Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-27
WASHINGTON DESERTED.
A LONELY LOOK ABOUT THE
HALLS OF CONGRESS.

without GuestE-Five Young Ladies'
aud Their Quintetts of Canines--A
Beauty In Hard Luck.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-The halls Of
CONGRESS, the hotels and all other places
of public resort have a lonesome
look since Congress adjourned for
the holiday recess. The presence
OF the members always makes the city
livelier than it is when they are out Of 1t
not that they are a particularly hilari-
GUS set. but because their presence natur-
ally tends TO enliven matters in almost
every walk OF life at the capital. The
present House is one Of the least eXtrava-
CANT that has ever assembled at Wash.
ington. There is also less drinking than
for years past. The floor has not been
disgraced by the presence of an Intoxi-
Gated Congressman since the session be-
gun. Another good characteristic OF the
present members is their avoidance OF
debt. Nearly every man here lives with
In his income. They are not parsimon-
ious lot, but are economical Ia the sensl-
BILE way that does honor TO any man, rich
or poor. Those who have their families
with them live well, but not ostenta-
either at one OF the numerous
houses for which Washington is famous,
In point OF fact there are only about
thirty or thirty-hve members who keep
house. Among these are the cruesus OF
Congress. They OF course live without
regard to the Congressional stipend. In
days gone by there have been men in the
House who have disregarded all conven-
tiOnalities, and set at it to save their sala-
ries. Members of the Greenback party
have always been conspicuous Tor this.
A few years ago there was a Greenbacker
from the Far West who is said to have set
at defiance all the world. and lived in
Washington for two years at an expense
of only $500 per year. He had wife and
several children, rented little house
and economical at every point. Neither
he nor his family cared anything for ap-
pearances. His wife astonished the
House one time by nursing her baby In
the mem bers' gallery. Again she con-
quered the cravings of its juvenile appe-
tite in the rotunda. About that time
another GreenOaoker, this one from the
Southwest, found a place down In the
southern part OF the city where he had
to pay but $40 per month for rooms, board
and attendance. There are none OF these
rigid economists in this Congress. Even
Mr.. Holman. who has faasiaoau0h rspEl-
tati0n for his economy OF the public
moneys, boards with his family at a hotel,
where his expenses must amount TO
good round sum. some of the members
who have not their families with them
club together in pairs. Two Virginia
members have a suite OF rooms between
them, and for the suite, with board, pay
500 each. Members generally find that
their rooms and board cost for themselves
alone from $50 TO 5000 per month. They
have besides other opportunities to spend
their money, such as theatres. drives and
dinners. One thing members have to con-
tend with is that women who have rooms
to rent expect TO get more for them from
Congressman. One OF the New Jersey
delegation got the better OF one
Of these speculative landladies
by representing himself as a
government empl0ye, as be conceived
himself TO be. In this way he got his
rooms at the price paid by ordinary folks
and found himself very comfortably fixed.
The average Washington landlady, how
ever, can tell an NJ. Z. on sight and would
not be vctimized by any subterfuge OF
this sort. Members who have their fami
lies with them find 1t much cheaper to
keep house.
AN ILL-FATED ROW.
There is a funny superstition about the
fourth row OF seats from the rear wall OF
the House. Old attaches of tho House and
many of the older msmbers as well be-
lieVe that IL 10 blacklistfd ~ the fates.
Some of them have gone so far as to nick.
name it d. ad mans row. For some ua.
accountable reason more deaths bayai
occurred amOng members occupying thiss
row than among those in any other row
in the House. The fact has be-
come no generally known bcamOng
the old timers inB the
House that they try at every drawing for
seats to avoid getting into 1t. Many in
stances could be cited where old memb bers
have exchanged with new members good
seats in this row for poor ones in some
other part OF the House. 1t is asserted as
positive fact t0at every member who
has died since the Forty-fifth Congress,
with one or two exceptions, has been an
occupant OF the ili-faLed row. Among
those VINO occupied seats in the ill-fated
locality were Garfield, Fernando Wood,
Haskell, Hartridge, Williams Of Michi-
gan, Bev. Douglass and one or two others.
LADY's HUMILIATION.
The proximity OF the time when balls
and receptions will take Washington by
storm, recalls two peculiar little incl
dents which occurred here last year. but
which never gained publicity In the
prints. one OF them was subsequently
explained, but the other Is as much
mystery as ever. A lady, whose name is
OF course withheld, ntrusted the delivery
of 600 Invitations to an afternoon
reception TO her butler. The
man left the house with his
envelopes systematically arranged TO
facilitate their delivery. Nothing more
was thought Of this part OF the pro-
gramme, and when the day for the recep-
LlOn arrived the lady and those VINO were
to assist her took their places in the par
lore and awaited the arrival Of the guests.
Hours passed and no one came. The
ladies were unable TO explain the cause.
About O'Clock three or four OF those 10
whom Invitations had been sent put In q
tardy appearance, and were extremely
mortified to find that the absolute deser-
ito Of the parlors made their lateness all
the more noticeable. On apologizing they
were informed Of the state OF affairs, and
were ut loss 10 understand the cause.
When the parlors were closed for the night
not dozen people had accepted or In any
way acknowledged the invitations which
had been sent them. The hostess, who Is
one OF the most popular ladies In wash
Ington, retired heart-broken aud cried
herself TO sleep, unable to account for
the terrible snub she had received. A day
or Two later, however, the mystery was
cleared up. After having delivered less
than twenty OF the Invitations with which
be had been entrusted the butler entered
a convenient saloon, met q party OF con-
genial spirits, became gloriously drunk
and threw the remainder OF the invita-
tons away and never told his mistress or
anybody else what he had done. The dis
cOvery was made by the lady by accident