies' as well as those of the
ladies Of the foreign legation, Were
very rich and beautiful, and the "re
ception" throughout may be taken rs
decided success in number and splen-
dor. The parlors Of the Cabinet ofli
: GERS were also thrOnged. There were
many gay scenes about the city, for
half the world, the ladies kept open
house, and the other half was out cal
Z ling. The lists of ladies who would
receive, which our papers published
covered nearly all our elite and 'small
or fry" and right well was the day
employed. Our ladies generally dis.
countensnced the dispensing of liquors
and, as consequence less inebriation
was seen than in the past.
The day, however, had with it some
sanguinary aspects, A colored man
opened the bloody ball by shooting
another negro to death and danger
Ously wounding two others. These
three men were in the murderer
drinking saloon, and becoming bois
ferrous quarrel ensued, out OF which
grew the deadly assault. About mid
day ayoung lady named Horton at
tempted to bill Senator Morgan's (ot
Alabama) son, but inflicted only 1
slight wound in his shoulder witt
her pistol. She was Immediately
arrested, but was perfectly cool through
out the whole affair and examination a
police headquarters. Miss Horton cam
here from Alabama last summer anC
entered suit against young Morgan TO
breach Of promise and seduction. He
story OF wrongs suffered at his hand
Ia eeanfaL one, and, if true it is NJ
wonder she is inclined to take sum
mary law hats Der own hands