The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-02-19
Neshiuatoi, Letter.
tFrota otir ftgaihr dorrespondshti1

of our National Metropolis. We are
not religious people, yet the tenten
days always come to us with n hearty
welcome. Fashion Is a tyratit that
bids its devotees till sheer WEAKNESS
makes rest religious devotion, and
the tired creatures of wealth and dis
play sink back in the lap of secluded
elegance, with feeling that is good
to have ali injunction between them
and excesses of the pleasure intinct.
On the eth zamacona, the Mexican
Minister, gave brilliant reception
His house was decorated MS fairy
castle, in the rich srlendors of color
and appointments of his own tropical
country. A temporary ballroom was
erected, and beautiful as an art gallery
with pictures of the mountains, and
cities and people of his native land.
The conservatory communicated with
the brilliant parlors open doors, and
balconies were set overhanging so as
to look down upon the glories of trop-
icle plants and flowers, winding among
which walked the elegantly-dressed
promenaders. Music from the ball
room fioated on the scented air, and
bathed the hum of voices as in a
dream of scarlet and orange sitting.
The guests were the elite Of Washing
ton, and many wealthy ladies and
whom was Mrs. Astor, loaded down
with her dazzling diamonds. Presi-
dent Hayes followed this brilliant
affair with his closing diplomatic re-
ception, to which no one was invited
save officers of the Army above the
rank of Major, Senators, Congressman
Foreign Ministers, and Cabinet officers
and the inevitable Bohemian of the
Press. Mrs. Hayes. however, not
even for the cold arbitration of State
affairs, could forget her natural self,
and so she had some of her good Meth
odist friends come, too. The crowd
was immense, and as one walked up
the footpath to the portico of the
White House, he could not but wonder
how it was possible for the Mansion
to comfortably entertain the denizens
of that long triple line of carriages
packed on the curved carriage-way
from gate to gate.
In Congress there continues to be
much lassitude. There seems to be a
determination to avoid any action
that looks to political bearing. Even
sparks of party fire rare and feeble,
though both parties are, rs it were,
breathlessly on the alert to check any
advance movement of the opposition.
"A Democrat the other day said they
were getting tired of that, and his
party was seriously me,litating the
offensive attitude this season. He
says they have always acted OH the
defensive, and have always lost.
The Republicans had pursued the
opposite tactics. and had always won.
Now they were going to try the Re-
publican mode of warfare. The extra
session issues are to be the bones of
contest.
A bill by Congressman Finley, for
the equalization of bounties, is before
the House. 1t provides for the pay
ment of S8.223 per month for the
service of each soldier who enlisted
before Apail !, 1865, all previous boun-
ties, including State and county, to be
deducted. 1t is estimated that the
amount the passage of this bill will
take out of the Treasury, is over one
hundred millions of dollars, and will
necessitate the settlement of 1,5OO. 900
claims. There is ole thing especially
gratifying about the attitude of Sena-
tors anu Congressman toward the SOL
dier. They are disposed to give him
just as much from the National Treas
ury for his loyalty and service as they
possibly can. If from conscientious
motives any of them oppose a proposed
measure, they always premise with an
apology and vow of fidelity to the
war veterans.
While all things else are gliding
along in the even tenor of their way,
there is one topic that has more than
surface interest to Washingtonians,
and that is President-making. With
at least $4,000 of our population office
holders, who are absolutely dependent
upon the fact of President for daily
bread, to whom change to an ad.
verse administration will inevitably
bring discharge and loss of that in
come given by their present positions,
the interest taken in the question of
the Presidency is prehaps deeper than
in the States. The expediency of
nominating this or that candidate is
eagerly and constantly discussed by
our people, and quite as wisely and
profoundly as the affairs of State in q
country school house debate.
The trial of the murderers of Mr..
Hirth has fully opened, and for several
days Johnson the negro who ''peached"
was on the witness stand, and was
subjected to severest cross-eXamination
but which failed to break him down
in any respect. He seems to have n
clear hand and memory, rare COM
bination in negro witnesses, for few
can make connected and consistent