Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-02-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
{ Fom our Regular Correspondent. J

WASHINGTON February 10th 1883.
Washington fell asleep last night to
the lullaby Of pelting rain, but while
II slcptthe rain succumbed to driving
snow storm, and it awoke this morning
to find itself beautifully attred in robe
of immaculate white. The city has
been 50 long delugcd with rain satura-
tel with mist, and blinded BY fog that
everybody is sick and languishing for a
isutf Of unaluterated pure air. During
the week the sun has succeeded in pen
etratiug the dense pail Of clouds only
two Or three times momontarily, just to
rive assurance Of his continued exist
rnce, but never remained long enough
to inspire confidence in his power to
permanently dispel the gloom. While
the people here appreciate fine weather
quite as much as ever, they have learn
ed through habit that they can exist
" thout it and even be entertained, so
they no longer expect anything better
aud hive resigned themselves goodna-
tured,y t. the triseful heavens Rath-
er thon be thwartcd, they just put on
gossamers, rubbers, and umbrellas, and
wade two miles if necessary. They do
not think it too trying even to stand in
line on the sidewalk for two hours dur
7 ing a driving rain, waiting their turn
on the opening morning for the sale OF
opera tickets. The Washington public
fdoes not have any opportunity of listen
ing to ltulien opera every week, ana
the sale of tickets for the season begin
Ming tonight has been at unprccedently
exorbitant prices The incompatible
Pattison will sing but twice daring the
week for SO, 900. She has never sung
oftener, which is the secret Of the Won
derful preservation Of her voice She
has never been heard here, and the Gu
riosity in regard to the "greatest living
soprano" amounts TO popular craze. -
There was regular stampede for seats
for Patti nights" few persons feeling
they could survive a failure to hear a
few stratus, at least, of that world famed
voice.
Both houses of Congress are in a cha
otto state on the tariff question difficult
to describe. 1t had been thought that
absolute free trade was we'll represented
in Congress, but this has proved great
mistake, there being only theoretical
free traders now, every man having be-
come protect ,nsts as soon as any lit
tie interest in his own state was assailed.
They may be divided into two classes
though the logical protectionists, who
are ia favor of making the protection
general, and including every material
interest that demands assistance regard
less of whether it exists in many states
or only one; the other class of protec-
tlonists believe in protecting their OWE
ctions and constituents. and deny pro.
lection to the sections and constituent
Of other senators and members.
The criminal court room has beer
crowded for the past few days with al
expectant throng curious to hear wha
Rerdell can tell about Dorsey and Bra
dy, his late confederates co-defendent
in the Star Route cases. His testlmon
S explains and corroborates much that la
!, gone before The governments cas-
nus bee.. eIinehsa 90 firmly that leg
; ingenuity and ability cannot undo i
while the defendants are sick with
; sickness that can neither be conceale
? nor mistaken.