News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-11-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., ]
No q QSH

WAS HIM. On * GNs
WASHINGTON, d. c.,
Nov. 8, 1884.
Notwithstanding the excitement &C.
casioned by the elections, Washing
ton is now alive to the fact that but
four weeks remain before the assem-
bling of Congress. The city emerged
from her long summer siesta some
time ago to have her attention dis
tracted by the problem of the presi-
dency, but now that the eve of the
end of the contest has come, there has
begun in Washington busy, bustling
era of preparation for the advert of
assembled wisdom at the Capitol.
The dawn of the coming winter
season at the National Capital is unu-
sually radiant. Its glow is already
reflected over the city, and is pro-
phetic of season of politics and
gaiety such as will shadow remem-
brances of many proceeding congress
sional sessions. Many of that class
of people who possess wealth and Gull
ture, and make Washington a winter
resort, have already returned. They
will now be followed by a general
rush from all parts of the country, at
the heels of which will come tagging
the usual famished train of bipeds,
looking to their Uncle Sam for some
thing to turn up. Then the ball be-
gins. Congress and society will vie
for supremacy. The former will in
terest, but the latter will dazzle. The
power of society in Washington has
indeed to be seen to be fully appreci-
ated. 1t exerts a strong control, even
over Congress, in that it lures and re-
tains both Representative and Sena-
tor away from their duties at the Cap
itol. Not infrequently does the House
of Representatives await a quorum
until its members can be arrested in
the enjoyment of the mazes of Terp-
sichore and returned captive by the
Sergeant-at-arms. The monarchs Of
this power, the society leaders, con-
tinually strain evero nerve to increase
its magnetism, and they promise for
this season succession of entertain
ments on scale that has not hereto
fore been attempted. Gossip, the
ambassador and minister plenipoten-
tiary of the social world, tells this
year of mysterious costumes and sur
prises that will fairly astound, and
add greatly to the splendor of the dis
play. 1t is already manifest that be-
tween Vanity Fair and the National
there will be nothing DOR
mant in Washington this fall and win
ter, from the first social whirl to the
which ensues with SON.
bre Lent.
A walk about the city surprises the
summer absentee, and expressions of
establishment are heard on all sides at
the transformations effected during
their absence. In rapid improvement
is perhaps the most Won:
derful city in the world Each year.
the magic hand of The builder works
in the new designs of brick,
stone and morter. New streets are
opened and paved with asphalt. Vast
public buildings are reared. Dreary
wastes of ground are metamorphosed
into verdant parks. The district gov
eminent that has done SO much to
make the Capital the pride of the
American people, has not been idle
this summer. Its energy is especial
ly manifest by new asphalt pavements,
and the improvements upon Wash
ington's parks; and the little tri-an-
gular green patches, which form
wherever the oblique avenues cross
the right angular streets, also indicate
much care and cultivation. Provision
is soon to be made for planting shade
trees on Pennsylvania Avenue, which
now presents a beautiful smooth
stretch of asphalt from the Capitol to
The south gate of the Treasury De-
Dartment, marred only by car track
down its center. Every afternoon at
four o'clock the outpour from the gov
eminent departments mingles with
fashion in promenade upon this
north sidewalk, in contrast with the
almost deserted south side of the av-
enue. 1t is very curious, this fact
Of Pennsylvania Avenue, that al
most all its traffic and the majority of
It's business IS upon the north side,
while its southern sidewalk is bare and
Washington is happy in another i'm
provement. The howl of the office
seeker is nearly inaudible. This
strange, hopeful variety of the genus
homo we have always with us. He
does not migrate with the rest of the
Westinghouse for a summer holi-
day, but plies his vocation the year
round. He formerly made life unen-
durable to the President and the heads
of the departments. No amount of
vigilance thwarted his bold designs.
But he is at last conquered by the hor-
rors Of the rigid competitive examina-
ton. He shrinks from the frowns of
the civil service measures. The ma
jority of this recently formidable ar
my are awed into complete absence,
but the most daring of the great hun-
CRY horde still loiter around and feebIv
howl their presence.
Much attention is now directed
towards the Washington Monument,
as it approaches completion. The
tall white marble shaft may already be
seen from almost any part of the city,
and soon the oueStiOn of the Grand