Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-06-05
Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer.
on HIS TRAVELS.
FIRST LETTER FROM DIR. LATHAM.

FIRST LETTER FROM DIR. LATHAM.
NEW YORK, May 3l-As is known to
the readers of the ENQUIRER, left home
and those nearest and dearest to me, on
Monday, the Goth instant, for the purpose
of attending the Pan-Presbyterian Council,
which, according to adjournment, is to meet
at Belfast, Ireland, June 9th. From my
earliest recollection there has been In my
mind strong desire to see Europe. The
accumulating cares of life have not been
able to weaken this desire. On the contra
ry, it has grown stronger as grew older.
This is not strange Ireland is the home OF
my ancestors, and in the midst of people
whose veins coursed pure Scotch Irish
blood, was born and educated. Such be-
ing the case, / confess that the moment
boarded the train at Yorkville L felt that
in the kind providence of God the dream OF
my childhood, boyhood and ripper years was
about to be realized.
The Journey thus far has been exceedingly
pleasant. The Capital of the United States
was reached at $40 A. M. on Tuesday.
Having some time at my command, con-
cluded to spend q day in the city. AS
might be expected, every feature of Amer
lean society is presented to the view in
the city of Washington Men and women
from all sections of the United States visit
the Capital. Some, like myself, 60 there
to crafty their curiosity, others 60 to look
after some business, and others again, 60 to
get business.
At midday went to the capitol. This
is huge building-rath it is number OF
huge buildings. / shall not attempt to de-
scribe it. In order to do this successfully
would require natural endOWments and an
amount of learning that no one man possess
to study it. The structure is massive and
worthy of the American Nation.
Through the kindness of friend, | was
admitted to the Members Gallery. From
this elevated position, 1 could look down
upon the lawmakers of the country. 1t is
often and truthfully said that England has
become great in spite of her kings. 1t may
be as truthfully said that the United States
is great in spite of her legislators. The first
question before the House on Tuesday, was
the continuation of the discussion of the
election case of Wallace against Mckinley
Wallace and his friends claimed that he hao
been elected a member of Congress, while
Mckinley and his friends claimed that he
had been elected.
In the matter, 1 felt, may say, no inter
est, and it was apparent that the majority Of
the members of the House cared absolutely
nothing. Several members made half hour
speeches. The speeches were tame-very
tame indeed-mere school-boy exercises
No one listened to single thing that they
were saying. In fact, l never saw more
disorderly public meeting. While mem
Der was on the floor speaking, the rest,
many of them, at least, were standing up in
groups talking, others were walking about
and I saw one member quietly smoking
cigar. In the House, there are a number o
small boys-bright little fellows-apparent'
ly from ten to twelve years old. They are
smart looking little fellows, and all are vel
dressed. These are the sons of-well, Of
their fathers, of course. They are pages
that is, they wait upon the members of Con.
gress. Whenever they are needed the par.
ticular member whom they are accustomed
to serve, claps his hands and Immediately
the little fellow is seen running, at full
speed, to serve the dignitary for whose ben
eft and by whose influence he was employ
ed. Many of these little fellows are nearly
related to some of the great men of the
United States. Their mothers generally
live in the city. These pages receive about
seventy-five dollars per month for their SER
vices.
The Senate is a less noisy body than the
House of Representatives This, no doubt
is due mainly to the fact that it is not sc
large. 1t is manifest that much of the ma
tional legislation is nothing but the most
glaring partisan trickery.
Everything in the city of Washington is
on grand scale. The public buildings are
in keeping with the progress Of the age
The streets and avenues, parks and every
thing of this kind are beautiful beyond de-
scription. There is in course of erection a
new pension building. This, was told
is the largest brick building in the world
The world is represented in Washington
society. Washington is not business city,
although large amount of all sorts of bus
mess is transacted there. The majority OF
those who reside, or rather, congregate in
Washington are there for the purpose OF
pleasure. A kind of "show off" spirit
seems to have taken hold of everyone
The pleasure vehicles which traverse the
streets are strange, nondescript things
There seems to be a passion for two-Wheel-
ed vehicles. OF these two-wheeled, pleas
ure carriages there are two kinds. The on
ly difference being that in the one the driy-
er sits in front; in the other, he sits behind
The latter kind, I was told, is used in nc
place in the world except in Washington
and the city of London. It is called a han
som. I have no knoWlege Of the derlva-
ton of the word, but I am sure that ham,
son, and handsome, however much they re,
semble each other, have totally different
origin. A hanson is, beyond all doubt, the
ugiiest thing of the vehicle kind that ever
met the gaze of mortal man. In addition
to this, it is said to be very severe on a
horse-a first class horse killer.
On the $50 train on Wednesday, | left
Washington for New York. This great
metropolis grandest city in America
and one of the grandest in the world was
reached at $50 P. NJ. Here was met by a
friend whose face I herhaps had once seen,
but had long forgotten. With this friend
spent the time very pleasantly. New York
is not equal in the number Of its population
to some of the European cities, neither is il
equal to them in the wealth Of its inhabi-
tants generally, but still, New York may
well be regarded as one Of the great cities
of the world. 1t is situated on Manhattan
Island. This island, triangular in form, is
washed on one side by the North river, on
another by the East river, which is a con-
tinuation of Long Island sound, and on the
remaining side by Harlem river, which is
not river proper, but only the junction OF
the North and East rivers which is caused
by tide flowing through ravine on the
north side of the island. Manhattan island
is about two miles wide and thirteen long,
consequently, contains about tWenty-six!
square miles. This territory is covered
with houses, some Of which are fourteen
stories high and in which fifty families re-
side.
1t is impossible for any one to see much
of New York in two days. 1t is too large
no one pair of eyes are able to take it in in
so short time. Itwould take short life
time to gain thorough knowledge of New
York. A month, a week, even day makes
a vast difference in the appearance of things
in come narts of the civ Old houses are