Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-03-15
For the OXFORD DEMOCRAT.
A WOMAN'S VISIT TO WASHING.
TON

TON.
II the much mooted question Of chang.
ing the day of Inauguration from the
fourth of March to the first Of May, wal
LEFT to those, who experienced the dis
agreeable weather of this year, the decis-
ion would be speedy and unanimous. II
was next to impossible to keep warm in
doors, the walls Of the houses arc SO thin
and the heating apparatus so imperfectly
fitted to contend with the keen, cold
wind, that went whistling down the
streets or tearing around the corners. and
the temperature, which lowered the mercu-
~ to several degrees below zero and out
Of doors, although heavy coats, furs and
the warmest Of wraps were the order Of the
day, the complaints of benumbed fingers
and chilled faces, were loud and frequent.
To be sure, as everybody has remarked,
this has been an unusual winter, a state
ment that can we'll be believed, where, in
the District OF Columbia the thermometer
indicates seventeen degrees below zero.
as it did one astonishing morning Of last
month.
That the human mind is greatly in
auenced by climatic conditions, is elab
orately demonstrated by scientists, and
undoubtedly the greetings Of our new
rulers would be more hearty and stirring.
when it was not felt necessary to retain
all the possible amount Of breath in the
body to prevent it from turning to a
pillar of ice. and then during the last
days of April, Washington bursts into
wilderness of leaf, bud and blossom, and
nature, with unlimited resources at her
command, does more to decorate the city
than all the committee, however jealous
and all the money that is lavished in
adornments. 1t would be well for some
congressman who is anxious to recon-
mend himself TO the voters Of his district
as an economical Legislator, to present the
matter from this tand-point. Again, 1t
W ould be appropriate that new admin
is,rati,n. with all its fair possibilities OF
exalting the right and bringing out good
from evil, should be ushered in by the
sea son that is full Of sweet promise for
the summer and hints Of perfect au-
tumn.
Washington in its common every day
dress, is a magnificent city; in its gala
garb. i. is simply glorious. Its broad
avenues stretching far away, with hard
concrete pavements, swept every night,
the parks and squares nesting near its
very heart and bringing breath Of coun-
try sweetness to the tired workers who
daily cross them, the statues and monu.
meu,s on every side speaking of noble
men and gallant deeds, and the public
buildings rising here and there in fine
proportions, make it Capital Of which
the people may be proud, in spite OF the
,neers and invidious comparisons Of a
few who are determined to admire every
thing on one hemisphere and affect to
dcspise all on the other. The hundreds
of flags and the yards OK bunting, the
wreaths, arches, shields and notices
which adorn the streets during the in
augural week, and the thousands Of
people surging along the great avenue,
made gay and beautiful picture.
1t is always pleasant to see the men,
of whom all the world are talking, and
there is a melancholy pleasure in visiting
the places, where persons great in what
ever profession have moved, and schemed
and planned and pondered; and, there
fore, day in the capitol was full of deep
interest and suggestion. The House OF
Representatives was disappointing, as it
must be to everyone at first sight. The
visitor expects the floor to be covered
with bits of paper, the pages to be run
ming here and there, the members to be
clapping their hands, shouting, lounging
in all conceivable attitudes, the clerk to
be reading like chain Lightning bill after
bill, but he can never believe how very
deep the floor is covered, how very fast
the pages run, how loud the members
clap and shout, in short, how like the
most di,orderly of all schools, and the
most reckless Of all school boys that
same house is with its two hundred &C..
cupan,s, until he has seen it.
Speaker Randall, calm, determined
looking man was in the chair, and an
enthusiastic democratic friend Of mine,
himself member Of the State legislature
of New York, assured me that it gave
him the greatest satisfaction TO look at
Mr.. Randall, for through many years Of
public life he had never contaminated his
fingers with base brides. l do not know
whether it was the rarity of the specimen
or his keen appreciation OF it, that afford.
ed the delight. The familiar face Of Mr..
Frye lighted up one part of the room, and
suggested the pleasing thought that
Maine had furnished one Of the most, i
not the most, talented men in the legis-
la,ive body. During my last visit, the,
were voting on the Funding Bill-voting
by rising, voting by letters, voting b!
ayes and noes, and then repeating in The
attempt to secure quorum, and it wa
a pleasure to escape from the bad air anc
monotonous proceedings, to the Senate
The Senate was in state Of digni6ed re-
pose, excepting two gentlemen, one from
Arkansas, the other from West Virginia
who we're having little personal alterca.
ton over an appropriation for the Arkan'
sas Rivera matter Of life or death Il
the Senator from that vicinity probably
Mr.. Voorhees,, with hair in perfect orde
and beard handsomely trimmed, was
writing a letter, Wade Hampton Leaned
back in his chair, evidently much bored