The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-02-17
[FRoM OUR REGULAR CoRREsPoNDENT. ]
WASHINGTON Feb. i2, 1883.

last week. The carly advent of Lent this
year reduces fashionable society some
what prematurely to sackcloth and ashes:
but the retirement cannot be unwelcome,
for the votaTies of pleasure are among
the hardest toilers' in Mother Earth's
vineyard And now the bellies who have
with great peIsistency flourished in the
germans and appeared night after night
in decollete costumes, dividing up
dances with different partners and sip
ping champagne and shifting bouquets
worth their weight in gold between the
desolutary lapses of the conversation,
will don their meekest and most unos-
tentatious attire, take out their gilt-edged
prayer books and put in an appearance
regularly ut every evening service, taking
their full part in the litanies, and ac-
knowledgipg their full dement's of things
they ought not 10 have done and of leav-
ing undone those things which they
should have cone. Not that all the de-
voices Of society in Washington are re-
ligiously CT devotionally inclined, or
conscientious about the keeping Of re-
ligiVus seasons, but it is fashionable to
observe Lent and the fashion is the more
generally followed because of the abso-
lutte physical requirements which it
meets. Among the noted weddings clos
ing the round Of events are those of Miss
Bayard and Miss Brewster, the sIep.
daughter of the attorney-general who
evolutions of Washington few have been
so strange as Mrs. Brewster's fate. A
few years ago she was poor treasury
clerk supporting three or four children
by her daily labor. She was always n
lady. being the daughter of distin-
guished man, Robert j. Walker. She
lived life of great st clusion, and it con-
sisted of working days chiefly. and very
hard working days at that. The day af-
ter her divorce from Mr.. des Landes was
pronounced she married Mr.. Brewster.
Recently her scamp of first husband
has died. Miss Brewster's wedding is to
be very fine. 1t couldn't be anything
else with old Benjy Brewster's WELL
known proclvitics. His big yellow
coach will convey the bride to and fro
and there will be hurricane of style and
fashion.
Nearly every State has in Washington
an association-that is all the citizens of
a State who are here in Office. or in any
capacity, band together to run the poll
tics of the State as far as they can, al d
TO have social reunions during the win
ter. The Ohio association convivaat, d
and bibulated one night last week, " hen
the town was secured for Ohioans. The
result wos a reasonable success though
Ohio is not as largely represented at the
capital as it was in the good old days Of
Rutherford and Mrs. Hayes. But the ar-
fair turned out pretty we'll. Among the
FIRST to arrive was Deacon Richard Smith
leaning affectiopately upon the arm of
Mr.. Bntterworth. Judge Lawrence,
comptroller of the treasury and president
of the association, as soon as his eye fell
upon the truly good man, charged down
upon hIm and demanded speech. Mr.,
Smith was extremely coy-he couldn't
he woulln't--be had cold-but the as
sociation refused to take no for an ans
wer, and SO he submitted few very
sensible remarks that were very we'll re.
ceived. Judge Shellabarger also spoke.
He is the partner of Judge jeremiah
Wilson, and they constitute one Of the
best law firms iu town. At present they
are engaged in trying to keep the worlt
from finding ont whnt humbug of G
lawyer Colonel Ingersoll is, in the Stal'
route cases.
Some idea of the cost of the contested
elections annually thrown into the house
! of representatives may be gained by {
glance at the bill introduced in the house
/ to provide for the payment of the ex
penses of contestants and coptestees O.
seats in the pres, NJ congress. 1t is ih'
custom to allow large sum to each
party in the contest, provided he has {
reputable claim and can show a reason
able bill of costs. The bill now pending
provides the reimbursement of twenty
eight contestants and defendants, the
} sum total appropriated for their indemi
+ ication being over SG3 600, OF course
there is a wide difference in the costli
| ness OF the several suits but the discrep
ancies are sometimes very great. Fol
example, Chalmers, of Mississippi. whC
! had nothing but the governors certiii
C ,te 10 rest his claim upon, is allowed
to prove his right to seat. Campbell
the "Geutile claimant from Utah, whC
h ia that lie was elected because his op
4 pon,nt (who had ali the votes) was in
. eligible. gets Sc 9Gl for his pains, whilt
Cannon, who had the votes, but wal
, ruled out because be is Mormon, is al
lowed 1855 for proving that Campbell
WAS not elected. Tie house las sol
power in making these appropriations
. nnd. although some of them appear cap
rcious, the house invariably exercises it
& own Judgment, without reference to pre-
! cedent or prudential considerations
y These bills OF costa are independent Q
4 the double salaries paid in many cases
!, pay to both costestants.
Aterrible commotion has heen arouse
i here among government employ e. D
= the proposition in congress to lengthe
If the houIs of work in the various depar'
,i ments. The clerks are all up on en-
IS no sling like mad. At present they ar
Ii Frequired TO be ut their desks at 0 a. II
d aud remain until p. m.-seven hour
J. But the hour between ~ and o'clock
y largely devoted to lunch and recess i