National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-04-02
. GOSSIP OF THE DAY. !.
Scenes I'm the Senate GaIiery-Matters I
Personal Mention.
Feathers, flowers, beads, and laees,

Feathers, flowers, beads. and laces,
Costly silks and pretty faces,
Have filled the ladies' gallery in the SEN
ate Chamber every day this week Whether the
great interest manifested is due to the unusual
spectacle of an evenly divided Senate, depending
upon the vote of the Vice President in all party
matters or whether it is due to the lack of recep-
tions and other gayeties which are suspended on
account of Lent, one would hardly like to say.
Vice President Arthur is very handsome, and pre-
sides with as much ease as if he had been months
instead OF weeks in the chair 1t is quite amusing
TO be in the gallery and hear the inquiries made
by persons not familiar with the names and faces
of the different Senators. One will gently tap
you on the shoulder with-"Will you be
kind enough to tell me which is MahoneH
| and another turns to you with smiling
face, Is Malone in his seat o-day?" or, do you
know who Is speaking?" AS the interest in the
speaker is very often increased by knowing his
name and where to locate him, 1t is pleasure 10
be able to answer such questions. Conspicuous
upon the floor is the fine form and intellectual
face of the new Senator from Maine, Mr.. Frye.
Those persons who have enjoyed hearing him
speak in the House look forward with pleasure to
the time when they shall have an opportunity OF
hearing his voice in his new field of labor
Through the influence of Miss Waite, Mrs. Zoost,
Of New York, was induced TO come to Washing
ton for one week to give lessons in the Ken
sington stitch Thirteen young ladies avaiied
themselves OF the opportunity to learn. As she
could remain only one week, the lessons were
given every day, lasting two hours each. The
young ladies were very industrious, and probably
never worked so hard in theirliyes, and the beau
tiful piano scrafs, curtains, and lambrequins,
which are i'll various stages of completion, bear
testimony of their aptness as scholars.
ApropoS of Lent, the announcement comes OF
ORION INN narfS in
manufacturers advertise them upholstered in every
style Verify, this is age of progress and where
the tendency toward luxury and ease will end no
one knows. No more sackcloth and ashes, no
more hard floors and humble churches. With the
telephone, with the aforesaid chairs, and with an
easy conscience one may get through very COM
fortably.
Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Wilson, of Connecticut
avenue expect TO go abroad very soon, to be absent
for some time.
Mrs W. Tiffany, nee Gilman. is visiting Mrs.
Chandlee, on n street.
Lieutenant Hamilton Rowan and wife are visit
ing the family of Major Elliot, on Seventeenth
street.
The announcement Of the charity ball for the
benefit Of the Childrens Hospital, of this city re-
calls some touching incidents connected with that
institution which were witnessed during a recent
visit to it. Walking through the wards, which
were as sweet and clean as careful hands could
make them, the eye was drawn irresistibly TO the
tiny beds with their interesting occupants In one
of them was beautiful child, with large blue
eyes and golden hair, so weak he could not raise
his head from the pillow but, when addressed,
looked up with bright sweet smile and pointed
to toy horse and wagon beside him and
then to the matron with such happy, gratifed
air that it seemed almost impossible to look at him
with dry eyes. At the far end of the ward was a
young girl whose palid face and tottering step in
dicated extreme weakness and the fearful fever
from which she had barely escaped with her life.
Poor child she has yet to learn that while she laid
hovering, as it were, between life and death, her
mother and sister had taken their flight to the
spirit land, and the poor father, though only an
humble workman. yet possessing tender heart,
dared ottell her the truth when closely questioned
In the col0red Ward-for this institution knows
neither race nor religion-was a little girl only
four years old, who had had one limb amputated,
and yet sitting up in her little bed, apparently
happy, and amusing herself with folding and fix
ing in a box some gay pieces of tissue paper. One
cannot visit this hospital without feeling what a
noble charity it is and how much praise is due to
the four kind hearted physicians who led the way
for its organization and the wisdom they displayed
in enlisting the aid of woman i'll its behalf.