Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-01-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular corresns2dept'
WASHINGTON, JAN, 26, 1881.

Co. wy uSoSilutu tilt I1OltSo VI ieVp
rsseL'tatiyes as a very impressiv
body. 1t was not necessary for tina
writer to add lthat he had been a
the Capitol but a short time, an,
that the ideas expressed were frs
impressions. IL would be interest.
ing to read some letters of his, writ
ten with the same frankness anC
honesty, after he has spent one o.
two sessions here, during which he
shall have witnessed from the gal
lery some of the occasional rows and
attended all the night sessions and
closing ceremonies. If he is atten-
tive he will see members roaring
drunk once in a while; he will see
dozens of members squirting tobacco
juice I'VE carpets that cost six dol
lars a yard; he will see scores of
members smoking in the chamber
during the sitting; he will see mem
bers stretched out on their sofas in
slumber and he will hear them snor-
ing; he will see members with both
feet on their desks, sitting on their
backbOnes; he will see members
munching apples while attending
to the public business, and he will
see much else that will detract some
what from his description of an i'm
pressivs body. A few years ago one
member from one of the Southern
States, now happily out of public
life, was in the habit during the sit
ting of the House of taking out his
false teeth and wiping them on his
sleeve and picking them with his
finger nails. Another member was
in the habit of combing his hair
with a fine-tooUh comb while listen
ing to speeches. He was very tidy
and always spread a newspaper on
his desk to prevent spelling it with
the results of his labors. Nearly
everybody has heard the story of the
Kentucky member of the last Con-
gress who washed his feet in the
wash-bowl of his committee room
in the presence of half a dozen men,
bers, one of whom was the fastidi-
Gus Hewitt, of New York who bolt.
ed out of the room uttering the word
damnation between his teeth. Next
week / will endeavor to give some of
the peculiarities of this impressive
body, its methods of transacting bu-
%siness, and the experiences and diff
culties Of new members.
Society people, and those who
come to Washington for the attrac-
tions offered by the usual round of
social pleasures, complain that the
season is dull. There has been a
good many dinner parties and the
like, but q lack of those general DC
casions of large proportions. The
fact that the White Honse is prac.
tically closed to society makes a
great difference. For over twelve
years not only were the customary
evening receptions and State din
ners regularly given there, for at
least two months after the New
Year reception open the season, but
during most of the Grant admins
tration and all OF the Hayes term
many felt privileged to call on the
lady of the Executive Mansion soci-
ably in the evenings when no formal
entertainments were going on there.
From the street the house used to
present a very bright appearance, as
it never does now, since President
Arthur thinks that it is a proper re-
spect to show to his assassinated
predecessor not to have his late of
fetal residence looking as though no
tragedy had occurred. 1t is rumor-
ed he will begin to have receptions
after the six months or mourning
have expired, that is to say after the
10th OF March, which can be done
very well, as Congress will be in ses.
sion for some time after that, and
every one will enjoy spring enter
tainments more than during the
winter when engagements for social
amusements r more numerous.
The woman suffragists have been
again stirring up discussion here and