Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-10-19
From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington Letter.
WASH, GroN. D. c., Oct. Is, 'Sl

WASH N6ION, ~. u, OCJ. ID, o.
This impressionable capital changes
from grave to gay with wonderful facility.
But yesterday we were mourning q dead
president in inky drapery; to-day the
same streets are hung with gay streamers
in honor of the French and German
guests who have come to the Yorktown
celebration.
l witnessed the presentation of these
foreign gentlemen in the rotunda Of the
capital, and saw the new president in
role that think is new to him and not
altogether agreeable. The guests entered
from the east side of the rotunda, and
were conducted to a position near the
centre, where they aited, drawn up in a
little semi circle. while Secretary Blaine
left them to bring in the president. The
president soon entered on Mr.. Blaine's
arm, and was introduced severally to the
foreigners first to the French and then
to the Germans. General Sherman and
number of army and of naval officers
were next introduced, and the foreigners
seemed to be much less embarrassed in
the presence of these uniformed men than
with the grave and sombre president.
The grouping Of the foreigners and of
our officers, representing the military cos.
tunes in different rank of three natonali
ties made very picturesque ensemble
OF our martial drapery it may be said, it
is elegant and sim ole; that of the French
graceful and picturesque; the Pruss ians,
| padded and warlike. This characterize.
ton, know, is noti as good as a photo
graph, but lite is too short and type setting
TOO expensive to go into details. 1t must
he Admitted that these gentlemen have
appearance than our soldiers have. They
brace up and have the style of real SOL
diers who have been trained in school of
nartnets, where it is disgracefu to have
button out of its hole or to relax for an
instant the stiffness of the back bone. Our
officers have less of the ready for parade
appearance; they are more comfortable in
their attitudes, less martial in their poses
The older ones, it is true, when looked at
in the glamour of history, have the appear
ance of SCARED veterans, but the younger
ones, in fact, without any glamour, seem
to have achieved their ambition in appear
ing formidable only 10 susceptible young
ladies'. Heaven grant that there may never
be occasion for them to be formidable to g
foe less dear. We can we'll abide the
cause and the consequence that makes our
little army of twenty five thousand mer
less picturesquely warlike than the two
million military establishments of Franco
and Germany.
The Senate met in extra session last
Monday, and the democrats, taking ad
vantage of a temporary minority, elec &c
Senator Btyard of Delaware presiden
pro tempore. Two days later, the repub
licans, availing themselves of their per
manent majority, elected Senator Owls
of Illinois to the presidency of the Senate
and ousted Mr.. Bayard.
A few nominations by the president have
been confirmed in executive session. bu
no cabinet nominations have been sent in
and none are expected until next week
Some of these nominations were of mel
on the lists prepared by President Garfield
and it is considered as significant of th
pacific intentions of the president and o
the good understanding between him ant
the present Secretary of state that one O
the names sent in is that Of Mr.. Wake
Blaine as second assistant secretary Q
state.