Catoctin clarion., 1884-11-06
WASHINGTON Letter.

(FROM OUR NEG Cl.AR CORRESPONDENT.)
Nov. Sd, 1884.
It is an odd fact that the best sign of
the approach of the gay season in
Washington is noticed at the auction
sales These competitive entertain
ments are very popular in this city
and draw big crowds. They are es-
pecially divesting to certain classes of
women who love bargain as much as
they do bonnet, but they are also a
source of excitement and interest to the
very large number of people here, who
exc out an income by renting rooms, or
taking boarders. There is hardly a
parallel in any other city Of the coun-
try to this, in this respect. A reason
able estimate would say that at least
one half of the domiciles of Washing
ton are occupied by more than one
family. The principle reason for this
js found in the fact that incomes are
usually small. A clerk with a salary
of 81 600, 81 200, or $l,4O0, and an in.
creasing family, cannot afford to rent a
good house for their exclusive use. He
solves the problem of how to live we'll
,on small income. by sub-letting
apartments in large house the rent Of
which he assumes, but reduce in this
way very often so that his living rooms
cost but nominal sum. The unmar
red clerks and clerkesses, and young
couples, and visitors for "the season, y
make up his tenants. Now, as winter
approaches and the city fills up with
people, the vacant houses are taken
and the problem of how to furnish
rooms becomes an active one with this
class. Hence the auction sales and the
customers. One would think that some
time the second hand furniture would
fail to materialize and spread itself
over the street large store rooms, and
out into the street and half way up
and down the block as is the case on
auction days here; but it is always
there. The half-worn carpets and
chairs, the faded settees and sofas,
rheumatic tables and blase bric-a-b brac,
all eloquently dumb about the things
and events with which they have been
associated, are on hand, and are eager
ly bought and carted off to commence
life over again in sort of a way. 1t is
wonderful where it all comes from, but
it is good illustration of how change
able an Office holding community is
There is an opportunity for an imagi.
native writer to trace the career of fur
niture from a cabinet ministers to Di-
nah's front parlor if he wants to- Such
mutablllty appertains to Washington
curios. But the subject is left for the
romancer, with the assertion that the
movement of old furniture is the first
important sign of the coming of the
gay season.
The second or short seseion of Con-
gress is usually an important one. 1t
meets in December, 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 disorganized.-
Those who have been defeated for the
new term do not care to work. Their
interest is dead. Those who are re-
elected are busy with schemes for get
ting better committee places, and SO
the session is usually trifing one
The laxity which prevail Is is, however,
taken advantage of by the lobbyists
There are more steals carried through
and more bad legislation is enacted
The salary grabs and special grants of
all kinds, have all passed on the eve of
an expiring congress. 1t always hap.
pens when the dominant party is over.
thrown in congress that the soreheads
signalize their retirement to private
life by gouging something from the
Treasury. This soothes the pang of
defeat and eases the pain which attends
the overthrow Of their ambitions.
Preparations are being made at The
White House for lively winter. The
rumor which devised Mr.. Arthur's
marriage with Miss Frelinghuysen has
been very annoying and vexatous to
the lady in question. 1t is almost alb
surd to deny the truth of snch rumor
l