The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-04-24
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
OUR WASHINGTON SPECIAL.

People who visit Washington only 30 see
the politicians or TO attend fashionable So
ciety gatherings often go away and descant
glibly on its show, superfcialty and vanity
But it is doubtful whether any other city of
its size contains larger number Of serious
and earnest people of culture. There are
many literary circles and clubs here, which
combine social pleasure with intellectual
satisfaction. One Of these was founded sew
eral years ago by Mrs. Dahlgreen, widow
Of the brave admiral. For a long time she
was its chief director, doing her part with
hosp:table spirit and administrative tact.
General Garfield is now president of this
club, which meets at members houses, on
Saturday evenings. Both gentlemen and
ladies are members, and last Saturday eve
ming Mrs. Hayes was guest.
A promenade on Pennsylvania avenue,
the grandest boulevard in America, is well
worth taking at any time, especially ON these
bright spring days about four o'clock in the
afternoon. Then the beauty, fashion, brains,
and craftsmanship Of the capitalize creme
de la creme Of the country--are out in full
phalaLx, walking, driving, intent on busi-
ness or pleasure, or idly "recreating" in the
sunshine. Every man and woman you
meet in the moving panorama is worth
more than passing notice if you possessed
the key TO their histories, some talismanic
open sesame TO the store house of their ioys
and sorrows, hopes and fears, ambitions,
failures, and successes. There may be more
heroes and heroines in that living kaleides-
co ue than you wot Of, my friend; daily
maj tyrs who walk uncrowned in lowly
wraps, breathing tragedies, cyclopedias of
learning, and counterparts of all who have
lived and lied since the world was young
Jaels, Aspssiqs, Ivans, Benedict Arnolds,
Napoleons, Lut hers-for souls are not cast
in special dies by the great Greater, but are
fac Similed to infnity, while circumstances
mold them to their resp ected destinies. But,
to descend from the rea I'm of"glttering
generaities" TO practical com mon sense, the
most prosaic must admit that during a ses-
sion of Congress there are more savans in
art, science, literature, religion, and politics
congregated here than can be found in any
other city of the Union, and it is impossible
to walk half square in any direction with
out running over some of them.
Senator Conkling has introduced very
elaborate bill for the establishment Of new
bankrupt system. The bill was drawn by
Judge Loving, of Massachusetts, of the Uni.
ted States District Court, and has been sub
mitted TO and approved by great many
learned lawyers aud judges. The bill is
very long-too long to he printed in this
connection, and no abstract could be made
OF its contents so as to give a just idea of the
bill. 1t is now pending before the Judici-
ary Committee of the Senate, and is under
stood to meet with almost unanimous fa-
vor. The necessity of some uniform bank
rupt lew has been urged upon Congress by
the merchants of New York, Boston, Chica.
60, and other cities, and the appeal has
come from such influential quarters that
Congress will, doubtless, not adjourn until
some system can be adopted.
There is pIobably nothing in regard TO
which greater misconceptions exist than as
to the life led by member of Congress in
Washington. Many imagine it a life Of
glorious ease. In reality, if one of them
means to do his duty TO his constituents, he
will find his hands very full indeed, and
will have little time for balls, receptions, or
any diversion except such as is to be found
in downright hard work. The expense Of
postage on letters to their constituents alone
is very great, and how to avoid this trouble
and expense is one of the problems that the
statesmen in Congress are trying to solve.
The Postmaster General has aided material
ly in this direction by issuing an order that
replies from the department 10 inquiries
submitted by Congress for the information
Of their constituents should be sent to those
constituents under the frank of the depart
ment, free Of charge. This order was 50
gratefully received by the Congressmsn