Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-02-17
eta WASHINGTON LErrER.


eta WASHINGTON LErTER.
CORRESPONDENCE POST ogr-INrKLI10nNCK1-
WAsHrNaYox, Feb. 4. 1854.
Socially considered, the week just pas
has been the most brilliant and eventfu
| Of the present season at the capital. Ol
almost every day society made its end
less FOUND Of calls during the morning
and afternoon, did Its full duty at 70
oepsions and dinners, and then danoeG
court to Terpsichors after the wel
sna' hours" IL is remarkable hov
many events can be crowded into ou'
week here at Washington. until the 80
cial world is nearly overcome With sheeI
exhaustion. But it cannot stop, and il
will whirl away with accelerated speed
until dscorous Lent applies its brakes
There il, however. 50 much Presbyterian
Lent at the national capital that. while
there NAV be less dancing for the ferty
days. the dining goes right on, and after
a few d VS. rest and devotion receptions
are picked up again. Altoesthse there
will be but little change before 1.-The
spring time.r
The Preaidant's dinner to The Cabinse
vas the most elegant, in its taste and
appointments, ever given At the White
House. The decorations In the great
East Room were very elaborate. The
mirrors and crystal chandeliers were
wreathed In smilax, aud the windows
were concealed by pyramids vf ferns
and palma. The scene in the State
dining room was magnificent. The
table vas q marvel of florists skill.
In its center was placed an Immense
oblong mirror representing nimic
lake, upon which hs re and there were
light Indian canoes of birch bark laden
with orchids. Above this, formed en-
sireiy OF azalias, carnations, hyacinths,
rosss and trumpet flowers, Was a Won
dsrful struct are, fashioned after the
hanging gardens Of Babylon. This
centsr piece va, several feet long aud
nearly two feet high, and in . manner
suggested q temple moro than . garden.
At either end of the table were cart
wheels of flowers. Between thess and
the central ornaments were placed the
large gold bronzsd oandlesticks always
used on state occasions. The Green
and Red parl0rs were used for dressing
rooms, and the Marine Band of ferty
pieces was stationed in the vestibule.
The guests were received in the East
Room, and, as the band played "Hail
70 the Chief" the President, with Mrs.
FrelinRhuysen on his arm, led the way
to the dining roOu. The much DELAYED
festivities at the White aOuhe will now
follow each other in quick succession.
Death again put it's finger. of silence
upon Congress IN the early part of the
week. The Aackey obsequies we're held
in the House of Representatives, and
were very impressive. Congressman
Maokey is the seventh member Of the
present House of Representatives Who
has died since his election, aud was
the only one of the seven Who lived
long enough to occupy his seat. Tho
other deceased members are Aessrs.
Herndon Of Ala, Cults Of Iowa, Herrsn
of La, Pool Of N. e., UpdeRra6 of Ohio,
and Haskell Of Kan. Mr.. Haskell died
after Congress assembled, but he nad
not been sworn in.
AprOp0s of Congressional obsequies,
the weird light Of investigation is to be
shed upon these events. It has beRun
to be too expensive for Congress to bury
its dead. The average Congressman is
indeed bold investigator. NothinR
can deter him when once he is imbued
with the restless spirit which caused
Christopher COlumbus to make himself
famous. He will even rummage around
Rraveyards. fearless of spOOks, ghosts,
and other horrible THINGS, and be thinks
little Of stopping a funeral procession,
If his fancy leads him that way. The
House is evidently not disposed to look
With favor upon Congressional wakes.
At one OF these entertainments recently
the sum total Of expense was $356l, and
the mOurneFs were 20 overcome with
grief that nothing less than 300 lunch
was adequate tO assuage their sOrrows.
Now, the lean, hungry, dint-hearted
representatives who we're not ON the fu-
neral COMMITTEES. and who were c0nse-
quently left on the good things, cry
"ScaHdatum magndfum' see what they
eat! Oh, smell this bottle; learn what
they drank. 0, tempOrG! o, m0rvs,"
hear that Mr.. Blaine's history Of
From Lincoln to Garfield" will be H.
sued simultaneously in English, French
and German. and that Mr.. VIM. d. Ea-
ton, formerly Chicago journalist, is
supervising the I. foundations Of the work
into the foreign languages. assisted BY
. force of ten translators. Mr.. Blaine
gives Mr.. Eaton 5000 for this work and
u royalty Of l5 cents upon each volume
sold in Germany and France. The work
will be in two volumes, and is now near
" completed. Il bids fair TO enrich the
Maine statesman. He is to receive from
the publishsr $75. .O00 in cash and roy
atty Of Ii cents per volume.
LKNox.