The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-12-29
OUR wAsH1NeroN LErrER
WASHINGTON. d. c.,
December. is. 1881
TO the Editor OF the Statesman:

Il
brighter or more beautiful than at |
at present. Vennor's prediction
of a mild winter has been per-
fectly fulfilled. No snow has fallen
yet, and the bright SIM shines out |
on the broad avenues in midsum-
mer glory. The merchants display
more varied and elegant goods than
have ever been brought to the city
before, and promenading Pennsyl-
vania Avenue and South street to
see the brilliant display of holiday
goods in the show-windows is fa-
vorite pastime. At certain hours of
the morning and afternoon those
thoroughfares present u scene of
kaleidoscope brilliancy, caught
from the elegant costumes of the la
dies and children. 1t is generally
conceded this year that one can
shop as satisfactorily and as cheaply
in Washington as in New York.
Hitherto thing had to be pur-
chased in tie metropolis to have
THE NECESSARY CHIC.
That is no longer necessary, and
the pleasant occupation of purchas-
ing holiday goods is being pursued
with so much vigOr that this is an
nounced as a reason why the prom
inent society ladies have not yet es-
tablished their regular reception
days, because they are so much Oc-
cupied shopping for the holidays.
THE CABINET LADIES
are not yet receiving. Mrs. Hunt
is in retirement owing to the recent
death of her father last week; Mrs.
James has been out of the city; Miss
Folger, who will preside over her
fathers house, is busy seeing it fit
ted up for occupation; Secretary
Frelinghuysen is stopping at Worm
ley's, temporarily, until his house
on j street is ready, and Mrs.
Lincoln has not yet begun to
hold her receptions. Matters
are in such transition state,
that the society machine has not
yet been set into regular motion.
Even ut the white house no hOspi-
tally is dispensed The pres ident
has settled down there, but notwith.
lstanding its exquisite new furnish
ings, the executive mansion is but
A BACHELORS HALL
on large scale; no gracious mis-
tress sheds smiles on the guests, no
music of children's voices resounds
i'll the upper chambers The ques-
ton as TO who shall perform the
duties of hostess for the president
| OF hia formal racaOfiOnc & cfill In
volved in uncertainty. The con-
lecture is reiterated that the cabinet
ladies will each in turn enjoy the
honor. This is surmise only, how
ever. The executive lips are as her.
metically sealed on this as on
more momentous questions. The
accidental president may not
be endowed with any par.
ticularly surprising genius, but
he bears one of the distinctive
marks of wisdom; he knows how to
hold his own counsel till the proper
time for divulging it.
HIS DEIIBERATION AND RESERVE
; in making known his choice for hi:
new cabinet are very much resented
by those who are thus kept on the
rack of expectation in behalf of theiI
! friends. Much interest has beer
displayed during the week concern
ing the chances of the south in the
: cabinet make up, and Ex-Governor
= DAVIS name is on eVerybody's
J tongue. The southern Republicans
here are enthusiastically earnest il
his support.
THE TEXANS.
AT the Ebbitt, which is the head
quarters of the leading Texans il
the city, DR.. Lane and his friend.
are besieged continually by newspa
per men endeaving to learn of hin
how matters stand. The city Republi
can papers are all favorably dlspos.
ed towards Governor Davis. The
Critic and the Post have spoken ia.
vorably of him, and it is reported
that the National Republican, the
administration organ, will come out
strongly in his favor tomorrow. In
fact, Texas, her prospects and her
politics, are becoming grand
theme of interest here, for the first
time probably since the Mexican
war, and DIR. Lane, the centre of in
terest for those curious or inter-
ested in the affairs of the Lone Star
State. From all appearances the
doctor is enjoying Washington as
only those visitors who have no
"aXes to grind" for themselves can
enjoy this city of congressman, ter
rapin, and all the good things of
life.
| THAT ETERNAL CASE.
1t seems as impossible as ever to
determine when the Guiteau trial
will come to an end. The prisoner
grows more irascible, more insolent,
more indecent in his language each
day. His latest freak is to heap
abuse of the vilest nature upon the
district attorney, who has no re-
source, but to quietly ignore it, an
alternative requiring, one would
imagine, superhuman patience.
The health of the jury Is becoming
perceptibly afflicted by confinement
and inaction, and there is much anX-
iety to see the trial over before any
of them falls seriously ill. Mrs.
Dunmire, Guiteau's divorced wife,
testified ON Friday. She is a small
anu hOb Ail-lOOhluS WOLldu, anu ucT
brawny Colorado husband stood be-
side the witness box while she testi-
fed, with fire in his eye
that portented i'll for the pris-
oner, had he attempted to carry
out his threat of intimidating her by
damaging accusations. Much to
everybody's surprise, however,
Guiteau had no Interruptions to
make. Mrs. Dummies testimony
was short and interesting, and, as
she left with her husband, the pris-
oner graciously informed his hear
ers that she was a heightened.
christian lady," This amicable out
come of what promised some time
since to be the most sensational in
cident of the trial surprised every
one. MIR. and Mrs Dunmire visited
Guiteau at his cell ON Saturday, and
said farewell to him, saving that
they never expected to see him in
this world again. The prisoner was
somewhat affected; Mrs. Dunmire
wept. The prisoner announces that
hereafter he will charge twenty-five
certs for his autograph-the demand
for 1t has become so great. That
any right-minded person should
wish to possess such souvenir must
be considered as the last reach of
absurdity, not to say more. L.
The New York Sun tells how
Cashiar Ral1vvin r,nllad xuool oxa.