Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-01-10
CAPITAL CHATTER.
Christmas in Washington-Cleve'
lands Letter.

Christmas in Washington-Cleve-
lands Letter.
Special Correspondence of the IS7ER-OcsAs.l
Christmas at the capital came and
went with all the customary o~bservances;
with church celebrations and innumer-
cradle festivities atschools, charitable in
situations, asylums and homes; and alas!
with its usual record of intoxication and
crime. Charity contributed freely to
holiday happiness by gathering together
the children of the poor, and giving them
turkey, ice cream. kris kringles and
amusing entertainments. In this work
the presidents little daughter Nellie, Miss
West, daughter of the British Minister,
and the daughter Of Chief Justice Waite,
may be mentioned as active participants,
besides many Others who were equally
efficient, but whose names lack the acci-
dent of fame. But the chef event of
the week vas Presidents Arthur's last
New Years reception. The official
pageant was brilliant, and the president
had q long line of assistants, including
the ladies' Of the cabinet, of the supreme
court, the wives of many senators and
representatives and other ladies Of social
distinction. The assistants stood in lines
by turns, withdrawing, when fat1gued,
to the rear Of the receiving party, while
others came forward and filled their
places. Promptly at the hour Of the
opening of the reception President
Arthur, in full morning dress, white kid
gloves and button hole boquet, stood at
the head of the line, and received first
his cabinet and next the diplomatic
corps. The chief justice and associate
justices followed; then senators and rep
resentatives, judges Of the supreme court
Of the District Of Columbia, judges Of
the court of claims, officers Of the dis
trictjudiciary, commissioners of the dis
trict, ex-members of the cabinet and
ex.ministers of the United States. Then
came the officers Of the army and navy,
the assistant secretaries of departments,
heads Of bureaus, the assistant post
master general and attorney general,
the solicitor general and various other
heads, superintendent, commissioners,
secretaries and assistants. The veter-
ans of the wal of 1912 and those of the
Mexican war were followed by the
soldiers of the Grand Army Of the Re-
public and the Oldest Inhabitants asso-
citation Of the District, and then the
doors were thrown open to citizens and
a throng of both colors, who were
neither admirals, judges nor generals,
made a steady procession through the
parlors until the reception closed. The
| white house was decorated with tropical
plonts, the Marine band stationed in the
vestibule filled it with music, and the
scene in the famous east room was
striking, while the representatives Of
foreign countries mingled their gorgeous
court costumes and decorations with
the gay tinseled uniforms of army and
navy officers and the sombre attire Of
the supreme court justices.
The day vas observed in Washington
en- regle. Carriages, hansoms and cabs
whirled along the streets with theil
freight of callers. Ladies handsomely
attired received them in gas lighted
p~arlors. Gentlemen paid the compli'
ments Of the season, slipped tea o,
coffee, nibbled sandwiches and cake and
departed, and the first duty of the new
year was fulfilled. Many will never see
their hostesses again, because by Jan
/, 1886, the official and social personne
of Washington will be almost entirel,
changed.
There is no end to inauguration tall
in Washington, and several steps TOWARD
preparation for the great event have
been taken during the past week
Warerooms, halls, barracks and every
thing that a be utilized for lodging
purposes are being fixed up for organi'
cations that are coming, and northern
firms have contracted to furnish thou
sands of cots. The committee on pub
lie comfort, whose duty ii is to provide
quarters-either at hotels o: private
houses-for persons desiring them, viii
endeavor to keep prices for every
variety of service down to ordinar,
rates, and can, it is hoped, be relied
upon to prevent extortionate charges.
Mr.. Cleveland's letter on the civil ser
vice has been the chief topic of CONVEX
sation here for several days. In the de
partments the widest difference Of opin
ion is expressed in regard to it. Man.
oficiols regard the letter as insuring
thorough enforcement Of civil ~servic,
rules, while others assert that the word
ing Of it will permit the removal from
Office Of every nan who made a contri
button for political purposes or delivered
a political speech.
The great evangelist, Mr.. Moody, i
coming to Washington in two weeks tt
hold meetings, and the city pastor
have been making arrangements 70
him. He wants the largest church il
the city of course, which is the Congre