The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-10-09
Our Washington Letter.
(FION OUR srEciAL CORRESPONDENT.


Washington, D. c., Sept. 26, 1885.
The Washington people lock forward
to gay society season this winter, n:
that is the general consequence the fiis;
year of a ixw administration, but they
are not quite sure that President Cleve-
land will contribute very much to the So
ciat brillianey. He has given such nm
mistakable evidence of quiet tasre that
the people who expect the White House
TO be the centre of society very much fear
that the impetus for social splcndor will
have to be senght elsewhere. Some peo-
pie insist that the President nut do a
great deal Of entertaining in ordtr to get
acquainted with people, and to learn
something about society. But the Pres
ident has left his purpose to the conjec-
| ture of those interested, and has yet Civ
en- no intimation of what he will dc.
Since he has occupied the White House
, he has persistently refraiued from accep-
ting Invitations to reception and other
social affairs, having gone out but twice.
Miss Cleveland has shown the same dis
position, prefering to live quietly and
without the excitement attendant upon
society indulgence. She went ont but
little IN the spring, having with her as
guests some friends from New York.
When she returns about October 10th, she
will be accompanied by some ladies, who
will remain with her the greater part of
the season. As far as known, there will
be no social occurrence of note ut tue
White House, aside from the reception.
The President does not, it IL asserted.
care for banquets or dinner parties, and
the usual state dinner will be the extent
of the entertainment. in that direction.
He likes, however, to have friends to dine
with him, and will probably follow the
custom.
The crowd Of visitors is unusually large
for this time Of year, aud is getting lar
ger every day. Lots of them are sight
seers, brides and grooms, ETC., but a
large proportion of them are not stran-
gers. You can tell the strangers, you
know. And you can tell the Office seek
crs. Well, they outnumber the others
just now. Strangers and sight-secrs
generally get. . guide TO show fhcm
about. They always want to learn how
high it is to the canopy in the dome.
when the Capitol was built, and.who
owns the pictures aronndthe walls. Then
they want to go to Whispering gallery
and see the echo stones, and some of
them want to know If it really whispers,
and what it says, aud then say. saint it |
funny" Then they want to sit in the |
Speakers chair, put their foot on the |
center stone under the dome, aud to sec
the lobby, where all the big railroads are |
built. The larger part of the visitors here
now are after places under the new ad-
ministration. They are swarming in cy-
cry day. Some of them wear beavers,
and button hole the members on every |
occasion. Some are sectly and don't
know anybody, but just sit here and wait.
When one Of them settles upon what he
wants, he's just as delighted as il be had
received the appointment. lie rms up
and tells the wa.chman, aud then his
neighbors what he's going to be, and af-
ter that they give him his title. They arc
then, Mr.. Inspector, Mr.. Marshal, : Mr.
Collector sMr. Auditor etc. II two
settle upon the same place, there is trou-
bic, and they have to compromise the
matter aud think over again.
The great passion in Washington just
now Is gaming on the races. There are
in active operation ut the present writing
five pool rooms where betting ON horse
races ail over the country, is carried ON
openly. A test case Was made lastspFing,
but the conrts held that Congress had
failed to pass any legislation which would
cover the subject. Then influential New
York parties came here and opened pool
rooms, aided by local talent, aud betting
on horse racing has reached the size Of a
mania, aud the evil is constantly spread
ms.
Thousands are lost where hundreds are
won. 1t Is only a matter Of short time
when the inevitable smash wilitake place
u Washington, aud it Is certainly only
lttering a kindly word Of caution to em-
,loyes, whether under the Government
ervicc or not, to zee that men who are
funds DO not. rs the phrase gocs: /
s,,Iav fI,ss y-.eps !. AUGUST ,