The midland journal., 1886-10-15
Our Washington Letter
From Our Regular Correspondent.

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President is preparing his message. The
members Of the Cabinet are preparing their
several reports. The chiefs of bureaus and
their heads of divisions are busy compiling
the data from which these reports are
made. So much for the business of the
Government. But there is bustling prep
aration in other quarters. From the lady
in the White House to the lady in charge
Of the cheap boarding house, there is prepar-
alton for the annual event-the opening of
Congress, the advent Of the fashionable
season, with its entourage of legislators,
lobbyists, fortune seekers and fortune
spenders-in short, that great transient
population peculiar to great Capitol. The
Congressional session will be short for it
must terminate with the fourth of March.
The social season will be brilliant aud less
brief. There is promise that the Executive
Mansion will be the scene of many large
entertainments. The young mistress of the
White House is extremely popular, and IS
fond Of society. Mr.. Cleveland is shrewd
enough politician to avail himself of the
valuable political adjuncts which his wife
and his position furnish to his hand. 1t is
believed that Mr.. Cleveland, and the fam
lily for that matter, are not averse TO a
second term. Miss Cleveland, it is said, will
leave her editorial throne by the pyram id
of chops in the pork packing Venice of the
Western Adriatic, and wear her Tyrian
purple gown at the White House receipt
ions.
The rumors concerning Secretary La
mars marriage have condensed into facts.
It has been formerly announced by the
Secretary that the wedding will take place
in about month. Mr.. Lamar is fitting up
his new resid dence on N. st. for the recept-
ion of the bride. The structure, a plain
red brick is surpassed in simplicity by the
houses of only two other Cabinet officers.
Attorney General Garland, who prides
himself on his Democratic simplicity, oc
cupies severely simple little house. AL.
though in the most fashionable part of the
city, it is merely one of long row of
three story brick buildings, unadorned that
the windows look like holes cut in the wall.
The interior of the attorney generals home
is as plain as the outside. Here in the
midst of the social and political maelstrom
of Washington he lives hermit like ex-
istence, and looks en- everything with a
philosophers eye. 1t is strange that he ev.
er accepted the position he now occupies,
for any one more averse to society, or even
public life, except in strictly business
sense, can hardly be imagined. During his
recent vacation he sought d qnlet little vii
l&ge, and devoted himself to hunting and
fishing. He received no visitors, read no
newspapers; and was much surprised on
his return to hear that there had been an
earthquake in Charleston. His family
which consists of his mother and children,
accept no invitations, and give no enter
tainnents. His daughter and three sons
display real talent for music, and are adept
PCIAOIiuCID Ou FdIiouS AuStEumcutSs
Next in order in regard to appearance, is
the residence of the Secretary of State. 1t
is situated on steep hill, and is difficult TO
reach. Probably the Secretary, in choos-
ing such an inaccessible location, reflected
thst it might be discouraging to those mod
ern Philistinis, Office seekers and bores.
Then comes Mr.. Lamar's house, which
is little more attractive looking than
either Mr.. Garland's or Mr.. Bayard's. The
houses of Secretaries Whitney and Endi-
oott and of Post Master General Villas are
great improvements on the aboye mention
ed, but Mr. Manning's residence is the only
one occupied by Cabinet minister that is
really an elegant home. 1t is large, state
ly mansion, about square from Mr..
Blaine's famous honse.
The report that Secretary Endicott is
thinking about retiring from official life
has been received with universal regret by
the clerks of the War Department. He is
unex acting and firm advocate Of the civil
service laws, and every faithful clerk feels
secure in his position under Endicotts
management. 1t is said, however, that the
Secretary does not like his duties, and the
recent troubles between himself and General
Sheridan, and again between Generals How.
ard, Miles and Drum, has had the effect of
turning him against anything relating to
military matters.
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