Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1882-03-04
w JFFFFPSON COUNTY, W VA. SATURDAY, MARCH 4 1882
WlsHIYGrON LETTER.


Political Gossip. Journalistic ImGgininqs.
The Ind Of the fasiinGJis Seasoa. Tie
Star Route Cases before Judge Cor.
(I'rom our Regular Correspondent
Washington, d. c. February 2lst, 1882.
soplacid has been the political sea, since
the beginning Of President Arthur's admin
istration, that those journalists who thrive
on sensation have been sorely put to their
wits to raise artificial tempests, and hatch
dire and dreadful plots from hot magma
tions. The success of the Malone move
ment in Virginia, and the consequent
encouragement it has given 10 political
rcadiustcrs" in other states, has, il is said,
infected prominent political leaders of both
parties here, who hope for nothing less than
to carry the next presidential election
through a coalition Of Blaine Republican
and what are called progressive Democrats.
The plan according to imaginative journa-
lists, is to widen as far as possible, the
breach that has been made between Presi-
dent Arthur and Mr. Blaine. and 70 keep
the latter IN the foreground Is the leader Of
the active and militant element of American
politics Mr.. Blaine, it is argued, will
draw FROM the Republican party the host
that championed him in 1876 ard in 1880
which. with New York and the Solid South,
is counted upon 70 carry him 70 tie White
House. The combination contcnplatcs a
Democrat on the ticket IS Yice-Prcsidcnt,
who gucsscs say, will be Senator Voorhees,.
1t is. of course, altogether premature tc
discuss the presidential election Of 1884
now, and I give YOU this only rs piece Of
sensational gossip; but We have seen SO
many political surprises in the last fifteen
years, that those interested in the future no
longer conGne their srcculations to The
probable, bat also to The possible, or, may
be, to the impossible, than which, Hugo
says: nothing is more imminent"
What is here called the fashionabIeseason
will terminate on the 22nd. inst, which is
theboginningof Lent. Washington society,
in is higher circles, is largely composed Of
Army and Navy people, who belong almost
exclusively 10 the Catholic or Episcopal
churches. These denominations are very
scrupulous in their observance of Lent and
through military and naval society, they set
the fashions for all the innumerable inferior
grades. With the commencement Of Lent,
the round Of receptions and dances will
cease, and society will take itself to church
fairs, and entertainments which have an
ayowcd religious objective. But, as is well
known, the real objective CT society is
marriage or Irritation, and church fairs will
be successful for the reason that they
promote the association chat facilitates these
ends almost rs we'll rs balls. To see and be
seen is the real object Of youth, aud it Is
difficult TO tell, except by ocular analysis,
where youth ends aad old age begins in
Washington. You ran form no opinion
from data Of lie ard action.
The grand jury has q; last voted in favor
Of presenting all persons whose names have
been prominent In correction with the star
Route cases, and the attorneys age AZ work
framing indictments upon the evidence
presented. The names Of Brady, Ex-Sena-
tor Dorsey, his brother, and brother-in-law
are among those that have been presented,
but the list comprises dozen more They
will be ttied before Judge Cox, the same
who was the Judge in the recent Guiteau
trial.