The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-11-08

The Approach of the Gay Season.
Peculiarities Of Life at the Capitol
j he short Term of Congress -Presi-
dent Arthur and his Reported En-.
gagement.
Special Corresp sndence to The Bulletin.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 1884.
1t is an odd fact that the best sign of the
approach of the gay season in Washington
ia noticed at the auction sales. These COM
petitive entertainments are very popular in
this city and draw big crowds. They are
especially diverting to certain classes of
women who love a bargain as much as they
do bonnet, but they are also source of
excitement and interest to the very large
number of people here, who exc out an in
come by renting rooms, or taking boarders.
There is hardly parallel in any other city
of the country to this, in this respect. A
reasonable estimate would say that at least
half of the domiciles of Washington are oc.
cupied by more than one family. Tho
principle reason for this is found in the fact
| that incomes are usually small A clerk
with a salary of $1,000, 81, 400 or l,400
and an increasing family, cannot afford to
rent good house for their exclusive use.
| He solves the problem of how to live well
on small income, by sub-letting apart
ments in large house the rent of which he
assumes, but reduces in this way very often
so that his living rooms cost but a nominal
sum. The unmarried clerks and clerkesses,
and young couples, and visitors for "the
season." make up his tenants Now, 40
winter approaches and the city fills up with
people, the vacant houses are taken and the
customers. One would think that some
time the second hand furniture would fail
to materialize and spread itself over tho
large store rooms, and out into the street
and half WY up and down the block, as is
the case on auction days here; but it is al
ways there. The half-worn carpets and
chars, the faded settees and sofas, rheu.
matte tables and blase bric-a.brac, all elo-
quently dumb about the things and events
with which they have been associated, are
on hand, and arc eagerly bought and carted
off to commence life over again in q sort Of
way. 1t 10 wonderful where it all comes
from, bat 1t is a good illustration of how
changea6le an office holding community is.
There is an opportunity for an imaginative
writer to trace the career of furniture from
cabinet minister's to Dinah's front parlor
if he wants to. Such mutability: apper.
tains to Washington curious. But the sub
ject Is left for tho romancer, with the ssser-
ton that the movement of old furniture is
the first sign of the coming gay season.
The second or short session Of congress
is usually an important one. It meets in
December, a large slice is cut out for the
holidays, and it expires March 4th. This
leaves little chance for active business and
besides the house is practically disorgan-
zed Those who have been defeated for
the new term do not care to work. Their
interest is dead. Those who are reelected
are busy with schemes for getting better
committee places, and so the session 10
usually a triflng one. The laxity which
prevails is, however, taken advantage Of by
the lobbyists. There are more steals car.
ried through and more bad legislation is on.
acted. The salary grabs and special grants
of all kinds, hove all passed on the eve of
an expiring congress. 1t always happens
when the dominant party is overthrown in
congress. that the soreheads signalizs
their retirement to private life by gouging
something from the treasury. This soothes
the pangs of defeat and eases the pain
which attends the overthrow of their am.
h;t,no.