Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1889-12-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our regular Correspondcnt.)

IL L HluSG tell you tne GrUlIn, Une
Washington Inauguration Centennial
exercises at the Capitol last week were
extremely tedious, not to say tame.
The gathering of notables were large
and the music and Chief Justice Full
ler's Grafton very satisfactory, but the
crowd lacked enthusiasm. Admission
to the House was only by card and
cards easily obtained. Generally in
Washington a free show is well attend
ed, but there were hundreds of vacant
seats in the galleries during the cere-
monies. Among the ladies present
were Mrs. and Miss Blaine, but the
White House ladies were at home
owing to the death of Mrs. Lord, Mrs.
Harrison's sister.
The first hitch in the days proceed
ings occurred through the abominable
carelessness of Sergeant-at-Arms Lee
dom, who seems to have a faculty for
doing the wrong thing. No arrange
ments had been made for receiving the
Governors of the thirteen original
States and when they arrived they had
to be hastily bundled, one at time,
between the Democratic Congressman
on the back row. Still, inasmuch as
most of the Governors were merely
represented by proxies, this was of no
particular moment, though the real
flesh and blood governors like Cover
nor Fitzhugh Lee, of Virginia, felt
badly put out, and were not afraid to
say so.
Mr.. Nichols, one of the departing
officers painfully distinguished himself.
1t was his duty to announce the quests
For time he got along very we'll, save
an occasional slip that brought a litter
from the galleries. But toward the
last he went all to pieces and reading
from the paper he held "the Venezuli-
an Commission" he made four or five
feeble staggers and finally, in sheer
desperation blurted out "the Venuy-
zeelean Commission" to the immense
edifcation of the gallery. The Speaker
did not even attempt to check the
laughter that followed.
AS usual on such occasions, where
there is no dignity in the proceedings
and small interest in the subject, one
half unconsciously takes note of small
things. | was struck with the intense
| pallor Of President Harrison and Sec
rotary Blaine Mr.. Blaine's pallor was
extreme, and neither looked like a we'll
man. When the Vice President and
the Senate came in, they were all dress
ed in decorous black, except Senator
Quay, who wore a suit of ugly, obtru-
sive brown that seemed to swear at
every other suit in the crowd. Justice
Lamar attracted much attention, as it
has been expected that he would be
far away attending ceremonies of far
different character, the services Of sor-
row instead of triumph. That Mr.. La
mar would have been glad to be at the
side of Jefferson Davis's bier, no one
doubts, and it is only fair to say that
his sacrifice of personal feeling to re-
main at his post in Washington is to
his credit.
The suicide of Francis B. Gowen,
formerly president of the Philadelphia
and Reading Railway, and one of the
most prominent corporation lawyers in
the United States, created more ex-
element in official circles than any
suicide in Washington in five years.
Mr. Gowen had been in the city for a
week Or so prior to last Saturday, argu-
ing important cases before the Inter-
state Commerce Commission. He re-
tired Friday night to his room at
Wormley's in his usual cheerful spirits.
Late the next day, his room door was
forced and his body found, with ball
through his brain and the revolver
still grasped in his hand.
The cause of the suicide is unknown.
The deceased had no financial troubles
and no domestic complications, he was
in sound health and not overworked
His friends were legion. He had at
tanned eminence in his profession. In
his beautiful home near Philadelphia,
resided his charming wife and daugh-
ter. He had everything that heart
could wish for Can it be that Francis
B. Gowen, in second of insanity, felt
the inadequacy of life, the fruitlessness
OF human triumphs, aud crossed the
StyX to satisfy his WEAKNESS.
Mr.. Gowan's courage was of the
highest character. A dozen years ago
the Molly Maguires ruled the mining
region Of Pennsylvania with an iron
hand. Their lodges were on every
hillside, and an enemy was denounced
by the order his fate was sealed. Muir
der was the implement of their success.
The law officers were powerless and in
some localities they even ruled NUM-
cipal politics. Frank B. Gowan re-
solved to eXterminate them, and he
mapped out the details of as careful
and searching campaign as was ever
urged against hidden and cunning
enemy. The result of his effort was
that in two years the Molly Maguires
were scattered and broken, scores of
them killed in encounter with troops
aud detectives, and nearly forty of
their leaders hanged on the scaffolds
of Pennsylvania. 1t had cost months
Of danger, thousands of dollars and
many lives, but it was done and done
thoroughly.