Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-26
WASHINGTON, March %.

WARRINGTON, March e..
Editor Kennebec Journal:
The green grass in the parks and the bud
ding Of trees remind me that time is rapidly
passing, and that the "winter of our dscon.
tent" NAV soon be made into a hot summer,
ii not glorious one. SO ought also to think
the Congress of the United States. But il
apparently takes no thought of time until
some day in the latter part of May or first OF
June it is walked up by the fact that the ex-
hausting heat of this climate Is close upon it,
and then it begins to rush business pell-m nell
up to the last moment. 1t is of no use to
harp upon this laches from year to year, it
would seem, for there seems to be no DISPOSE
ton to change the style. 1t would appear,
however, from the general outlook. that but
little important legislation will be accom-
plished this session. The tariff and silver
questions are in allowance, and are likely to
stay so. owing to the splt-up condition of the
House on those issues The Improvement of
the navy and shipping interests meets with
distractions for the same reason, and our
foreign commercial treaties now pending
NAV also be classed az among the uncertain
quantities for similar reasons. Perhaps in no
other congressional session has there been
such a hesitAncy of procedure MS in this, ow-
ing to the cautou.nass or heaitancy of com
mittees, and the Congress itself. A bold
policy WAS originally outlined, but will not
he carried out. This singularity, think
will not suit the people at large, for they like
determination and action, even if these are
not always successful. The discussion which
has been going on in the Senate on the Ed
fad infn
est, and the galleries were crowded with in
ested listeners; out the three or four first
speeches embodied ali there was of the ar
gument, and since then the interest has de-
creased. 1t is probable that the whole
question will be fought out in discussion
more than in action and left to the people to
decide who 10 in the right. 1t is possible,
too, that there may not be entire unanimity
among republican senators as to the adoption
of the resolution. Among quite large num-
Der there is an indifference for the reason
that in the presidential canvass Mr. Edmunds
was sulking and was really stumbling block
20 his party's success Now he attempts the
role of party champion. !. c locks the stable
door after the horse is gone. For this reason,
as remark, Mr.. Edmunds may find his side
in the minority at the end of the discussion.
Undoubtedly, as to the main question there
will be mutual concessions, and confirms
tons of acceptable nominations will be ac-
complished Many of these appointments are
about AS distasteful to democrats as to repub-
licans, 80 the honors are easv.
The social season has been very much
broken into by the very many death. of dis
tinguished persons. starting with Vice Presi-
dent Hendricks; and now Lent breaks in with
its forty days, after which the season will he
so far advanced that calls. balls and parties
will be hardly in order. The President has
given two or three elegant dinners to diplo-
mats and senators, AMI receptions to these
and to officers of the army and navy, and
some distinguished civic guests; and the cab
met officers. generally, have been free in
their hospitality; but so many houses have
been shrouded in mourning that all these
gatherings have partaken of q s0mewh SOM
| hre nature.
| Washington is blessed this season with
quite large sprinkling of literary person
sges. although there seems to be no extrsor-
binary cause. Among them is Americas
favorite, w. d. Howells. Mr., Howels,
however. has an object. 40 it is said. !. { to
study Washington society and customs, in
order to form a basis for a forthcoming novel
1t was your correspondents good luck to
visit and be introduced to Mr.. Howeils, and
| to have an agreeable chat with him. He is a
short, stout gentleman, nearing the age OF
tifty, and vet quite young looking. His APP
pearance is strikingly agreeable, with no
msnnerisms or assumptions. He is what
may he styled a true American of the cul-
tured and refined class. Although born in OHIO,
residence of over twenty years in Boston
makes him almost q typical New Highlander,
| and he observed to me that leaving Boston
would be adverse and painful to his feelings.
He has remarkably bright eyes, broad fore
head, with silvery hair flowing down over it.
His features indicate quick perception of
human character. and this ability really is
what creates the decided strength of his
novels. Mr.. Howells aims more, in these, to
work out the moral success of his hero rather
than the worldly; caring, as he said, but lit
tie for the latter, as that was but secondary
This will be seen particularly in his novel
"Silas Lspham." MANY have criticized this
work because of its rather peculiar ending,
the idea of most readers being that Silas
ought to have come out of his trial like Job,
| with riches and honor and general success