The Rugby gazette and east Tennessee news. (Rugby, Morgan Co., Tenn.) 1884-188?, 1886-11-27
WASHINGTON Letter.
(From our regular Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON. Nov "a, Sc

Elk. President Arthur's sudden dennis,
verified, if il does not justify, the re
ports which have been printed during
the past six months in regard to the
condition of his health. 1t was thought
by good many people that Mr.. ar
thur WAS liable not to live until the
4th of March, 1885. The accounts
which are now published show that the
weakness which ultimately resulted in
his death was developed about that
time. He was never in sound health af.
ter his return fiom the celebrated trip
to Florida. don't think that his Waite
House experience shortened his days, rs
some of the newspapers aileye. If the
truth were told it WAS probably the
habits,of his whole career which caused
him to pass away at II comparatively
early aye. He was noted FIR eating
heavy suppers as late rs ? o'clock in
the morning, and nobody can live past
60 who dnei that thing continually.
MIR. Arthur overtaXcd his stomach, and
hepaid the penalty. His career has been
fairly and justly dealt With 10y the press
in the long obituary articles lat were
published Saturday and the d,y before.
lie was indeed an accomplished gentle
man and he has left a pleasant memory
behind him.
President Cleveland, who has already
left Washington on three separate jour
news since lis return from his vacation,
went northward again yesterday to pay
the last tribute Of respect t. the late
President Alchur, whose funeral occurs
in New York to-day. Fortunately his
official business is in such n condition
that he can spare the time without en-
harrassmcnt. Two weeks yet remain
fer the completion of his message to
Congress. aud this is pr'b,h|y ample
tune. because he has now all the busl-
ness of the Government so well in hand
that he can finish his message i'll il short
time after all the reports of the heads
of departments lave been laid before
him. 1t is expected that this message
t. Congress will he a somewhat shorter
d .clment than the first one, which, 1t
will he remembered, was unusually
long.
The past week has been very quiet
unsettled one for Mrs Cleveland. The
sudden change in the weather induced
a slight cold on Wednesday, but not of
sufficient consequence to prevent her
usual four o'clock drives. Mrs. Cleve-
land says she never feels perfectly we'll
unless she passes two or three hours
each day il the open air, She very much
wished to be present at the dinner
given by the venerable Hon. George
Bancroft ON Friday evening, and had
accepted the invitation for herself and
the President, but the unexpected death
of President Arthur caused the
President to send regrets. In conversa-
ton respecting Washington and its
people, Mrs. Cleveland expressed her
selfas delighted with both city and its
inhabitants, and is especially interested
in the old historical families, who are
an important feature in social life.
The annual report Of Commodore
Sicard, chief of ordnance, to the Score
tary of the Navy was made public Sat
urday. The amount expended during
the year was So, TAI, 494, of which 81.
100000 was for the armament of ves-
sells. A considerable number Of the g.
Inch high power steel guns have been
finished and fired at the naval ordnance
proving ground. They have all endured
pryuf in very satisfactory manner,
and over 2,00S feet muzzle velocity was
readily obtained with STANDARD powder
aud prqi cities aud moderate Chamber
pressurcs. The two 5 inch guns for the
Chicago have blen flushed. one has
beou fired at the proving ground, and