The Washington critic., 1886-07-26
WASHINGTON CRITIC
WASHINGTON, July 2e. 1873.
TOPICS OF THE DAY.

and the new mistress of the White
House, 'the ladies of the Cabinet
circle do not hesitate to express their
delight with 1t. They all feel so much
more at home with Mrs. Cleveland than
ever they did with Miss Cleveland.
Their sympathies are more In common
with the married woman, although the
other one was nearer to them In age.
Miss Cleveland Is o deep student Of
history, and she modelled her court
more upon the prestiges and formali-
ties becoming monarchy chan upon
the equality of all theory of a republic.
The Cabinet ladies were never allowed
to forget that Miss Cleveland s position
was very much superior to theirs.
There Is a general expression of disap.
proval of Miss Cieveland's latest step In
Cabinet circles. She has very comfort
able home in Holland Patent, and 1t is
the unanimous opinion that she should
have stayed quietly there in dignfed
retirement 1t Is true that Miss Cleve.
land was greatly disappointed with her
brothers marriage. She had set her
heart upon having Miss Anna Van
Vechten for sister, and his engage
ment, made after Miss Folsom's first
visit to the White House and ratified
when she visited here in October,
when Miss Cleveland was away and
Mrs. Hoyt was presiding over the
house, disconnected her not little. |
am told Miss Cleveland changed color
several times during the marriage cere.
mony."
x"x
In an interesting reference to the late
Assistant Secretary of State, the same
correspondent says. "Mr. Hunter was
a very accomplished musician. and had
perhaps the most extensive and valu.
able musical library In Washington.
There are few finer collections In the
United States. Next to his duties at
the department he loved his music, and
was skillful performer upon the
violin, the cello, the flute and the
piano. His wife was also fine musi
clan, and up to the time of her last
illness scarcely day passed without
their spending an hour or two in
practice, although he was nearly
eighty and she past three score and
ten. Only few days ago an attache
of the State Department visiting his
sick room found him propped up by
pillows in his bed, with sheet of
music before him and his flute in his
hand, playing an old air"
.*a
Says the Boston Traceller: "Of the
men who launched the anti slavery
movement in Boston, Mr.. Sewall and
Oliver Johnson, one of the twelve who
formed the first New England society
in 1882, are now living. Though SO
years of age-he will be 81 next No.
vember-Mr. Sewall Is yet vigorous,
physically and mentally, abreast the
times, interested as heartily as in the
old days In advanced movements, and
active in philanthropic works. He
was admitted to the bar as long ago as
1921, and has been practising steadily
ever since. He was staunch friend
of Garrison through his long struggles,
and 1t was his and Ellis Gray Loring's
money that kept the Liberdtor ahoat
during the early and most troublesome
days Of its career"
~
Senator" said strange gentleman,
addressing the Hon. John Sherman on
train the other day, as the Columbus
Dispatch tells the story "the conductor
of this train has lost his pocketbook
containing 5000, and unless he finds it
he is ruined man. Now, believe
you have it in your power to relieve
him of his embarrassment. In short,
Senator, l believe you have that
pocketbook in your valise." "Sir !"
exclaimed the Senator, rising to his
feet. Pardon me, Senator, do not
accuse you of anything, 1t was all a
mistake "Well, sir, let us look"
said the Senator, still very indignant
The valise was thrown open, and there,
sure enough, was the pocketbook. The
Senator had gone to the conductor s
room to make change of linen, and
had pulled down the blinds. In the
darkness he had gathered up, with the
cast.off linen, the pocketbook, which
the conductor had carelessly left upon
the seat. 1t took lots of nerve for the
strange gentleman to seem to accuse the
Senator of theft, but he was so firmly
convinced of the accuracy of his the
ory, on being made acquainted with
the facts, that he undertook the
task.
~.
Says Sam Small in the Chicago Her.
AID: When things were hot around At
lanta, Captain Evan Howell, managing
editor of the Atlanta Constitution, re-
ceived an order to reconnoitre across
the Chattahoochcc River and ascertain
If the Federal troops had retired. The
night was black as ink. He read the
order to his men, but was surprised to
find them all disqualified for the risky
job. One couldn't swim, another had
rheumatism, still another always took
cramps in the water, and 50 il
went down the whole line. But
the order had to be obeyed. Sc
Howell plunged into the river aud
made for the other side. lie was n re-
markably good swimmer and felt sure
he was making no noise, yet he became
so frightened that each stroke seemed
to him to arouse the whole Fedora
camp. Now and then lightningbua
appeared, and, confident that 1t WAS d
Yankee musket, he duclicd under
water, By-and,by he got so near shore
that he could wade, and he was creep
ing along as cautiously as possible, hiS
teeth chattering with fear, when of /
sudden he struck against an old tree
that had fallen into the river. JUS
then huge bull-frog gave a sonorou
blurt and jumped into the river. I'm
able to retain his self.possession longei
Howell threw up both hands and yelled
In terror: 81 surrender surrenderp
When he finally reached the camn no