The National tribune., 1884-08-28
WASHINGTON GOSSIP,
"a Dull Season." which is Really Not
So Very Dull.
in Spite of the Absence OF the President,
Cabinet, and Society People there is Good
Deal Going on I'm the Capital.

in Spite of the Absence OF the President,
Cabinet, and Society People there is a Good
Deal Going i'm the Capital.
DULL CAPITAL
Everybody says that Washington is so dull
sust now.-always is.-in the last part of Au-
gust August and September are really the
worst months of the year to stay in Washing
ton In proof of this they viii say that there
Is nobody here" " Everybody is away" and
GO on and cite that the city is almost Totally
deserted by the high officials and their follow
ing. The President is among the pleasant
mountains Of New York. The Postmaster-Gen-
eral is in New England, h0bnobbng with Sec
retary Chandler about the political situation.
Mr.. Teller is in the mountain fastnesses OF Colo
rado. Brewster, AttOrney-General, is at Long
Branch Mr. Freinghuysen is in the Catskilis,
and Mr Folger is the only one left here to hold
the fort Mr.. Davis. First Assistant Secretary
of State, who has been giving much of his at
fention TO Deer Park of late viii soon desert
It. as his family leaves there directly for the
seaside, going to Woods Hen and thence to
jamestown opposite Newport In the absence
of the President and Cabinet the pastor of the
Presidents church, Rev. DR.. Leonard has de-
clined 10 take his vacation Mr. $. p. Rounds,
the Public Printer il at Cape May. Senator
Miller and family. who at Saratoga, leave
in few days for California. Mrs. Hazen, the
wife of Gen. Hazen. of the Signal Service, is
Count Weissenfeld, of the Austrian Legation,
is at Mount Desert. Senator Gibson of Louis
Sana. is still al White Sulphur as is Mr.. Cor
coran, Mashington's millionaire octogenarian.
White Sulphur seems to be a favOrite resort
with these hale old men.
In spite of this the stranger within her gates,
does not find Washington exceptionally dull.
OF course If he goes near the Capital be viii
find only empty halls and corridors echoing 10
to his tread, but down along the avenue the
crowds in front of the saloons and the hotels,
moon faced, large-stomached men clad in
wrinkled seersucker, seem as great as ever. If
he happen near the Departments about p. N.
he viii see such a swarm Of ladies clad in sheeny
white and comfortable looking men, issue
through the marble doors, as to convince him
that the resident population Of the city has
suffered little abatement
Still Washington. with Congress not In ses-
sion, with the officer -givers and dinDer-givers
all away at the sea shore, is very duh 10 folks
who think that windy speech making, Office
begging and dinner-eating, constitute the sum
of human activity. There are no delegations
arriving here TO beg the Post-Office at Slunker's
Corners for Jones, or fight to the bitter end its
being given 70 Brown, and the hotels and
saloons miss their profitable custom, as the
halls Of the Department miss their substantial
tread.
But for all that there is a world Of good hard
work being done ia keeping the great ma
chinery OF the Government in smooth opera
ton The hotel-keepers, the saloonists and the
hack-drivers who feed and faiten on the tran
sient visitors. and the COngressmen now resting
IN the bosom Of his constituency may not believe
that there is just as much being done to carry
on the Government as in the so-called busy
months, but it is nevertheless true.
NEW FORM OF GAMBLING.
The stories that have been told of men bet
ting which rain-drop a window pane would
reach the bottom first, which lump Of sugar
wonld attract the first Ay, which horse would
neigh first, and so on through the whole lot Of
more or less ldlotle excuses for Wagers, have
now a novel addition. The State Department
recently received from Mexico, as curiosities, a
lot Of travelling beans" the motion being
communicated 10 them By small worm on the
inside, which viii propel them along any
smooth surface. A number of these were pre-
sented 10 army officers, and report now goes
that they are made the subject of exciting
bets among the gentlemen who have no other
way OF disposiug Of their surplus leisure. The
znethod is 10 lay number OF beans, one for
each man WHO goes into the pool, on small
table, each man puts certain SUM into the pot,
scircle is drawn around the beans. and the man
whose bean works outside first takes the pile.
1t must be very thrilling
MIscEIAASEoUs
The statue of Admiral Dupont, now being
cast IN New York city, viii be placed in posi-
fion in this city and unvailed with appropriate
ceremonies in October
Thomas A. Osborn, United States Minister to
Brazil. who obtained years leave Of absence
last Spring, has been suddenly ordered back TO
his post. II is rumored here that he has been
employing his vacation in paving way for
himself 10 sIr. Ingails's seat IN the Senate and
that gentleman applied TO the State Depart
ment 20 know if the leave Of absence granted
Mr. Osborn was a scheme Of the administra-
Ttrhs
The result ofthis move on Mr. Ingallss part iso
the story runs has been the issuance OF an Or
der TO Hr. Osborn 70 resume his duties at Rio
de JaneirO.
Orders have been issued from the Navy De-
partment 10 begin repairs on the United States
steamer Pensacola at the Norfolk Navy Yard
with view TO sending her TO the South At
lantie Station as the flagship in place Of the
Brooklyn, which has been ordered 10 New York.
DEATH OF JUDGE Ella.
Judge Jacob H. Ella. Sixth Auditor Of the
Treasury, died At his residence near the Sol
diers' Home, on the 2Ist inst, Of erysipalas
after an illness Of about week. Mr.. Fla was
for number OF years Fifth Auditor. aud when
Mr. Me5rew went out Of the Sixth AuditorshiF
IN lSol he was transferred 10 that position. Ht
served two terms in Congress from New Hamp
shire and was IN 1861 appointed by President
Lincoln United States marshal OF that State
serving in that capacity for five years. Judg,
LA w az ID Years OF age b llb kifnt OF MS Geatl
His remains wiil be taken to his old home
Rochester, \. H., for interment
TIE POTOMAC FLATS
Messrs. Mckee & Benson. Of San Francisco
who have been awarded the contract fo
filing the Potomac fats are now making ar
rangements in Baltimore for the construction
Of the necessary pumps and boats, which vii
be duplicates Of those now being used by tn,
same firTn at Oakland Harbor, California. Thi
work viii probably commence in about 80 days
THE PRESIDENTS MOVEMENTS
The President spent the greater part Of las
week at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. On the 20tl
he received number Of callers, among then
Secretaries Frelinghuysen, Chandler, and Fol
ger, who remained with him some hours dis
cussing official business. In the afternoo,
President Arthur went 70 IrgingtOp on th
Hudson. where be diBed with Cyrus w Field
On the 2zth. accompanied by Secretary Chand
ler, the President visited Newport r. L. ant
went from there TO West Island, where b
spent compile Of days bass fishing. On his re
turn to Newport he attended the Naval Re
union there.
LAND FRAUDS
If veto is not put upon the actions Of tn
cattle men IN the West, before many wear
have elapsed they win own All the best lands i
that part of the country. Complaints arc re
ceived almost daily at the Land Office froI
rIr-~ L..