The Washington critic., 1886-03-27
TOPICS OF THE DAY.


was in the thickest of the rush and
crush which gathered at the Capitol to
hear the opening speech of Senator
Edmunds on the tenure of office ques-
lion, experienced The same outrageous
and incxcusable annoyance to which
many others are subjected on such oc.
casions, because of the wrctched ar.
or want of arrangement,
for the accommodation of visitors.
Says the Hcrdlds obscrvant and plain.
spoken correspondent: "The tide of
emigration turned toward the Capitol
at very carly hour in the morning,
and long before the hour of convcning
-l2 o'clock, sharp-every nook big
enough to hold half of man was
filed and no standing room to he had.
i will embrace this opportunity to free
the minds of irate Senators families
who are obliged to go away on many
occasions because there are no sittings
in the galleries, while there is long
front seat in the Senator'S reserved
gallery empty, with the little gate upon
which is plate marked 'President.'
locked and no vulgar American citizen
allowed to enter. 1t is on the most
rare occasion that this scat Is occupied.
Across the way is the blue upholstered
diplomatic gallery, vacant the year
around. unless some committee room
lunch party repair thithcr, rs they did
not long since, the observed of all oh.
servers, especially an injured wife,
who hadn't been asked to Join the 'fes.
tive board, and was hunting man,
left the blue upholstered gallery in u
hurry, much to the amusement of some
lockers. on. Well, 1t is n shame to
withhold these seats on such crush
days. 1t should he first come first
served. If the Presidents family de.
sires to visit the Capitol at any special
time, why they can easily telephone
and seat will be reserved of course
As for rescrving hundred sittngs or
more for the Diplomatic Corps who
seldom visit either house of Congress
except on great occasions, when they
have seats on the floor, 1t is enough to
rile the temper of intelligent Ameri.
cans. There are no reserved seats in
Parliament for us furriners' or in any
other foreign seat of government that
have heard of. No doubt special occa-
sions may receive specific treatment;
that's all very well, but reserved seats
the year around is too much.
NV
Abiding to the same occasion, "Con"
says: "Senator Edmunds had on his
black Prince Albert suit and appeared
mighty well, nay almost handsome, if it
had not been for an awful wicked look
out of his eye. That left eye of his has a
peculiar way of drawing his brow
down over, while his right brow is up.
lifted There seems to be a division to
his head, from the nape of his neck to
the tip of his nose. At any rate you
can look that man square in the face
and see two legal opinions at once; that
is, he always keeps two points in view
the man and his game. Well, it was
his game eye then that had the
widest range. Physically he never
was handsomer his complexion
has a freshness about it this winter
which it has lacked for several years.
A rear view of Senator Edmunds from
the gallery is deceiving, standing as he
does with his shoulders thrown for
ward, while his head, all but little
fringe of hair on the outer edge, which
makes a kind of halo, is clean and
smooth as darning ball. In his case
distance does not lend enchantment
the nearer you get to Senator Edmunds
the younger and better he looks. He
is not an old man in years, by long
way; but there is no question about his
having an old, as well rs long, head or
those broad, dropping shoulders of his, .
Nv
The Southern BigOudc for April, II
an interesting article on the Lees, say'
that Virginia's history is enriched
with the names of this family who
have been distinguished in civil OF
military life. Thomas Lee was Gov
ernor of the colony in 1749, and at hi
princely seat of "Stratford," called
after the English home in Essex, dis
pensed the liberal hospitality of thu
typical Virginia planter. Marvellous
accounts are given of Stratford'
original splendor, its hundred rooms, I
main building and four offices, each o.
the latter containing fifteen rooms, and
its stables for hundred horses. /
was burned during the lifetime o
President Lee, and the Government re
built it, Four sons of Thomas Lee
made their impress ON the history o.
their country during the Revolutionary
era. OF these the most distinguished
undoubtedly was Richard Henry Lee
the eminent statesman. There was moi
wanting, however, at this momentou
period, q soldier hero to mingle mill
tary laurels with the family's civi,
honors; and Light Horse Harry" tn,
young cavalry leader of the revolution
was not unworthy of his knightly race
General Henry Lees grandfather wa
one of the several brothers of Presi
dent Lee, and by the marriage o
Light Horse Harry" with Matildi
Lee, daughter of President Lees
eldest son, he came into possession o
"Stratford." When the young soldie
courtcd his beautiful cousin there wa
still much state at "Stratford. The fin
lawn was several hundred acres in ey
tent. The house, on n commanding
situation, surrounded by grove o
sugar naples, presented the form o
the setter II, spacious saloon connect
ing the two wings where the gay com
pany danced; the owner of "Stratford,
Philip Ludwell Lee, who was ais,
of the Kings Council, keeping band o
musicians for the delectation of his tw
fair daughters and their guests. Their
were also moonlight promenades on tn
flat roof of the great house with its pa
vilions and balustrade. and more tina
one romance doubtless sprang to life o
languished to soft death in the gay hall
of "Stratford The heiress pasSet
away in her young matronhood, an
General Lee brought new bride Il
the old homestead, This was Ami
Carter, the mother Of Robert Edwar
Lee, the great soldier of the Souther