The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-12-30
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at The Ma
tiOnal Capital.
rnr "GREAr AMERICAN HABIT"

The Congressmen. Although the latter are well
provided in this respect, they generally avoid
them with the utmost care when dischHrging
their liquid volleys. The ventilating and heat
inc registers IN the floor are their iayorite tar
gets. aud the result is that the air of the Hall
is rendered at times extremely noxious. The
matter has recently received the attention of "A
committee and Mr. 0'Donncll, of Michigan,
made report, in which he said: " The great
American habit OF eXpectorating is fully ex-
empihed on the part of the members OF this
branch of the lawmaking department Of the
Government, and your committee reluctantly
mournrully, but firmly conlesses its inability TO
devise measures which Will put an end 10 this
reprehensible practice-a practice that lowers
the dignity of this august assemblage and i'm
perils the health and well being of the servants
of the Republic Attention is directed 10 the
fact that there are IN this chamber PIG nickel
plated cuspidors furnished by the muni6cence
of the Nation. with the sole design of being
employed for the purposes for which they are
provided; but for some reason unknown TO
your committee, they are ignored and the per-
forations ia the brass ycntiators employed as
the receptacles of eXpoctoration."
ABOUT BASS DRUMMER.
Raw recruits for the United States Army who
enlist n New York are sent 10 David's Island
for instruction in the arts Of war. Occasionally
a tough scholar is found among the recruits. A
report of the INSTRUMENTATION and punishment
of Francis Wild has Just reached Washington.
il appears that Wid who was a bass-drummer,
detied Bandmaster Emil IL Bruck man nj morn
ing practice and did wilfully beat the bass
drum out of time, compelling the band 10 stop
playing, and after the bandmasteT had given
the signal for the band to cease playing, the
said field musician, Francis Wild, dad continue
to beat the bass drum for some time" This
does not appear 10 be the worst of it, for, the
atarl. IN ~
beat said instrument he did laugh" Wild also
told Bandmaster Brakeman that lac could beat
the drum well enough If he wanted TO- but he
didn't want 60 beat il well just then.
Wild was arrested and, as the second specif-
cation charges, called Sergt Otto Lipprandt T" a
liar, a lOaier, and periurer." He also threat
ened that as soon ms he got out of the guard
house Sergt Lppraadt might consider that he
had less than two hours of life left. A dagger
was found in Wid's locker. The court-martial
found him guilty of beating his drum out Of
time and of insolence to Serg't LPprandt but
held that the possession of the dagger was
without criminal intent. The charge Of ICON
Duct 10 the prejudice of good orderand military
discipline" was abundantly sustained, however,
and Wild was fined $l0Of his pay, and confined
at hard labor under charge of the guard for Is
days
SENATOR EvARrs's NEW HAT.
The hat that Senator Evarts has worn since
he has been in Washington appeared TO be like
Webster said Of the survivors of the Revolution
to have come down TO us from a former
generation" ii was undoubtedly the shabbiest
hoadcovering hung up in the cloak rooms OF
either House. The witty Senator is reported
TO have answered a rem0nstrance from a friend
who wanted to see him better covered:
20, it'll do me as long as I'm around Wash
ington. Everybody knows me here, so it don't
matter what / wear"
But you're continually going of among
strangers, too" argued the friend.
Then, if nobody knows who / am. it Ger
tainly don't make any difference what wear y
answered the Senator.
But the other day, without any warning
whatever the Senator appeared in a new aud
fashionable hat. The only plausible explana-
ton that has so far been offered is that some
negro minstrel stole the venerable hat for a
part Of the costume TO sing old Shady" in,
and the Senator had 10 buy new hat or 60
bareheaded.
SECRETARY LAMAR TO BE MARRIED.
The gossips are quite satisfied that Secretary
Lamar who is now ia Georgia, will bring back
with him bride TO preside over the establish.
ment into which he recently moved. The
lady is said 10 be Mrs. Holt. Of Macon, Ga.
between whom aud Mr.. Lamar an affection ex
listed prior 10 the first marriage of each of them.
year or more ago they were brought together
again, the old affection was revived, and, nc
cordmg TO the report, is now to eliminate ia a
lifelong union. Secretary Lamar has avoided
answering inquiries on this subject which were
prompted merely by impertinence or curiosity
but his intimate friends have been aware for
two or three months of the step which he pur
posed taking. They have no doubt that wher
he comes back he viii bring his wife with him
1t is understood also by them that his SOU,
wife aud his daughter, who have been residin'
with him, will continue their residence under
his roof and will assist the new Mrs Lamar il
dispensing the inequalities of his home.
CHRISTMAS STORY.
few days ago the District Comm issioner
received letter addressed 10 the MAR" anC
written by ltlle girl named Viola Jones. win
lives in q small town in Missouri. The lttl
one inquired in uncertain and badly-spele,
English why twas that her father, A. j. Jones
who served through the war, could not get
pension when 20 many Others could aud con
cludcd her brief epistle by stating that he
father was sick and too poor TO employ a law
yer. The Commissioners Immediately for
warded the letter 10 Commissioner Of Pension
Black, and soon after were notified by the lat
ter that Mr. JOnCs's pension had been granite,
with a full allowance of pack pay. On receip
of this the Commissioners Immediately wrot
10 the little girl informing her of the result O
her inquiry, and rs the letter would reach he
rejoicing Ia one household at least on Christ
mas Day.
THE QUEER FRIENDSHIPS
among the lawgigers excite continual remark
Men wide apart as the lakes and the gulf /
politics, past history aud tastes form friend
ships that are as demOnstratipe and tOuchin
As the famous affection that existed betwec
Mary and the inclpient mutton with the snow
fleece. The austere and intensely New Eng
land Edmunds aud the jOyial, hard -hittin
Thurman were the David aud Jonathan of III
Senate years ago The queer friendships {
this Senate are those between the highly-cuItl
waited ana intellectual Republican Evarts am
the Jolly. happy Ro-lucky. ex Confederate an
present Democrat Vest, Of Missouri; betwee
the cold. rapciant Don Cameron and III
whilom dashing South Carolina cavalier NJ. {
Butler.
AN ILL-TIMED BATH
When the roll was called i'm the House. fe
days ago, Oh taking up Mr.. Morrisons tariff
reduction bin, Mr.. Reagan, of Texas by mi
calculation found himself enjoying the luxur
of a bath In one Of the Congressional bath tub
JIG lost his vote aud was recorded as absen
much 10 his own chagrin and the wonder
hls friends, for on this question be Is a radic
refOrmer." His ill-timed bath may seriousl
intorfore with his Senatorial chances in Texa
A Western correspondent, In abiding 90 h
absence from the House. said: :" Mr.. Reaga
was in a bath-tub taking the duty off his ON
raw material" This remark is being wide
quoted, aud no one appears 10 enjoy the joll
cracked at Mr. Reagans expense more thG
Senator MaNey. who aspres 10 third term
the Senate, aud whose seat Mr. Reagan is aftt
A FARMER's CONGRESS.
The recent meeting Of the Farmers Nation
A. 4. 90. ~