Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-01-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

The weather is hardly a fair sub
ject for letter writing, yet it has been
a leading topic of conversation here
lately. Washington has lost some
of its reputation for semi-tropical
winter climate. Through the recent
change in the weather Office of the
Signal Service Bureau, and the ex-
traordinary conduct of Mr.. Vennor,
things appear to have got badly mix
ed. From place where mild and
balmy breezes and pleasant sunshine
prevails at this time Of the year,
Washington has been transformed
into one of the coolest cities in the
country with snow piled up along
the curbs like the drifts along a
country fence in the North. Usual
ly the most we have is little furry
of snow which comes to-day and
melts morrow, so that a sleigh
ride is rare thing and conveyances
with runners scarce. But now we
have had over three weeks of solid
sleighing, with no present prospect
of losing it. During the greater part
of this time there has been ''an ca
ger and a nipping air" abroad, most
uncomfortable to come in contact
with, and ON New Years morning
the thermometer was quoted at IA
degrees below zero. This tempera-
ture was lower than that of any 9TH
er habitable portion of the United
States except Mount Washington,
where it was II degrees below. Mr..
Vennor is a foreigner and many peo-
pie think he is wholly unjustifiable
for inflicting such state of things
as this upon the capital of a country
with which he has nothing to do
But, whatever others may think, the
boys who could get sleds have heart
lily approved of the snow if not the
temperature. Such excitement over
costing have never seen anywhere.
From morning until night throngs
of youngsters have biockaded Thir-
teeath Street, and Washington
Street, Georgetown, where the de-
clivity is ample, and hundreds of
'!children of larger growth" have
daily watched the sport. A grand
sleighing carnival on Pennsylvania
Avenue Tuesday afternoon was an
event for Washington. The partic-
ipants were in masks and fantastic
costumes and made the scene a fes-
tive one.
New Years day, notwithstanding
the cold, was observed in the usual
manner. The feature Of the day
here is the official receptions, of
which that at the White House is
chief. The general attendance on
this occasion, aside from the official
and diplomatic circles, was not as
large as in former years, but the
scenes in the blue parlor as the re-
ception progressed was animated
and brilliant. Mrs. Hayes's fascina-
ting manners and her Incompatible
social ways have Invested even this
ceremonious affair of much of its
formality. Her rare tact of remem-
bering names and faces and hearty
responses to each greeting have made
her reception entertainments to be
remembered among the successes
that make the name of Mrs. Madi-
son so famous in social lore, along
with that of Miss Lane who, later
on, presided over the household of
her uncle, President Buchanan
Mrs. Hayes has presided over the
Presidents household with like
grace, peculiarly her own, and many
were the expressions of regret that
this would be her last New Years
day there.
From present Indications the in
augnration of General Garfield will
exceed in brilliancy any similar
event since the war. Preparations
are going forward on grand scale,
and enough is already assured to
render the display especially mag
nificent. Reports show that every
State and nearly every Territory
will be represented by military or
civic organizations, while the parade
of citizen soldiery will be especially
fine. Pennsylvania Avenue is to be
Illuminated for a mile and half,
and the interesting thirty-eight
streets are to be arched in the names
Of the several States. An unprece-
dented crowd is anticipated. All
the hotels long since contracted for
guests to their utmost capacity and
committees are engaged in securing
the use of private apartments.
The President has recently in con-
versation with his friends remarked
that he was extremely we'll pleased
that his term OF office was so rapid
ly drawing to close. He said to a