The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-09-27

by the courtesy of some Senator, sit uncomtort-
ably on the extreme edges of the soft, leather
covered sofas and chairs, never by any possible
accident leaning back at case, while they wait
the wished-for appearance. He comes speedily,
and their trepidation forgets itself when they
meet the suave and sometimes cordial greeting.
addressed old women and giggling girls in
fashionable gear claim equal attentions. Women
in distress, with papers in their hands and
look of depreciation on their faces, and we'll
dressed lady lobbyists, with anything but
look of depreciation on their faces, all find
courteous, patient attention, with very few ex-
ceptions here Sometimes personal friends
doing the city, come in, and then the home
news and compliments exchanged rehabllItate
the man, the Senatorial toga falls of, and
prince of American citizen and good fellow TO
know stands forth, and the belief is confirmed
that we are represented by the representative
men of the country.
Mr.. Sherman is seldom seen in this room,
however but he is q conspicuous figure in the
Senate Chamber in his black frock-tail coat
aud vest, white duck pants and Congress
CATERS.
Senator Stanford also denies himself TO visit
ors but receives their cards with both courtesy
and attention. He has four clerks, one of them
confidential and when card is brought to him
the confidential is sent out TO inquire about the
matter and refer the would-be visitor to one OF
the other clerks, according to the business he
branch in his charge.
Senator Fry is another that seems to have a
social stringency as far as Capitol visitors are
concerned, and it is very good thing for those
of an aesthetic turn of mind who love to look
at him from the gallery, as he seems on the
floor almost boy, and very bright one at
that for on a nearer view his handsome, finely
chiseled face is found to be completely scanned
with careworn wrinkles, that strike one on the
first view with a sensation such as we suppose
would be caused by witnessing one of the sud
den transitions of the Arabian Nights school.
His fire and earnestness have spoiled his face
somewhat, but the page in our history that
bears his name has not wrinkle upon its sur
face.
Senator Daniel, of Virginia is oftenest seen
receiving callers. This, be explained, is because
he is so near home; but another cause he for
gets TO mention: he never refuses call; even
when business prevents him at the time he
sends an explanation and the very kindest
invitation to call again. Of course they will
come 10 see him.
The question was raised in the Senate gallery
the other day as to whether it is a part of the
business of the Chairman to fan himself. SEN
ator ingalls, keeps large palm-leaf fan on the
desk before him, which he has in his hands every
moment that they are disengaged; and it has
been observed that other Senators, when called
temporarily to the chair, pick it up as naturally
as they do the gayel.
/ By the way, a keen observer frequenting the
/ Capitol may have noticed one difference be-
/ tween the two Houses in the compliment of
/ placing q substitute in the chair. Senator In
gals calls on a Democrat quite as frequently as
a Republican; Mr.. Carlisle never wanders out
side Of his own party, even by accident.
VETERANS RETURNING.
Another veteran soldier came back to Wash
ington recently from his Summer vacation,
but be came riding, as he did in campaigning
/ out on the Plains with Gen. Crook. Col. Royal
/ L. Whitman, q. S. Army, who is on the retired
/ list, passed his Summer at Capon Springs,
\ which is in the Valley, about 20 miles south
west Of Winchester. The party consisted of
/ Col. and Mrs Whitman, Mrs. Bates wife of
4 Col. James A. Bates, u. S. A. with her child
and nurse, and a servant who attended to the
! wagon and the extra horses. Col. Bates went
4 by rail to the Springs, but the rest took much
more pleasant way of going there They all
/ left here well mounted and having with them
\ a wagon to carry baggage and stores, and rode
the whole distance leisurely, taking about a
week TO make the trip. Going by way of Cabin
John Bridge to Great Falls and Edwards
! Ferry, they crossed the Potomac to Leesburg
went through Smokers Gap Of the Blue Ridge
Mountains, aud on through the Shenandoah
/ Valley, by way OF Berryvilie and Winchester,
! to Capon Springs. The nights were passed at
| friendly inns, and they rode only when the
weather pleased them. When the Summer
was ended for them aud it grew too cool III the
mountains, the same party rode home by an
/ other route, while Col Bates came as he went
by rail, for the leg that rebel bullet deprived
him Of IN the war prevents his use of a saddle.
/ Starting down the pike in the Valley over
/ which so many armed battalions marched q
/ quarter century ago, the little party rode to
| Strasburg first, and went thence to Fishers
! Hill. The battle-ground at Cedar Creek, where
/ Sheridan snatched his wonderful victory from
| overwhelming defeat was thoroughly ridden
over. and they rested at the old farmhouse
! where Sheridan had his headquarters. Thence
| the homeward journey led them to Middle
town, kewtown, through Ashby's Gap, to
| Paris, Middleburg, the cavalry battle-ground at
Aide, Fairfax Courthouse, Falls Church and
| home. / cannot imagine more sensible or
! pleasant way TO make such trip and it is no
/ wonder that all the riders are enthusiastic in
their description of how they enjoyed it.
POET AND SOLDIER.
Gen. Francis L. Pierce, who served three
years ia the I0Sth n. Y, left here during the
past week for his station at Benicia Barracks
Cal. where lie is now serving as Captain in the
LIST U. 5. Inf
Gen. Pierce is a New Yorker by birth, Of
high order Of education, and when the rebellion
broke out was engaged in practieing law. In
August, 1852, he Joined the 105th as Captain
but in a month was promoted to Major and in
the following March to Leutenant-C Colonel
which rank he held with the brevets Of Colo
mel and Bfigadier- General for gallantry) when
the regiment was mustered out in May, 1865.
When the lamented aj.-Gen. w. S. Han.
cock was authorized in the Summer Of 1865 t.
raise special corps ofyeterans, carefully picked
from those who had served with distinction
during the war, Gen. Pierce was commissioned
Colonel Of the 9Th U. S. Veteran Inf, and was
mostored out with the corps in March, 1866
when all fear Of trouble with Napoleon ILL.,
troops in Mexico had passed.
In the following May, desiring to continu,
the life Of a soldier, he accepted commission
/ as Second Lieutenant, LIST U. s. Inf, and wa
only promoted to Captain in 1880, after sil
years service as Quartermaster Of his regiment
During his long service on the frontier il
Dakota, Washington, Oregon and Arizona, b.
relieved the monotony of garrison life between
the seasons Of Indian troubles by study o
! the classics, which has resulted in giving Il
the English reading public two volumes o
TRANSACTIONS of Virgirs poems. The first 0
these volumes was published during the life
time of William Cullen Bryant, and that grea
: writer and poet was SO much attracted by tn
work that he wrote long and elaborate review
for his paper, the New York Egeaiag Post il
which he declared that Gen. Pierces work hal
not been equaled by any writer of the presen
: day.
: In recent wears Tnnrh of Cen pierce,s M III