The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-12-30
Wa shingtOn Letter.
WAsH1NGroN. Dec. "a.

W DCSs 1OoN'
Congress has again adjourned, and
our city is again at rest in so far as the
political turmoil is concerned. Few
Senators or Members remain; nearly
all have gone home for the holidays,
and though our streets are thronged
with citizens who are busIed in prepar-
ations for Christmas, yet VIC miss the
familiar face of the legislator and his
shadow, the lobbyist. Adjournment
has cleared the hotels of the groups of
gossippers and schemers, who during
the session fill their offices and read
ing rooms, and now we have clear
decks for young America and his hol-
iday festivities.
Gen. Weaver, the late Greenback
candidate for President, ,and Mr.Sparks
of Illinois, made things lively in tho
House, on Tuesday last, with per-
sonal alteration which would have
resulted in blows but for the iDterfer.
ence of friends. Mr.. Sparks is Of a
very irascible temperament, though
nature endowed him with over 200
oflymph, sufficiently so In appearance
to render him as phlegmatic rs Hoi-
lander, and is hardly match in de-
bate for Gen, Weaver, whose powers
of sarcasm and retort are Of very
high order. In this instance the col
loquybetween these two worthless drift
ed into accusations against General
Weaver's political consistency by Mr..
Sparks, with skilful parties from the
other, until Mr.. s. lost his head and
resorted to direct charges Of falsehood,
which, of course, provoked recrimina-
tion and first class pot-house brawl
between the two. or course other
members interposed to prevent per-
sonal collision, but no such scene of
excitement has been in the House
since the close of the war. Mr.. Ran
dali was out of the chair at the time,
the whole, but he resumed the gavel
and pounded on the desk with 1t rs
vigorously az if he had been in the
fight with his opponents head in chan
Gerry. In his excitement he alluded to
the fact that outside the House was
nice green commons which was much
better suited for . combat than the
floors of the House. Even the grave,
staid old Senate got warmed up, for
nearly all the Senators rushed owed to
the House, "just to see the fun," and
judging by the great number Of empty
seats in the Senate when an exciting
horse race is to take place here or at
Baltimore one cannot help fancying
that there is many a Senator who
would enjoy a bout of fisticuffs between
two members. wednesday, however,
brought peace and quiet to the dis
turbed equilibrium of the Capitol, for
it gave us the accustomed Pickwickian
resolution of condemnation from out.
ragged members, and apologies from the
offenders of the peace. "All quiet on
the Potomac" We have, however, an
opinion to express, and that is, that
there is a deal more weight in Gen.
Weaver's fist than in his greenback
theories, and that were he to hit Mr..
S. we fancy 200 pounds, or more, Of
of phlegm would have fall. He is q
fine specimen of physical manhood,
having large muscular development,
without the adipose of Mr.. Sparks.
1t is rarely that old Boreas treats us
with such deep snow as now blankets
our city and country. Fifteen inches
of snow on level is certainly q rarity
here, and our people are in true West
ern fashion, making the most of it.
Sleighs, jumpers, and every conceiva-
bic form Of vehicle are brought into
requisition and the merry sleigh bells
greet us at every turn.