The southern sentinel., 1886-01-22
Our Washington Letter.
(FRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT

(FRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT,
washington ID. c., Jan. 8, 1856.
The gayeties this winter will continue
until March o, when Ash Wednesdays
knells will call welcome halt at mid
night OF what may prove the payest
Shrove-Tuesday for several years back.
The season will, therefore, be long enough
TO tire out the most assiduous deyotee of
pleasure. The prediction so confidently
asserted that the winter will be CAV one
and not exhibit a crudeness which deem
observers usually notice in the first year
OF each Administration, is not unfouudcd.
An unusually large number of wealthy
families will winter here this season and
mingle in the social world. and n series
OF events now being quietly gossiped
give promise OF exceeding brilliancy. II
Is not probable that the Presidents levaes
viii begin until February, or perlaps
even later, As they will undoubtedly be
occasions OF singular prominence, it is
not becoming they should clash with
events Of restricted interest,
All tue powerful men of Congress. we
mean VINO have been repeatedly retuI ned
oy tneir constituents, until they have by
long course of study and long eontin-
ued practice in the methods of Legislation
become qualified to be useful to their
districts and the country at large. Tho
public Is doubtless in almost total iono-
rance OF the sad effect upo3 the iuteIlec-
tual and political character of Congress.
brought on by the practice Of rotation in
Office. 1t keeps down the standard Of ths
body almost to the point If medioeritv.
New men making pretensions to leader
ship in Congress never sustain them.
selves long.
The evil Of liquor drinking has been
greatly magnified in the late discussion
1pon the subject. As rule there is but
very little drunkenness arising out of the
liquors that are sold over the bars in the
'wo restaurants. 1t is the '.priyafe hot
ie' scheme which is the cause of fbe
candal. In nearly every committe room
mere are . number of private bottles
With convenient glasses, and to which
ome OF the Senator'S frequently repair to
'atch up their damaged feelings. The
Employees are Of course cognizant Of the
act and they, taking pattern BY the Illus
rious example set them, are not slow to
o likewise. The consequence Is that
nost Of the drinking of late years has
cen done ih little groups in the COM
nittee rooms. There is one distinguish
q Senator from small New England
tate, who, while he Is quite fond of tn
ottle himself, yet Is quite careful as 10
is associates when he crooks his elbow.
his Senator has made it rnle never to
rink in the presence Of young men. He
i'll sip his liquor with the old stagers.
ut If there happens to be young man
the party, the Senator either waits un-
he has gone before drinking, or. does
)t drink at all.
No attempt is made to disguise the
lie Of liquor. Notwithstanding the joint
lie which forbids it in the Capitol
here is hardly moment during the
ssion, when some Congressman or en-
oyee Is not assisting the restaurant
cper in breaking this rule. There are
me hearty eaters in the House. Quite
number Of them are content with sim
bread and milk, but others are fond
ordering full course dishes. Speaker
lrlilse has his meals served In the
eaker's rooms. lie is dainty eater.
q while he consumes but little yet he
fond OF complete assortment. The
eaker usually washes it down with
me rare old wines. Perry Belmont, of
wv York, is one of the most particulaa
IN who comes into the House restau-
Mt His order must be cooked exactly
he orders, or he win not touch the
ii when it is Set before hiul. Con-
essnian Robertson, Of Kentucky. Is the
dest member about his food. He. n
fond of onions. Usually
orders large dish Of these vegetables
raw and eats them all with wonder
relish. No matter how crowded the
use restaurant Is, Robertson has an
tire table to himself. August.