Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-12-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. 30, 1885.
To THE SoUTH KENTUCKIAN:

ouu thO PuOiiO
have again assumed their mourning
dress. The death of Vice President
Hendricks has cast a gloom over the
city which pervades every house
hold. The news was received about
six O'Clock in the evening and rapid
ly spread, but everybody was incredu-
lous until the newsboys were heard
CRYING the extras. The President
was at dinner when he received the
news by telegram, and at once Or
dered Col. Lamont 10 dispatch
messenger to the members ofthe cabi-
net to attend a special meeting of the
cabinet at half past eight o'clock.
Postmaster General Villas and Sec
rotary Lamar were the first to arrive
and the others followed in quick
succession to get the full
particulars without waiting for the
set hour of meeting TO arrive. At
the meeting it was determined that
the President and his cabinet should
attend the funeral in body as a
mark of the high respect in which the
Vice President was held. Subsequ-
emily, pressure was brought to bear
on the President to induce him to
change his purpose of attending the
funeral in person, 1t was urged that
in view of the present state Of affairs
with no Vice President, no President
of the Senate pro tempore, and the
certainty of Republican when one
is chosen-the President should not
expose himself to the additional
dangers of railroad journey on a
special train running at increased
speed with the possibility of the con-
ductor of some regular train not obey
ing orders and collision as the
result.
Another special train carried a
committee of Senator's and Members.
And in anticipation of the large num-
Der of individuals leaving here 70
attend the ceremonies the Baltimore
and Ohio road extensively advertised
special return tickets at SIG.
In all the churches holding Thanks
giving Day services the death of the
Vice President was referred to IL
feeling terms and universal sympathy
for his family was expressed.
Thanksgiving Day was rigorousl,
observed here. AT 10 time befor,
was it to universally observed. AL
| places of business were closed and tn
people thronged to the churches 81
that they were filled to overlooking
to offer up thanks for the many bless
ings they have enjoyed during tn
past year. Perhaps the sudden de
misc of the Vice President was
sharp reminder of the uncertainty 0
life and the certainty of death, an,
caused the people TO halt in thei
wild race after riches and for on
day pay homage to the Giver of al
, 90 I'd things. aa.
The President attended divin
service at the Central Presbyterian
Church, and spent the rest of the da
in quiet at the White House.
Secretary Whitney made all tn
employees of the Navy Department
happy on Thanksgiving Day eve b
closing the Department at o'cloc
and presenting each emyloye wit
an order oil one of our leading com
mission merchants for turkey. N
person who chose to avail himself O
the courtesy was omitted, the high
est to the humblest employe bein
included. The merchant being al
prised several day in advance of TIL
Secretary's intentions had laid in
big stock of the finest fowls to be hat
ranging in weight from ten to twenty
| five pounds, and filed two hundre
2 of the Secretary's orders.
The National Museum is in constal
/; receipt of gifts to its already wonder
full collection. The latest is japan
ese helmet presented by d. w. Fan
Finger. 1t is of silver studded wit
bosses of steel, ornamented with
winged dragon of brass over the wise
and with a leather cape embroidere
with gold and silver thread and line
D with embroidered silk. The sam
gentleman has also presented Oh
museum with a model Of an ocea
f steamer, which is perfect in ever
: detail and in excellent running orde
The annual reports of variot
:. Government officers have been con
/ ing in pretty lively. One of the mo!
: interesting TO the country is that {
Il Gov. Ross of New Mexico. Henott
! the prosperity in the Territory dul
s ing the past year, and recommend
g that Congress establish a commissio
] similar to the California Commission
: which shall examine into the merit
T. of the Spanish and American Ian
e grants He states further that I'll
: land titles are generally as good {
s elsewhere, and that one drawback
!. the development of the country hs
q been the impression that titles to Ian
s were bad. J'a H4"'e t'i
J. The committee recently appOinte
D by the Army of the Tennessee
!, hard at work in its effort to have til
l statue of General Rawlins remove
II TO more eligible site. AT present
g is in an unfrequented and neglecte
D spot back of the White House TOWARD
S the river, where few persons see
i, except those who particularly inquil
] for and search out its location.
s will be remembered that Generi
2 Rawlins was General Grant'sSecrett
ny of War, and died while holdin
that Office. 1t is therefore though
that the most appropriate site for ii
statue is the esplanade in front of IL
new War and Navy building, and
is believed that the committee wi
be able to prevail on Congress
authorize the change.
Winter has fairly set in at the Cal
ital. On Wednesday night we ha
snow, but not enough TO be seen Il
next day. Everybody is movil
hither and thither with brisk ste
except Members of Congress wi
move at dignified pace, with an a
of superiority and expression of in
mense cares resting upon their shou
ders. The stores are all filling I
n with Xmas goods, and people lookir
II at them with very little money
i their pockets to give encouragemel
v to the merchants. Tuesday will be
:. holiday with Government clerks, al
n as it will be the day after pay d.
h they will be rich in the possession
II glittering coins just from Uncle Sam
. vaults, and as usual will spend