Middletown transcript., 1884-02-29
Correspondence of the Transcript.
Washington Letter.


WASHINGTON, D. O., Feb. 26th 1884.
There are go, 900 negroes in the beauti-
full city Of Washington. If you wish
to see nine-tenths Of the half-vagrant
population streaming down Pennsyl-
vania avenue, start a drum and fife,
and out Of all the streets and courts
and alleys there will suddenly pour
multitude that will startle the pilgrim
and sojourneT in our midst. III there
is a procession "a mile long it will be
closely hemmed in by this dark fringe,
moving with it on its march and in
spired to all kinds of antics and full Of
odd mirth and laughter and dance.
People on the sidewalks are shut out
from viewing anything on these occa-
sions except this motley crowd. Ihere
is no other city in the world where q
procession is as literally smothered
and lost in rags and bad odors as ID
Washington. J,
To strangers coming to the Capital
city, we say, on such occasions, seek
the second story windows or house-tops.
Washington's birth day which has just
passed, with its motley pageant on
Pennsylvania avenue, fresh in my
mind, has inspired me with these re-
marks.
The investigation mills for the pur-
pose Of grinding out grist for the next
political campaign are running every
day except Sunday. The Department
Of Justice investigation has not given
the world anything very startling,
although one Of the members placing
his fingers on his nasal appendage,
closing his left eye, and bidding US
wait, seems to indicate that the com
mittee expect to strike rich vein very
soon. The Danyille massacre nvestl-
cation is filling page after page OF
choice reading for the political student,
and the campaign pages Of the " Bung-
Town Bugle."
The Keifer-Boynton investigation
is a personal quarrel, which may be
woven into campaign document as
one Of the pieces in the next political
crazy quilt. Apropos Of this Kelfer-
Boynton affair, the rules of the repor-
ters' gallery require.every person max
ing application for admission toa seat in
that gallery as a correspondent to sign
certificate that he is not employed in
any Executive Department Of the Gov
ernment; that he is the correspondent
Of a daily paper, and is not and will
not become interested i'll any bill before
Congress. These rules are prepared
BY committee Of three correspondents
Of large daily papers. To show the
absurdity of the rules, one has only TO
look at the Congressional Directory
and see how many Of these correspon-
dents are receiving a salary as clerks
to committees Of Congress from S1.6OO
to 81, 800 per annum, paid By the Cor
ernment. Yet they will not permit the
correspondent Of a country paper, who
draws salary Of 81, 900 to 81, 200 from
an Executive Department, to enter the
reporters gallery.
The State Associations, which were
abolished and prohibited by the good
and pious Mr.. Hayes are again coming
into life. The associations Of New
York, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois and
Indiana and Michigan, have each had
their reception and ball, during the
winter, at which the people Of these
States Of every political faith and creed
Joined in social reunion. As Lent haE
approached, all the dancing and gayety
has ceased. LOTUS.