The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1885-06-06
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

Important New York Appointments Ex-
pectesl-Reform at the White House
Exit the French Valet and Chef de Cui-
sine-Enter Bridget, the Irish Cook.
WASHINGTON, D. c., June q 1885.
EDITOR CHIEF:
The unexpected departure of the Secre-
tary of the Treasury and his colleague Of
the Navy for New York last week, and the
unusual secrecy which has been preserved
among those who should know the reason
for their movements, has aroused much cu- )
riosity among political men here and in
New York as to the object Of their mission.
That it had something to do with the dis
position of the New York patronage mo-
body doubted. From competent source
have soIne information touching the visit
that may interest the public. The Presi-
dent has been considering very anxiously
the appointment which must soon be made
to fill the more important Of the political Of
fees in New York. On the eth of June the
commission of the Hon. William 81. Robert
son, Collector of the Port, expires, and the
terms of the United States Marshal and
United States District Attorney are very
near their conclusions. Notwithstanding his
denial, I learn from an unquestionable
source that the resignation Of the Collector
was placed in Mr.. Cleveland's hands early
in April, but the President thought it better
to allow him to serve out his entire official
term, as he did not wish to take up SO inn
portant matter until he had full time to
make selection that would meet all the
features of the case.
The genius of reform marches on in
number ten boots, mems size. The most
important results of Mr.. Cleveland's in
tention in this respect are to be perceived
in. the menage of the White House. Tbs
valet, one Alexander Powell, person OF
color, had to go directly the President was
inaugurated. It would not do for the head
of the nation to possess valet while about
fifty-four millions and half of the male
and female citizens had none. An exam-
must be set from high quarters. So Alex,
the colored citizen who mixed the matuti-
nal cocktail whioh erstwhile cheered the
Executive heart and soothed its stomach,
and BACKED the Presidential No. los, has,
departed, being thoughtfully transferred
to the Treasury force, and his place knows
him no more. So Mr.. Cleveland must
hunt ont his own changes of linen hence
forth, and may rage and prance in vain to-
button his collar to the back of his shirt,
and in solitary grandeur he can devote his
cravat to the internal gods whe it will not.
permit itself to be tied. The exasperating
tendencies of inanimate objects have been
noted by every philosopher from Aristotle
to Carlyle, though the vain and impotent
wrestling with refractory garments and
boots that acill not go on, is but poor prep
aration in composing one's mind for re-
.ligious worship, even though it be e lsten
to one Of the Rev. Sunderland's most Boul
inyigorating discourses upon the final end
of the wicked. No matter how much dam
ago he may do his own chances for saliva
ton by unseemly and wicked language, ad-
dressed to buttonless shirts and exasper-
ating boots, the country must be saved by
reform, and the valet has to go.
NJ Fortin, the chef t1e cuisine at the White
House, is also about to be dispensed with.
He was imported from great restaurant
in New York. Mr.. Fortin is Gascon, with
weakness for fashionable society. He
may now seek more congenial surround
ings, for lady Of Hibernian birth is to
rule the White House roast in his stead.
Such culinary devices as p,aee d ponies
d'aspe1ge, sole tsu gratin, grenouiItes d Ia
Bofdeloise and poulet d la Marengo, are
, held by our Chief Magistrate to indicate
degree of effeminacy and Sardlnaplan
luxury beneath the ruler of ffty-fye mill
ions Of American freemen. No moro will
the Far Western statesman who is invited
to patake of the Presidential cheer ner-
vously turn III his chair as he spells out the
,aenu, and wonder despairingly what the
devil it all means. The cook will be Irish,
! and the fare corn-beef and cabbage and
such kindred strong and sturdy diet, upon
which our greatest and best are fed. 1.-The
diliytanty are fired out" said one robust
Missouri sovereign congratulatingly to an
other. as they sat down in the East Room
the other day, and each bit off quarter OF
a pound of " navy plug" at one bite. The
country is safe No matter if the window
curtains in the White House are drawn at
such exasperating attitudes and degrees as
to harrow the feminine soul which delights
in symmetrical order in the household ar
engagements, and in its divine simplicity
will not understand that a powerful mas
culine mind can not take cognizance OF
these grievous perversions of taste. My dear,
when you are older and become better used
to the ways of men of genius, you will re-
al;ze how beneath the attention of the mas
sive brain such yf1'elaines arc. The valet is
gone, and Mr.. Fortin packs his pots and
pans. and sits down at the piano and plain
lively plays pa5'tant pour la Sy,1e. Ihe
sturdy daughter of Erin will soon slam
things around, break the crockery, and en-
tertain her numerous cousins, all on the
police, where once the mercurial Gaul dis
ported himself and lamented the degener-
atinu tendencies of Washington social life.
We will have returned to the beautiful sim
plicity of our forefathers, and sweet peace
will descend upon the nation, as soft and
gentle as seraph's benediction, and the
thoughtful man, if he perchance be phil
losopher. VIII say, " s<iire la bngotetle!"
Yours truly, ALEhl.
Happy Thought i'll the Night.
For years ur. James r. Ackley, of i6S West
Faye,te street. Baltimore. had suttered with
neuralgia SO tha. hs could hardly sleep. But he
| writes ..Ons night was suffering very much,