The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-12-04
Washington News and Gossip.
From our Special Correspondent.


WASHINGTON. d. c., Nov. 20, $50.
Mr.. EDITOR: Thanksgiving Day was
cold and unpleasant. Rain fell in torrents
during the entire day, and very few persons
ventursd from the shelter Of their homes.
excepting those who were called out by
necessity. The Departments and most
places of business were closed, and the streets
wore a deserted and decidedly uninviting
aspect.
1t had been decided at the White House
that as the repairs and improvements upon
the country residence at "Oak View" had
been completed, that the President and
a party of select friends should eat their
Thanksgiving dinner there, but the plan had
to be abandoned on account of the weather,
and Mr.. Cleveland spent his time at the
White House and was engaged during the
greater portion Of the day upon his message
to Congress. Mrs. Cleveland spent the day
quietly with her mother, and there were no
callers whatever.
The rain, however, did not in any manner
interfere with the annual Thanksgiving
dinners at the various orphan asylums and
charitable institutions throughout the city.
Secretary Whitney manifested his generosity
by distributing three hundred turkeys
among the clerks and employees in the Navy
Department.
| 1t has always been the custom TO pay the
employees Of the House of Representatives
their November salaries upon the day be-
fore Thanksgiving. This year, however,
the rule could not be complied with, as the
law requires that the Speaker should sign
the Gel eltificates before the sergeant alarms
is allowed to make the payments. During
the recess Of Congress it has been customary
to forward the certificates to the Speaker
at his home, in time, so that they may be
returned to the Capitol before pay day.
For the past few days the Speaker has been
expected 10 arrive in the city therefore the
certificates were not forwarded to him. In
order that none of the clerks should foregO
the enjoyment Of Thanksgiving turkey
! through lack of funds. the sergeant-at-
arms made small advances in some instances
to meet the emergency.
OF all the Thanksgiving procamatiens
issued by the executives of the several
States and Territories, and copies Of which
have been received at the State Depart
ment, that of Chief Busheyhead, of the
Cherokee Indian Nation, is considered the
most unique and original. 1t reads as fol-
lows: 'Erecutire Department, Cherokee
Nation. /. TITO the Cherokee People
Let us again publicly confess and comemo-
rate the goodness of the Great Spirit, by
devOting one day in this year to thanksgiv-
ing in unison. 1t is good custom, and
should impress upon our minds a truth
that every one ought to realize more and
more, as the days and hours succeed each
other in our short lives That truth is,
that everything We have comes from God !;
and that everything is good and will be pro-
/ ftable to US, even as we regard and treat it,
for the due observance of our duty to our
common Father, and our brothers. There
fore; !. d. w. Bushyhead, principal chief
Of the Cherokee nation, do now appoint
Thursday the 25th day Of November, 1886,
as day of general thanksgiving and praise
throughout this nation, and recommend to
all Cherokees to "keep" the said anniyers-
airy soberly, gladly, and lovingly as befits a
reasonable and Christian people so to dO.
Should there be poor or unfortunate in any