Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-01-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular Correspondent J
WASHINGTON. Jam. 1O. 1881

ton social and political life. Georgs1
Washington first inaugurated them whet
the presidential residence was located II.
New York City, and in those days they
were called ''levees," a name that is still
given TO them in some circles, But tie
receptions Of the present day are vers
different affairs from those of the early
period of our National history. The
Royal Airs" which came down from
European courts have gradually disap
peared. In Washington's time the strict
est rules of social etiquet and decorum
prevailed. No motley crowd could ap
proach the powdered and bewigged pres
ence. The President of the United States
was an august parsonage. His receptions
were not for the vulgar. None came who
had not the right to come by official sta
ton. or who were not entitled to special
privileges by reason of established merit
and character; and one could no more
venture into the presence of George and
Martha Washington on that day in any
sother than full dress, than one could now
In plain clothes obtain an audience with
the Queen of England.
But these affairs have become Thor
oughly Americonized, beginning With the
time of General Jackson, who, to empha-
size his Democracy, served great cheese
in the East room of the White House on
New Years day, fragments of which
were trampled upon the floor to the ruin
of the carpet and disgust of those aristo-
Gratis who dislike 1.-The rabble." And in
those days, too. there was cider in the
cellar. In our day "citizens generally
are admitted to the White House. and
lNx1 nor ~ OWL
men and society leaders from all parts of
the country, but side by side with them,
and sandwiched in among them, are the
colored men who open the doors at the
Departments, and the still humber class
| of persons who attend the stalls at the
market. The threadbare and tattered
waterproof of the laboring women brush
es roughly against the silk of the modern
belle. No distinctions are made at the
Presidents door. The only discrimina-
| tion as to incomers within the peoples
hours is that which prevails in horse-cars
Drunk and disorderlyn not admitted"
1t is doubtful if the founders of our COR.
ernment, who still chung to some of the
ceremonies and dignities of aristocratic
Europe, ever contemplated establishing
such q thorough Democracy as our
Americah republic has come to be.
This yaar though the thermometer ir-
|dicased n degrees below zere the receipt.
ions we're usually brilliant. There was
i',ss si,s sFahd spass.gma q fAseisR d,
]. pso..T s sszs Supreme Court judges and offi'
1&l4is generally, marching in to the
music Of the Marine Band, always sta
TONED in the main vestibule on such oc-
casions. The diplomatic corps is a pronli-
nent feature in the social life OF WASH
ington, and, central fguue on all state
occasions, is made conspicuous by its tin
sci and fiummery. The snowy uniforms
of foreign courts parade the parlors of
the White House with as much ostenta-
| tion as may be seen in the official pres
ence of Kaiser William or the Gar of
Russia. Yet all these representatives of
monarchy and aristocracy regard Ameri-
ca as a plebeian government, and rank
the ministry to this country as mission
of the third or fourth class. The British
minister at Paris receives salary Of
$50, 600; at Vienna, $4,000; at CONSTANT
nople. $40. 900: at st. Petersburg. $780,
600: at Berlin, $33, 600; at Pekin, $50, 900
at Madrid even, $27, ,0ec; while at Wash.
ington Sir Edward Thornton is obliged to
live ON $4,000. In point of grade, the
Europeans rank Washington practically
with the missions to Brazil, to Japan, to
the Hague, and to Lisbon.
! Nothing better illustrates the superb.
eial character of social life at theNa.
tional Capital than the ceremonies OF
New Years day. Insincerity and the
hypocrisy of politics extend to society.
There are people here. including some of
i the old residents, who havesa true social
existence as it is known everywhere, bat
1.-the great society, ;" that by which Wash
Iington is known, is a dress parade, a
social walk.around in this fashionable
winter camp, a futile dalliance'' of
[shaus and pretenses.
A spirit OF earnestness and work is
manifested in Congress since the recess
and business has begun to move, though
there is notyet a full attendance. The
appropriation bills are being pwtthrough.
the army bill having been passed by the
House on the first day Of reassemblng,
twith only seven negative votes. The
apportionment bin has been introduced
and if the present temper continues the
extra session may be avoided after all.
The fate of the refunding measure Is
exciting some concern at present AM!
fears are entertained that Mr.. Fernando
Woods bill may fail to become a law.
Mr.. Wood is ill and action On the bill is
awaiting his recoyery, It would seem
that all apprehensionso the failure OF
the measure are needless, even ii the
Treasury Department Is quietly throwing
cold water upon it. At the time Con
gress adjourned there was no doubt that
a large majority of the House was ready
to vote for a s per cent bond. II isnot
clear what has happened since that time
to change their views. The only active
opposition at that time manifested came
from the national banking interest. The
banks, of course, do not want their guar
antee in the shape of bond bearing
only 5 per cent. This opposition had nc
effect apparently at the time the recess
Etwas voted, nor had Secretary Shefmans
well known doubts as to whether 50 low
a rate wsald pgoye acceptable e capi
txl@QA Witnesses
Il TIE hunt Ss strong hearty rug
Iged and heAN1 jaoking men, woner
i2nd eIildrehs Mtlt have been rescued
1 from beds of pSln* sickness and wet
4 nigh death bS ParAeiss Ginger Tonic
are the best evidences III the world ot
/ Hill sterling merit and wofth. Fou will
Il iifd such Iii almost every ecmniunity
Read 81 ID Ii another column. Jee2Sim