Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-02-04
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENTS
NOTES AT THE CAPITOL.

OF statesmen, squabling politicians and Of
fice-seekers there are but few of the former,
whilst the ranks Of the two latter receive
daily fresh and numerous accessions.
We neglected in our former communion
ton to mention one of the most pleasing in
cidents that has attracted our attention dur
ing our wanderings around and about the
Capitol. Feeling somewhat tired and de-
pressed, and holding general pass into the
ladies' gallery, we concluded that VIC would
go to the Senate and while away few hours
We had hardly taken our seat when our
eyes rested upon one Of the most extrava-
CANT parterres Of beauty that we ever be-
held-a rich boquet Of autumn leaves We
have read or heard il said that woman is
not woman until she is about thirty. The
pretty girls blushing through their teens,
the fair maiden of twenty, even the fortu-
nate "belle," whose reign has fingered until
twenty-five, may find precions existence
in the roseate pages Of fiction, but it is the
woman Of ripper years, Of formed character,
settled principles and matured intellect who
lives immortal in the royalty Of history.
May and June are fair in the white blossoms
of promise, but it is October that brings the
luscious fruit to cheer and beautify the win
ter of life--it is then, when speech and
thought, each secure in its proper place, no
longer at strife, throws wide the doors Of
conversation; when sure of herself, under
standing we'll her duties and her claims,
that woman steps firmly forward with be-
witching smile, with gracious air and con-
scious power to mounther waiting throneand
grasp the jeweled scepter of perfect woman
hood. Every white hair that CLEANS among
the dark, every line upon the noble counte-
nance telling of gathered thoughts, fresh
treasures Of human sorrow and sympathy,
are new diamonds and pearls in the crclet
bout her brow Her birthdays then be-
come rounds Of the ladder leading upwards,
and the higher she mounts the more nvigo-
rating becomes the atmosphere, the more
charming and beautiful the landscape BY
ladies OF such mould we were surrounded,
the noble selt-sacrifcing adherents Of the
it6he va iOhhAit ouhiuSN. ituNct
spokesman appeared TO be Mrs. Spencer,
lady of exalted cultivation of mind, of
marked and delicate refinement, and so
graceful, easy and winning in her manners
that she would be conspicuous in Con-
gress Of Diplomatists. She Is benevolent,
combined with great force of character and
energy, and never forgets what it is to be a
lady. The appearance of these ladies in
the galleries upon this occasion was to hear
the debate upon Senator McDonald's rcso-
ton looking to the establishment Of the
right Of woman to vote. The gallant Nc
Donald had hardly introduced his measure
when Conkling moved its reference TO
special committee. Senator Davis, of West
Virginia, moved, as a substitute, that it be
referred TO the Committee on Rules, which
was adopted. This WAS n wicked and cruel
stab, as its reference to such "a committee is
virtually its death for the present session of
Congress. Upon the adoption of Senator
Davis substitute, calmly and maiesticslly
the ladies left the gallery, but il was that
majestic calmncss that precedes the storm,
FOR as the poet has expressed it,
Heaven has no rage like love to hatred
turned,
Nor hell fury like woman scornedr
We spend an hour or two in the Supreme
Court room every day. There is charm
about the place which is almost sacred
There is something in the appearance of the
vanara lilo iudooa IL, that l;ttla Ohio pNhar ~,
moved from all the world, which reminds
one of the Roman Senators in the palmiest
days Of the Republic. They look like men
who have lived down all the hot anxietics
and wrciched frivolities of life and have
conquered themselves We have listened 10
some of the arguments before the Court
with great satisfaction. A mastery one a
few days since by Gen. Butler, excited in
MS the same mingled feelings Of admiration
and despair" which Chancellor Kentsad he
always felt in reading Blsckstone's lucid
chapter upon Contingent Remainders. Law
ycrs from every part OF the United States are
constantly rushing in and out Of the court
room. They are mostly men Of distinction
at home, but we can see their nervousness
as they are preparing their arguments, in
the law library, for the Court here--thc
highest in the land. They feel, probably,
that they must sustain that reputation which
they have labored SO hard and So long to
acquire elsewhere.
The Senate has again entered upon an
often repeated, but always prohtess, expert
ment of trying 10 detect and punish the
publication Of public documents relating 10
matters pending in secret session 1t seems
that n copy Of the treaty lately negotiated
with China found IFS way into the ncwspa-
pers before the Senate had fairly got 10 work
upon it. The discussion in the Senate is, OF
course, cclipsed by the discussion Of the
treaty In the press OF the country, and long
before the Senate comes 10 vote public
opinion throughout the country will have
been formed and fully expressed. Without
stopping at this time to consider the utility of
having secret sessions of the Senate at all,
il is enough TO say that the time has long
since passed when secrecy in legislation can
be tolerated in this country. The fact that
no effort has been made TO abolish executive
or secret sessions Of the Senate has boon that
practically such sessions have ceased 10 he
secret. The action, and even the yeas and
nays Of senators, IN the Senate during these
sessions are published next day with as
much regularity as are the proceedings of
the regular session. This has been more or
less the case ever since Col. Benton, thirty
years ago published in the newspapers his
speeches made in executive session, and his
right 10 do 50 could not be questioned.
The gmndest simtcgic maneuvering
that ever took place on the political chess
board ol this country Is now going on in
reference 20 the formation Of Gartclds Cabi-
net. The Apostle Paul, and we read the
Bible as do all great men and good chris.
iians, in letter TO the church at Corinth,
..rofe .f oh risfianx who Sail nj eap,a az