Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-12-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.

1HOugn Tile SEASON III Tile OIllCidl
social circles of the capital does not
open until the FIRST of January, there
have been few informal receptions,
ect., and on some days the door-steps
of certain residences have been pref
ty well Uttered with the little tissue
slips dropped from packages of visi-
ting cards. Unjust be an awful
bore to be the wife of an official and
receive this stream of callers on GER
tain days, yet the ladies seem to like
it and are even more ambitious than
their husbands to occupy the posi-
tions placing them high in the social
scale. There being no Mrs. Arthur
in the White House, and Senator
Anthony who is to be President Of
the Senate, and really Vice
President, being bachelor, Mrs.
Carlisle, the wife of the new Speak
err, will occupy the position of society
leader this winter. AT all official
dinners Mrs. Carlisle, like Mrs.
Keifer last year, will rank her hus-
band, and if the President is present
will take the position corresponding
to his. This official etiquette seems
very strange out side of Washington,
but here where so many guests at
entertainments are official it is abso-
lutely necessary that there should
be some rule Of precedence, or else
there would he bitter jealousies. at
a dinner the oldest Senator in point
of service takes precedence of all OF
her Senators present, even though
he may be the dullest and most
uninteresting one present. In the
same way the Members who have
served the longest take precedence
ofthe younger ones.
Mrs. Carlisle is a woman who will
grace her position. She is a Ken
tuckian, her father having at one
time been Mayor of Covington, and
she inherits the splendid physique
for which Kentucky bellies are fam
GUS. She is a blonde in complexion,
with blue-gray eyes, and a figure as
1.-the as young girls. 1t is diff
cult to realize that she is the mother
OF two grown sons. She is dignifed,
but unassuming in manner, loyal to
her friends and kind to every one.
Her great faith in her husbands sue
cess was well illustrated in her cool
confidence during the Speakership
contest, No one showed less excite
ment, and whenever the subject was
preached to her she said calmly: 81
am just as certain OF his being
Speaker as am that I'm alive. OF
course no one can beat John. He
has never been beaten yet when he
was a candidate for anything"
They FAY Mr.. Arthur is remark
ably fond of music, though the
stories about his banjo playing
jig dancing are not quite true. One
of his friends says that even a we'll
tuned hand organ has charnls for
the President, and relates the follow
ing incident: zone day a few weeks
ago he was driving in from Soldiers
Home accompanied by Miss Nellie
and myself. We had just turned In
to Fourteenth street when a hand
organ was heard playing u lively air
near by. In AN instant the Pres
ident's face lightened up, and when
we reached the spot where the organ
grinder was standing he ordered The
driver to stop. For fifteen minutes
we remained there until the Italian
had exhausted his repertoire and his
monkey had climbed into the car
riage twice. Each visit of the latter
was rewarded with q quarter of
dollar, which seemed to astOnish his
master when he received it, and then
we drove on and the organ grinder
and the children grouped around
never knew that the distinguished
auditor at that singular musicale
was the President Of the United
States"
Congress seems to be starting of
pretty well. The holiday recess, it
Is said, will begin early and continue
late. The first bill day in the
House--last MOnday-was unusual
ly lively, over 800 bills being intro
duced without getting more than
half through the call Of States.
This left several Of the best bill
makers in the body still to have their
innings, but have not kept the
tally of subsequent days. On the
FIRST "bill day" Of the last Congress,
722 bills were introduced before ad-
tournament, at which time Massa-
chusetts had been reached in the call
OF States. BY unanimous consent,
the same order of business was con-
tinued during the next parliament
airy day and portion of the third.
When the call of States was finished,