The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-11-05
Washington Letter.

Nothwithsta, ding the excitement
occasioned ny hot four weeks remain
before the assembling Of Conress. The
city smerged from her long summer
siesta some time ago to have her at.
tention distracted by the problem of
the presidency, but now that the end
of the contest has come, there has be.
gun in Washington busy, bustling
era of preparation for the advent of
assembled wisdom at the Capitol. The
dawn of the coming winter season at
the National Capital is unusually rad.
liant. Its glow is already reflected
over the city, and is prophetic Of
season Of politics and gaiety such as
will shadow remembrances of many
preceding congressional sessions.
Many Of that class of people who pos
sess wealth and culture, and make
Washington winter resort, have al.
ready returned. They will now be
followed BY general rush from all
parts of the country, at the heels of
which viii come tagging the usual
tanished train Of bipeds looking to
their Uncle Sam for Something to
turn up. The the ball begins. Con.
gress aod society will vie for suprema
cy. The former will interest, but the
latter will dazzle.
Not infrequently does the House of
Representatives await quorum until
its members can be arrested in the Ell.
joyment of the mazes Of Terpsichore
and returned captive by the Sergeant
at-Arms. The monarchs of this pow.
er-the society rs--continually
strain every nerve to increase its mag
netism, aud the promise for this season
succession Of entertainments on a
scale that has not heretofore been at.
tenn pied
A walk about the city surprises the
summer absentee, and expressions of
astoDishment are heard on all sides at
the transformations effected during
their absence Ia rapid Improvement
Washington is perhaps the most re.
markabe city in the world. Each
year the magic hand Of the builder
works surprises in new designs of brick
stone, and mortar. New streets ale
opened aud paved with asphalt. Vast
public buildings are reared. Dreary
wastes of ground are metamorphosed
into verdant parks. The District
Government that has done so much to
make the Capital the pride of the
American people, has not been idle all
summer. Its energy is especially
manifest by new asphalt pavements,
and the improvements upon Washing.
tons parks; and the little triangular
green patches, which form wherever
the oblique avenues cross the right.
angular streets, also indicate much
care and cultivation.
Washington is happy in another
improvement. 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
Washingtonians for a summer holi.
day, but plies his vocation the year
round. He formally 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 con.
quered by the horrors Of the rigid
competitive examination. He shrinks
from the frowns of the civil service
measures. The majority of this re-
Gently formidable army are awed into
complete absence, but the most daring
Of the great hungry horde still loiter
around aud feebly howl their presence.
Much attention is now directed
toward 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 question of the grand
dedication ceremonies will be nooted.
J l..