Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-04-22
NASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.


the House this season was that of
Monday last, the excitement grow
ing out of Mr.. Pages endeavor to
get up and pass the new Chinese bill
under a suspension of the rules. 1t
was apparent that more than the nec-
essary two thirds were in favor of
the motion, but for various reasons
it was made the occasion of great
uproar and confusion. Mr.. Rice, of
Massachusetts, was the only mem
Der present who would speak against
the bill, and he could not be heard.
When the vote came to be taken, of
the two hundred and thirty-eight
members only thirty-seven voted no.
Here in Washington there is not a
very strong local sentiment in favor
of anti-Chinese legislation, perhaps
because our people come in contact
with and know only the better class
of Chinese-the nobility, or those
who come here as representatives OF
their Government-and therefore
have no prejudice against them.
There could be no objection to Chi
nese if they were all like those who
resided here. The late Minister,
who returned to China few months
ago, was man of the broadcast pat
tern than whom no foreign repre-
sentative has stood in higher esteem
among intelligent people at the Cap
ital. His successor is, also, evident
ly. statesman. Yet with all this
we learn even from intercourse with
them something of the oddities of
this singular Eastern people.
Among the many curious and
beautiful things in the drawing room
at that Legation brought here by
the present Minister are a number
of dolls about a foot high dressed to
represent accurately Chinese men
and women, and there is also inclu-
ded among them and placed with
out design, in most suggestive prox-
unity to a woman playing upon a
wind instrument, representation
of the Chinese ideal Prince of the
Devils, which is of solid clay and so
heavy as to be lifted with difficulty
He is dressed in bright red loose gar
ments, has full whiskers and a mus
tache parted to show horrid leer on
his lips in which his eyes take part
and which would do credit to Me-
phistopheles. He is very wicked,
but a very jolly looking devil. Some
very old broOnZe and China vases
are also in this parlor and all along
the walls are scroll panels with Chi
nese characters upon them express
sive of some moral sentiment 1t is
a singular coincidence that on the
very day the President held the spe-
cial Cabinet meeting at which 1T
was decided that the anti.Chinese
bill should be vetoed, it was observ-
ed that his picture had unintention-
ally been placed on stand between
two Chinese notices, one of which
read. 'Be man." and the other,
"Be generous" which might be-
construed as enjoining him to have
backbone enough to veto the bill
and to be generous with the terri
tory of the big country over which
he presides. When first they came
here the Minister and other gentle
men of the Chinese Legation used
always to offer tea to their visitors,
but they found so few gentlemen
who accepted it that they now keep
upon the centre table in their parlors
decanters of choice wines and hand
some glasses and silver salver full
of assorted cakes. Nevertheless l
hear of several members of the two
Houses of Congress and other Off
cials who regularly turn down their
wine glasses at dinner parties, de-
Ginning any spirituous beverages. |
saw Attorney General Brewster and
the acting Vice President, David
Davis, both refuse at a recent
dinner party. The latter said he
stopped wine and tobacco over a
year ago, and his health had improv-
ed in consequence. Two gentlemen,
Hon. Aleck Stephens and Gen.