Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-01-03
WASHINGTON Letter.

(FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
Christmas merry making began il
the Capital some days ago, with the dir
Of the bad boys fearful weapons, fire.
crackers and toot-horns. The city il
at it's gayest and best, in full holiday
attire. Shop windows are garlandec
with green, the markets are arrayed ir
all kinds of Christmas cheer, and the
turkey and sausage dangle everywhere
Christmas buyers crowd the streets anc
in some of the stores on the Avenue
and on 9TH and 9th streets ingress and
egress are almost impossible. Business
has been at its height with postmer
and expressmen. The latter were busy
all day Sunday receiving and deliver
ing matter, and for days, long lines OF
people have crowded around the stamp
window and letter drops of the pos
Office, while inside were wagon loads O.
envelopes containing Christmas cards.
which, required fast work of employees
to prevent being over-run by the con-
slant stream that came in. Saturday
departure clerks, District employees
school teachers, the fire and police de
partments were paid off, which gave
fresh impetus to Christmas trade. Be-
hind these busy outside scenes may be
spied equally active indoor arrange
ments for an event Just seven days at.
ter Christmas. In their elegant Wes
End homes, ladies of fashion are gettine
ready for New Years day. Exquisite
reception toilets are in preparation ane
l am told that reception rehe arsals OF
drills are common, in which fair de-
butantes figure as the raw recruits and
are taught is squads how to present
and bear themselves seemingly wher
receiving charge of callers. Nor are
the sterner sex idle, Army, and Navy
officers, and Diplomatic swells are hav
ing their gorgeous uniforms brushed
and renovated until they look newer
than when they were new. The White
House reception will of course be Of
first Importance in official circles, the
Army, Navy, Diplomatic Corps having
precedence in the procession, next Sen
ators and Congressman, after which cal
follow the rest of the world. But thai
wonderful intangible, incomprehensi'
bic, indescribable body known as
washington society" will go through
the same evolutions, with less pagean-
try, to be sure, and perhaps with q
trihe more comfort and social enjoy
ment.
The week preceding this event will
be an arduous one to President Arthur
He has been entrapped by Brookly and
Philadelphia Societys and has engaged
to eat extensive dinners, after each O
which he will have to bear up as best
he can under the infection of prolong
ed speeches from chronic after dinner
orators. But it is to be hoped he has
ere this, become reconciled to all the
duties of a Presidents life.
The departments will be closed OF
Christmas and New Years days anc
possibly afternoons during the holidays
thereby giving the work-worn govern
ment clerks coveted respite.
Congress met today to listen to the
announcement Of committees, but il
has now adjourned, for | see the Capt.
tol from my window from which the
stars and stripes have been lowered
The marble halls will be deserted un.
til the 9TH of January 1884. Many
members of Congress left for theil
homes without waiting to hear the com.
mittees announced, but others live here
and will remain through the holidays.
The record of the first month of Con.
gress may be easily epitomized. Both
houses have organized; over two thous.
and bills have been introduced and APP
propriately referred; the temper Of
Congressman on certain great questions
such as the tariff, civil service, temper.
ance, woman suffrage, and the like
has been indicated, some problems Of
personal influence and the following
tested, and familiarity with the new
duties gained. As usual the real work
of the session will begin after the re.
cess.
Some Senators object to the stringen.
cy of the new rules which erect Chi.
nese wall around the Senate Chamber
that it is hoped no Tartar lobbyist will
be able to scale. The new rules are
certainly a move in the right direction:
and the sooner they are adopted by the
House the sooner will that body per-
form its Legitimate Legislative functions
and the sooner will it be freed from the
faint and scandal of lobbyism. The
New Rules adopted by the Senate ex-
clude from the floor of that body a
large number of persons who have had
access for the promotion of schemes
that were not for the public good.
| UluourVnnsa Aruino kaIvn