Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-02-12
Words from Washington.

L L.
skies and warmer breezes bring pleasant
presage of the spring, whose advent
this year, however. is anticipated with
more or less foreboding by many a
government employe according to the
extent of his belief in the intention of
the President-eleot to uphold the rules
of the Civil Service. Uncertainty on
this point has made itself severely felt
in the business circles of the capital
city, and one would not wish to repress
the thrill of sympathy evoked by the
exclamation of a department clerk, who
in answer to jesting allusion to posi-
BILE contingencies after the 4th of
March. exclaimed: '.Turn me omit
Why. how can they turn me out? |
have six little children to feed.''
The Swain court-martial, the trial of
the persons concerned in the frauds on
the Navy Department, the election of
the new Senator from Illinois, and the
Edmunds dynamite bill are the topics
principally occupying attention.
General Swaim's intimate personal
relations with the late President tend TO
awaken special interest in the sentence
of the court, which up to date is still
unknown. The sessions have been
held in one of the drawing rooms of the
Ebbtt House, which has been crowded
with spectators. some attracted by a
desire to listen to the proceedings.
others by the wish to see the officers
serving on the court-martial who are
among those of the highest rank in the
army and, attired in full uniform, pre-
sent most soldierly appearance.
Friends of General Logan are watch
ing with deep interest the course of
events in Illinois, hoping for some fav-
orable turn that may secure the Senator
his reelection. They proudly empha-
size the fact that years of political life
have left him poor man, and feel that
his long and faithful services should be
rewarded.
Senator Edmunds' promptness in in
Producing the dynamite bill, Immediate
ly after the news of the cowardly attack
upon the English Houses of Parliament
is generally commended, though in
response to call issued to members of
the Irish American societies of the
District about one hundred persons
gathered at the Clan ma Gael Hall, pro-
tested against the bill, applauded the
course of Senator Riddleberger. and
protested against the resolutions of
sympathy with the English government
introduced by Senator Bayard.
The session of Congress on February
2nd was prolonged until 3 O'Clock on
the morning of the 3rd in a vain effort
to bring up the bankruptcy bill so
urgently demanded by many business
men of the couHtry, but the enemies of
the measure consumed the timo ia fill
clustering and the House adjourned
without acting upon it.
A comical incident, which served to
vary the seriousness of legislative life
and awakened no little amusement, oc-
CURED at the Capitol the other day
Plaintive me-ows, issuing apparently
from the solid walls, had attracted so
much attention that workmen were
finally sent for to discover the cause of
the mystery. The register near the
spot from which the sounds apparently
proceeded was removed, and out rolled
three small kittens, which were at once
named for three prominent lobbyists.
Preparations for the dedication of the
Washington Monument are being rapid
ly carried forward Much dissatisfac-
ton having been expressed at tue news
that the portion of the ceremonies to be
held in the Hall of the House of Repre-
sentatives would be necessarily con-
fined to members of Congress. their
families, and few other persons high
in official position. thereby excluding
the throng of strangers expected from
all parts of the country, the question of
procuring more commodious place
was raised on Monday by a member of
the House. | am told that the hack
men, with the cheerful alacrity in"mak-
ing hay while the sun shines" charac-
teristic of the guild, are asking the
modest sum of twenty-five dollars for
the use of carriage and pair during
the exercises, and that the feasibility of
sending to Baltimore for hacks to be
used on that day is being considered by
the committee.
Since the first of January each week
has seen an increase in the gayety of
the fashionable world. Balls, recep-
tons, dinners, lunches, succeed each
other with bewildering rapidity, and
spite of the talk of ''dul times no
evidence of them is visible in the ele-
gance of the toilets worn on these oc-
casions. One of the principal events of
the week ending January 3lst was the
performance by amateurs of the opera
paul and Virgins" for sweet charity $
sake . Vacant seats were very rare
and the audience was most brilliant
one, both ladies and gentlemen being
required to appear in full evening dress.
The President, with party of friends
occupied one box, the others being
taken by persons prominent in social
| life.
The hospitable home of Senator
Sawyer, in former years one of the
gayest houses in the city, has been
darkened by the shadow of great grief
in the loss of his little graudchild, and
much sympathy is expressed for the
sorrowlng family.
The principal events in the winter
theatrical season have been the engage
ments of Ristori and Irving. The great
actress gave a series of her finest i'm
presentations but whether from the
constraint imposed by speaking in a
foreign language or through some
caprice on the part of the public, failed