Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13
Washington Letter.
from our Regular cOrrespOndent.l


great unwashed turned out TO the num-
Der of three thousand. 10 pay their re-
spects and give The hand OF the Presi-
dent a shake. Your correspondent
fell into line and was pushed and
crushed for about an hour before bis
section of the procession arrived 10 the
Blue Room, where the President stood
with the ladies' of his cabinet officers on
his right, and Col. McMichael, the
master of ceremonies on his left. l
gave my name to the Col. was pre-
scented to the President, shook hands
with him. bowed all along the line to
the ladies, passed through the Red
Patlor, and landed in the spacious East
Room.
A party OF six Flathea1 Indians were
presented ~ the receiving party, ana
then formed in line against the wall OPP
posite, and stood for a while watching
the Great Father" receive his family.
There wore brightly striped blankets
and beaded moccasins, eagle feathers,
glass earrings, and other spangles and
bangles, their own hair flowed grace.
fully down their backs. Their chapron,
Hon. Mr.. Maginnis of Montana
marched them into the East Room,
where another reception was held by
scalpers. While shaking hands with
the Iudians the curious crowd closed so
ii Chilly around them that they could
scarcely draw a long breath. One of
them remarked to me Ugh! it is
mighty hot here Ughv
The densely packed parlors were in
tolerably warm, thermometer at S00.
These aboriginees famed themselves
with their bats and wiped the perspira-
ton from their brows with their hands
With their heavy wooden blankets
arour d them, they looked envious of
the white squaws in full evening dress,
consisting ola few yards of gauze and
diamonds:
AS one strolls on the Avenue this
week he will meet a number of sub.
stsntial looking men. with blue guilt
friDged badges. The wearers are dele
gales to the Mississippi River conven-
ton DOW In session here, and hail from
all States bordering on the Mississippi
and it's tributaries. There are over six
hundred OF them and they are not al
all afraid. 10 their speeches they an
ounced that they were not here to
pc tilion, but 10 Instruct TO command
Congress to make the desired appro.
priation for the improvement of the
Mississippi river. A number of Sena-
tors and Representatives visited and
addressed the body, and occupied the
plato rm during the session of the con.
ventiOD. Among those who spoke
were Senators Walker, Sawyer, Jonas.
and Logan. In compliance with a
vO ciferous demand for speech Senator
Logan expressed thanks for the prjvi-
lege Of meeting such representative
class OF men. who were born and bred
beside The great waters, aud best know
its wants, he did not presume 10 offer
counsel or suggestions to The conven-
iion, but was present 10 be taught.
Delegates boldly asserted in presence
Of their visitors from Capitol hill, that
the Congressmen who did not encour-
age this great work would be left out
at the next election. The convention
ir not only business like body, but
appears 10 be pathetic. When the ma
tional colors were brought into the hall
yesterday the cheers were louG and
prolonged. The delegates called in a
body upon the President, who express
ed sympathy with their enterprise and
said be was always glad to meet west
ern men.
During the week the Senate has bad
under consideration the subjects of
copyright, Mexican land grant titles,
Pleuro- Pneumonia, a Congressional
library building and removal of lie
naval monument Hear the west en-
trance Of the Capitol grounds. The
House saw the safe delivery from COM
Dittee of the Morrison tariff bill, which
marked with emphasis the present week
Of Congress.
Since the war of political parties be.
gan it has been The custom for Con-
gress TO use the session next preceding
a Presidential election IN the manufac.
ture Of campaign capital. The present
Democratic House of Representatives
IS proceeding under the impression hat
honest, faithful work is the most de-
sirable stock Tor the coming campaign.
In its extremity the Republican upper
House instituted a search for campaign
material under the auspices Of the
Sherman resolutions, and the sub com.
mittees have been duly selected for
both the Mississippi aud Virginia
branches Of the investigation. This is
the only Congressional jsnkeling ex-
cursiOn of the winter thus far. unless
the funeral trips OF the recently deceas-
ed members come under that category.
as they very probably may, judging
from some Of the items in the bills
such as cigars, one hundred dollar
lunches, white kid gloves, sashes and
30 on down the bill rendered by the
sergent-at-arms.
GtAen