Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1881-11-12
ITiSHINGfoN LETTER.



Washington, ID. C. Nov. 9TH, 1881.
EDS. FREE PRcss:
Yen ask Coz : letter for your paper. Liv-
inc here in th,. great centre Of the interests
political and social of our land, material for
gossip alo0ads,-but at the same time 50
many are on the qvirirc for all tid5its which
may be iound aoating around, that not only
The actions and words of those whose deeds
aad savings interest the misses, but their
very thoughts are published abroad almast
before they are formed within. Like The
old Samaritan King doubtless many wonder
who IS the household foe bctrsyirg tho Sc
crct counsels of the bed-chsmhog. Anamu-
sing illustration of this occurred within the
past few days. A reporter for the EreaiHg
SIR furnished a very graphic account Of a
Cabinet meeting said TO have taken place
very recently, at which Presiden, Arthur is
represented SIS sharply calling to account the
Attorney General for what he characterized
as unparloa35le apathy in the matter of
the prosecution of GIiteau. In quite dra-
matte STYLE ,ae gestures o; the President, his
bringing his fist yioleat,y down on the Ia
be" arog1l which thcy sat-the persistent
refusal OF the Attorney General to admit
that ans criminal prosecution came within
his jurisdiction and the final assertion of the
President that it would be better for that
officer % make himself acquainted with law
before attempting to administer it-Sre de
pictcd Ths. morning the papers not so for
unate q, 20 have obtained this choice NOR
sci Indignantly ask whence was it obtained
who has bcca telling tales on; Of school?
The cabiact meetings are of the nature of Il
rriyy c1uucjl-eycry word there uttered is
supposed 70 be strictly confidential Was
the Sr reporter hidden in some closet or
corner. Did one OF the chief couasellors in
am uuvary moment bctray the secret? or,
lid the aforesaid reporter draw UP9a his inn
ogina,ion, Perhaps We may never know
perhaps +. {, not matter of vital import
ance that wc should, and vet, ii we cannot
believe what we read ia The newspapers
vha, can we believe? The very foundations
of our e,ith will be siakon This being the
state of affairs It'll difficult fer q trgthfui
writer Co find any ne,c news to send yon.-
Things ar, mashed up-disheo and served
90 the public before obey happen. Jus.now
it is duil enough 70 excuse little exercise
of the inventive powers. The "Freach
guests have departed. the Senate has adj
iourayl, and after the long strain and OK
element OF the Summers anxiety the city
aas sank into an &As1iu.ely stagaaa: cold:
tiou-mor, properly a rafting condition,
for with another comet ON it, way even the
least lperstitious, reviewing the events of
thc past wear, End themselves asking what
next.' Not very much business is being
transacted in the Departments-thc male
clerks. many of them, have GONE home TO
vote; the ladies have nos yet that excuse
for au eztl holiday The Census Bureau
has i.s, good and popular Superintendent
by tlc resignation OF Gen. Walkcr-bu. his
successor, cole w. Seaton, is ahundan1y
competent TO 6il the position and his app
poiamcn, q very acceptable one to the
clerks. Erca in this atmosphere of statis-
ties somc little fun occasionally springs up.
An instance and win wind up. An Emu
morator somewhere down in Kentucky gave
upon Ills schedule the names Of tbc father
and mother Of 8 fimiiy-then follow four
Olive branches, called " 4, Il" &C" and
"E." A foot note informs us that these
children are named for the letters of the al
phai,t-lu, CD" is dead" Does the ma
TER expect TO reach Il by the next census?
MEMO.