Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-10-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.


W0SHtngtOn. Oct. ON.
The corridors of the Washington
hotels are again teeming with life.
People are rapidly returning from
their summer resorts. Strangers are
beginning to be seen on the. streets
and the city is beginning to wear
that animated appearance peculiar
to the near approach of the congress
sional session. l am told that the
real estate market is brisk and that
the demand for houses and rooms is
quite as great as at any previous
time. Builders and architects are
busy as are also dealers in building
material. Except for few months
after the presidential election, this city
has known nothing of the depres-
sion that has prevailed in neighbour
ing cities. 1t is not remarkable that
this is so. The influence of the
federal government permeates every
interest. The government clerks get
their pay whether times are good or
bad and they have no reason to feel
hard up one time more than another.
Another thing that has prevented
Washington from feeling the hard
| Of hn To-
which have so distressed other cities
is the coming of wealthy people
who have made this city their home
in the winter season. Washington
is already at the head of scientific life
in this country, and is rapidly in
creasing it's influence in art, lltera-
ture and music.
The president has been overrun
with callers and office seekers during
the past week while tourists, single
and in battalions, have attended his
informal Wednesday afternoon re-
ceptions. ! attended one of these
receptions last week. The president
was late but finally the massive
doors leading from the east room to
the private corridor were thrown
open and the by no means petit
form of Mr.. Cleveland was seen
coming along the passage. A gen
tleman and lady accompanied him.
The trio walked slowly until they
were near the large room then the
president accelerated his steps and
made half rush toward the semi
circle of humanity awaiting for him.
His right hand was extended to
grasp the first one he came in con-
tact with and his movement was not
unlike that of man about to take a
plunge into ice water. The presi-
dents hand closed on the palm of a
big western man who detained the
head of the nation long enough to in
troduce his wife. Then the stream of
hand shakers passed rapidly by. The
president smiled, bowed and said a
few words as the occasion required.
The return of large number Of
statesmen, who have buckled on
their armor for the winter campaign
has caused steady increase in the
list of official callers eager to present
their claims or those of their pro
teges to the president for recogni
ton. Notwithstanding the fact, tn,
president maintains his custom O
receiving general callers in the cas-
room and giving all visitors the op
portunity of shaking him by th
: hand. The army of general visitor
was unusually large during the pas
week. strangers tlocked to tn
er white house by the hundreds, so tina
u when the president comes into tn
in east room he finds it crowded an
d the ordeal through which he has t
a. pass is a trying one. Some are will
b oa ing to pass on after grasp of hi
ly hand, but many halt for few me
y ments conversation.
Exciting political contests are goin
81 on in Virginia, Ohio and New YorI
ons but, owing to the policy of the II,
aa ministration to avoid interference
SO state politics these contests do n,