Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-01-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
wAsnrNGrox. ID. C., Jan. 8. az,


Svous' suSu as never were presented 10
the purchasing public before. The streets
were full OF people even late in the night,
aud stores were very generally kept open
until midnight and after, during the week
between Christmas and New Year's-this
became necessary as most OF the purchas-
Ing was done ster Office hours. When
Gen. Grant occupied the Presidential chair
be introduced the custom OF closing the
executive departments at noon the day be-
fore Christmas, and all day Christmas and
New Years, and having only one-hslf the
force on duty at any time between the two
great days, and closing each day at noon.
This has been practically carried out each
year since until this, when all were a.
lowed to go at noon the days preceding
both holidays and all were required TO be
at their desks during the usual Office hours
during the intervening days; this, TO my
mind, is the more sensible way.
The weather, both Christmas and New
Years WAS all that could be reasonably de-
sired, the latter being one OF the most de-
lightful days OF the season. Preparations
for the receptions were on a grand scale.
Congress falling TO take the usual holiday
recess, there were more Members and S ~
ators in the city than il generally the case
GA such days. Something of the old-time
enterprise was noticeable. Many were
oat calling in the early part OF the day,
years past calls have been confined to the
afternoon. The hour fixed for the reception
AT the White House 10 commence was NJ
eleven o'clock, bat a very large number OF
carriages were on the grounds when
reached there at 10 30, and every body was
on their good behavior. / went thus early
In or,ler % see the Foreign Legations Gu
ter. a, they always attend In their court
dress. AMI had never embraced the OPP
p1rtlnity - see them. but they got 10
before me. 80 coHtcntei myself 10 notlc-
lag their exit Many OF them were al
tcudci by ladies. a. were most OF the OIL
Gals except The officers OF The army aud
navy. Amer promenliing In the East
Room f,r awhile they began 10 leave soon
After twelve, the japanese Legition being
The drsi - leave. Then came the Turkish
aud Brazilian. and al quarter pas, - the
Hon. Elisha II. Allen, the Hawaiian Min
i,ter, who. since the retirement OF Sir Ed
ward Thornton from the British Legation,
has been the dean OF the diplomatic ser
vice here. attended by his son, came out.
| noticed As he passed me his cross aud
red sash, which were the only insignia OF
Office worn by him. In moment heard
some cOmmotion, ana as turned he lay
where he had fallen, not three feet from
me. He was Immediately raised and
placed on the lounge in the room. Some
pronounced him dead then, but l could
see that he breathed, being In close prox.
unity 10 him. He expired, should say, in
about II Or 20 minutes. The reception was
at its height. the officers OF our army and
navy We're passing through the first room,
jGst outside OF the cloak room in which he
Law, and when he died they had just passed
the President. As the news n his death
passed through the corridors and rooms
and reached the President, he at once
closed the reception. and the guests all
departed quietly and quickly, each reflect
ing in their own mind on the sad ending
ofth festivities, aid on the close OF a long,
busy and honorable life. He was first
brought into pablic life by his election TO
Congress in the memorable campaign OF
lsi0, being at that election the Wing OPP
pouent OF the Hon. Hannibal Hamlin in the
Bangor District. He had just passed his
18th birthday.
During the present week Congress has
enacted the Pendleton Civil Service Bill.
To do this, msjority OF the members
stultifed themselves. Perhaps Senator
Ingalls put it little stronger than he
Otherwise would when he told the Senate
that he should vote for 1t as he did not
intend to allow any member Of that honora-
bic body to Guido him in hypocrisy" But
he probably called it by the right name, as
no sane man has the temerity TO believe
even small minority are in sympathy
with its principles. Senator Joseph L.
Brown seemed To be the most honest in
his opposition 10 it, and his reason for OPP
posing II was quite as cogent rs was that
OF Senator Ingalls, for supporting 1t. He
opposed il, as he said, "he did not believe
in passing il while the Republicans held the
offices" But IL has passed. Its title,
however, should have read,-"A Bill 10
establish an aristocrscy and to make n.y.
pocrisy respec table"
The Senatorial contests going on in the
several States are attracting much atten'
ton here The fight between Window and
Dunnell in Minnesota has been the subject
OF much discussion, and 1t does not yet
appear what the result shall be. In Mich
igan, Ferry, the present incumbent, has
been nominated for reelection but report:
saw that those Republicans who refused
TO 90 into caucus hold the balance Of pow
er. How this is, the near future will de
vevelop. There appears to have been (
blunder committed by few would-be lead
ers in Illinois which is to be sincerely re
gletted and the hope is that it will not re
suit in the reelection of the mongrel Sen
ator from that State. II would be bette
that some man who knows which party h
belongs to should I'LL the position. Nor