Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-02-13
Washingtcn Letter.


TIE LENTEN SEASON-A SCRCEASE OF FASH
loNARLE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF En-
CITING DEBATE IN CoNGREss-TIIE 18Th
NUS cANAL-CENsU5 SUPERVISORS.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. ., 1880.
To the Editor OF the Free Press a Times:
1t has been rather dull Winter thus far
in Washington. The number of strangers in
the city is smaller than usual. 1t may be
that the smallpox scare has kept them away.
There has been the usual number of Presi-
dental and cabinent receptions the hotels
have given weekly hops the theatres have
bazcd with the usual complement of base
stars there has been no lack Of brilliant
weddings" and no scarcity of ''reigning
bellies :" but still it seems to me that neither
Vanity Fair nor the political cockpit have
been as interesting as heretofore. II is a
common remark that President Hayes re-
ceptions do not draw as well rs those Of his
predecessor, and there has not been an occa-
sion during this session sufficiently big to
overcrowd the galleries of the House or Sen
ate. But the remaining weeks of the Con
gressional session will he more exciting
There arc several subjects almost ready to he
submitted or reported back which will en-
liven debate and relieve the routine. In the
Senate, contrary 10 general expectation, a de-
cided opposition is manifested to any action
looking to the assertion of an American
policy with regard to inter-occanic COM
munication. The Gordon resolution will
and the indications are that the
very animated discussion which was
begun in the Democratic caucus
will be continued. The House com
mittee on commerce are nearly ready to sub
nit their Interstate commerce bill, and this
will enliven matters in that end of the Cap
itol Tomorrow, the Senate committee on
census will report back adversely number
of nominations for census supervisors and
this will lead TO a partisan dispute in cxccu-
tive session. The Republican Senators will,
us rule, sustain the nomination of the Pres
ident and endeavor TO have them confirmed.
There are several of these nominations that
will he bitterly contested. The fight over
Simmons, Of Georgia, which was begun be-
fore the committee, must be settled in execli-
tive session. Senator Wallace is doing his
best TO defeat the confirmation of Sherwood,
nominated for supervisor of the Philadelphia
district Speaker Randall is just as earnest
" laboring in behalf of Sherwood, though he
is Republican. Wallace and Randall are
rival leaders Of the Pennsylvania Democracy.
and this contest over Sherwood transfers their
dispute to Congress. There are other mat
tiers, too, that will add to the interest of CON
gressional proceedings; such, for instance.
as the proposed investigation of Minister
Seward.
Day after tomorrow the Lenten season,
always strictly observed in Washington, will
commence, and the fashionable season will
end in a climax of Tcrpsichorean festivities
and masquerade balls Blessed be the be-
nignant philanthropy that invented Lent.
The mad turmoil of fashion has ravaged the
face of beauty until the fair deJutanto of last
Autumn is already pale and passe. In no
other country is youthful dissipation carried
TO such an extreme, and it is impossible to
avoid the conclusion that the older civiliza-
tions, across the Atlantic, are wiser than
ours, in keeping their daughters out of socie-
~ until they have been married, and in thus
preserving for their husbands that matinal
freshness which the American young lady
dissipates upon. Tom, Dick, and Harry