Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-07-24
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., July y, 1856.

w ASHlNdl ONs -. ~ u
EDITOR MISUNDERSTANDING eX-
cessivelv warm weather which has pre-
vailed during the week, has cansed a
general stampedeto the watering places
and seaside resorts OF the migratory
class of the population of the national
capital. Many of the mansions III the
| west end have been closed for the sum-
mer, and Notwithstanding the fact that
congress is still in session, the spirit OF
life and activity has departed, and the
city has assumed the appearance OF
quietude, which is a characteristic OF
southern cities during the summer.
AS the Fourth of July fell upon Sum
| day, the various executive departments
| we're closed on the fifth, and many of
| the clerks avalled themselves OF the OPP
| portunities for recreation which were
afforded by excursions to Harper's
| Ferry, Luray Caverns, and other points
of interest. Although it had been an
| nounced that the ordinance prohibiting
the use of explosives of any kind with
| IN the city limits, or the sale of fire.
crackers to boys under sixteen years OF
age, would be rigidly enforced, the
small boy as usual came out ahead. No
attempt was in reality made to enforce
the law. In the evening a grand dis
play of fire works was had in the vicin-
ity of the Washington Monument.
Through the kindness OF Secretary
Whitney the employees of the navy
department and their families had a
splendid time on Monday. Mr.. Whit
ney had invited all of the clerks to
spend the day at "Grasslands," the
country home of the secretary, three
miles from Washington. The clerks
of high and low degree ayailed them
selves of the invitation. The house and
grounds were thrown open, and every
thing that could have been desired was
provided, A generous lunch had been
provided by the secretary and was
served by Welcker.
Congress is hard at work, and should
the present warm weather continue an
adjournment will be reached at a much
earlier day than had been expected,
thought is believed that it will require
until the first OF August to complete
the various appropriation bills. The
vetoed pension bills which originated
in the senate will, with possibly n or
two exceptions, be reported from the
committee on pensions, with recon-
mendations that they do pass, the pres
ident's veto Notwithstanding.
Secretary Whitney announces that
he will be ready within two weeks to
advertise for proposals for the con-
| structiOn OF the four naval vessels au-
thorized by the act of March 3, 1885.
| The largest one of the vessels will
probably be built at the Brooklyn navy
yard.
There is news of the sudden death of
| Col. George B. Corkhill. eX-district at
torney, at Mount Pleasant. Iowa, on
| Wednesday last. Col. Corkhill was one
of the best known and most popular
men in the district. The active part
which he took in the trial of the assas-
sin Guiteau gave him a national repu-
tation.
1t is announced as a settled fact that
Hon. S. S. Cox will shortly resign his
position as minister to Turkey and seek
re- election to congress, and gossips are
already naming his successor.
Although the president has received
some very beautiful invitations, the one
which was recently presented him by
Senator Stanford, in behalf of the citi-
zens OF California. to visit the Grand
ARMY L~uCduIpulcHG III Odu HIduoiSoO
in August, eclipses them all. The text
of the invitation is engraved upon q
gold plate six inches long by four inches
broad, and as thick as a silver dollar.
AT the left hand corner of the plate il
a solid gold q. A.. R. badge. The plate
rested upon an American flag worked
entirely in California silk, and the
whole was inclosed in a blue velvet
case.
Among the many odd trinkets posses.
sed by the White House bride, which
has attracted much attention, is a live
bug about an inch and a half in length
Around the Insects body is a tiny gold
harness to which is secured a fine chain
The lady fastens the chain to her lief
shoulder, and the bug wanders abou
as tar as the chain will allow. Thi!
species of ornament is said to have
been fashionable many years ago, ant
now that. Mrs, Cleveland years ont
they will probably. again become popu
lar. H..