The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-01-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.

(FRoM ouR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, Jan. /, 1885
The first day of the New Year was
celebrated in the usual way in Wash.
ington by thousands who will never
again take part ia the ceremony. 1t
was President Arthur's last reception,
and the last reception by president OF
the Republican party, for at least four
years. On the first Of January, 1856,
there will be new official and social
personeL at the National capital, and
the large majority of those who re.
ceive and those who call will be people
new TO Washington.
There was less calling than on any
previous first dav of the year during
the last decade. The Adonises of the
Government offices have not yet been
able to pay the money they bet and
lost on Blaine. The once exquisite
Prince Albert coat has now a dissipa
ted aud fatigued appearance, the fault
less pantaloons aud perfect hat are
sprung At the knees and rusty and bat
tered as to the crown. The wearer
has not the heart or the stomach to
face his changed fortune in these ha-
bilimeuts Washingtonians are not
like the Parisans, who celebrated a
national holiday with the old time gai.
ETY. when the Prussians were in two
days march OF the doomed modern
"orbiS terr0u uha" The prospect has
settled like pail upon bis spirits, and
is evident in hundred signs But a
great many called and the usual nun.
Der of ladies kept oren house on New
Years day.
There is talk of gay social season.
There may be sort of artificial or
galvanic gaiety pervading social and
official life. But how can a political
party be gay at its own funeral! There
will doubtless be the usual number of
presidential and cabinet receptions,
and the Justices of the Supreme Court,
and the Army and Naval people who
are not affected by the vicissitudes OF
party may be Indifferent to the impcnd.
ing change, but they are as zone in
ten thousand and altogether lovely
You will | am sure approve of your
correspondent beginning the New Year
with quotations from Scripture ike the
above. The truth is that l am pressed
for something to write. ] have just
returned from making about forty
New Years calls and realize that this
letter must go by the next post.
l have a journalistic friend who last
year was smart enough to write hi:
New Years letter on the day before
New Year He described the Presi
dents reception in what he thought
was very pretty piece of word paint
ing. He told how Mr.. Arthur receiv
ed first the diplomatic corps in theil
brilliant court regaiia the impressive
entrance of the Justices of the Supreme
Court, Senators, Representatives, Gen
erals, Admirals, Commodores, and thu
'Irish Legation" without stint. The
letter was posted on the 3lst of Decem
Der and it would have answered admir-
ably but for an accident. On New
Years while my friend was making
calls, oblivious to the drudgery of tn,
pen, and much pleased with himself
he heard that the Dean of the Diplo
matte corps had dropped dead in tn,
vestibule of the White House, and tha
the Presidential reception had beer
countermanded before it had begun.
| All signs point to lively time from
now until the fourth of March, and at
ter that the Judgment. Between tn
22nd of February, the time for the ded
ication of the Washington monument
and the Inauguration, it is estimate,
that the population of Washington
will double itself. Organizations ar
coming in battallions and feature O
the coming inauguration will be
large number OF military organization
from the south. 1t is estimated tina
ten thousand persons will attend tn
inaugural ball. The hall in which tn
ball is to be held is a magnificent roou
3l6 feet long by 116 feet broad, and
believed to be the second largest in tn
world. It is surrounded by series c
smaller rooms, all of which are cor
Meeting, in which there will be ampl
space for refreshment halls, cloa
rooms, toilet chambers, and everythin
else that may be needed Around til
hall is also long line of iron colun
supporting the galleries, in which wi
be seats for such spectators as do M
care to join the danclug. These co
ums will be entwined with the thrt
national colors, and between them wi
probably be placed large vases file
with natural flowers. Numbers I
plants will be placed artistically aroun
the room, and flags and banners will
arranged in effective designs and dec'
rate the walls The whole will
lighted by the electric light, and wi
form magnificent display, such
has rarely been seen in this countr
Decorators of experience will be e
gagged to perform this work.
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