Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-01-28
Correspondents of the Beacon
WASHINGTON, Jan. Is, 1886.

Messrs. Editors The sudden death
Of Miss Katharine Lee Bayard, the
eldest daughter Of the Secretary Of
State, has had a depressing effect upon
society, which realizes the sad truth
that one Of the gayest Of her bellies lies
silent in death, 1t has in fact been
week of mourning in social circles;
the projected gayeties were for the
most part postponed, and dinners, teas,
and reception invitations were de-
clined. Ladies who made calls or re-
ceived friends wore toilets of black.
Miss Cleveland secluded herself from
callers, and it was only at the earnest
reque.t''of Secretary Bayard that the
invitations to the diplOmaticI. diAner
were not recalled.
The state dinner given by President
Cleveland on Thursday evening in
honor of the Diplomatic Corps. was
ths second Of the series given since the
commencement Of the season. The
preparations for this elaborate banquet
were more complete and extensive
than have ever graced the Executive
Mansion. The floral decorations were
upon lavish scale. Among the pieces
which attracted much attention was
an immense floral globe representing
all of the'nations.,of the world. The
land surface was marked by q mass Of
carnations of different colors, repre-
senting the various countries, and the
water by leaves Of the camelia bush,
while the streams were traced by tiny
lines Of smilax. The piece was mount
ed go as to revolve within a square
frame, in the center of the table.
The frame was twined with smilax,
while in the center, and just above
the globe, was single star in red
immortelles. The representatives OF
nearly every nation with which we
hold diplomatic relations were present,
the dinner was a characteristic social
feature in the the long line Of State
banquets that have been held in the
Executive Mansion.
The introduction in the Senate re-
Gently of a bill providing for the
erection of monuments to the memory
of Lincoln and Grant, has awakened q
lively discussion by the press of the
country. Among the suggestions
which appear to meet with much IA
vor, is that instead of erecting tower
ing "chimneys" of marble, that tri-
umphal arch should be constructed
over Pennsylvania avenue, ornament
ed with life-statues and busts OF the
prominent generals of the several
American wars. Such memorial arch
dedicated to the American soldier,
would certainly be an imposing and
appropriate commemoration Of the
Nations dead heroes, and it is to
be hoped that Congress may consider
the plan before acting upon the bill
now before it.
The passage Of the bill on Friday
providing for the purchase of the old
Produce Exchange, in New York City,
was accompanied BY lively scene in
the House. When the roll was called
upon the question Of recommitting
the bill, the opponents of recommittsl
found that there were FIVE votes against
them. Every member Of the House
was recorded spon one side or the
other, and the only way to obviate
delay in the passage of the bill was to
persuade q sufficient number Of mem
bers who had~oted for recommital to
change their votes. The champions of
the bill rushed about importuning their
friends to assist them. while their op-
ponsnts urged those who had voted
in the Affirmative to stand fast. A
sufficient number Of votes were how.
ever secured to defeat recommittal.
and the bill Was afterwards passed by
9 vote Of l42 to IS.
A large number Of the most promi-
nent members Of the District bar are
interesting themselves in the case of
VIM. u. Merrick. whose recent ap-
pointmsnt as Judge Of the Supreme