The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-12-20
Warrington Letter.
rom u regular Correspondence

III must tell you the truth. the Wash
ington Inauguration Centennial exercises at
the Ca pitol last week were extremely tedi-
Gus, not to say tame. The gathering OF
notables was large and the music and Chief
Justice Fuller's Grafton very satisfactory,
but the crowd lacked enthusiasm. Admis-
sion to the House was only by card aud
cards easily obtained. Generally in ash
iugton a free show is we'll attended, but
there were hundreds of vacant seats in the
galleries during the ceremonies. 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 proceedings
occurred through the abominable careless
ness of Sergeant-at-arms Leedom, who
seems to have a faculty for doing the wrong
thing. No arrangements had been made
for receiving the Governors OF the thirteen
original States and when they arrived they
had to be hastily bundled, one at a time,
betw cen 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 Governor Fitzhugh Lee, of Virginia,
felt badly put out, and were not afraid to
say SO.
Mr.. Nichols, of the force of the depart
ing officers, painfully distinguished him.
self. It was his duty to announce the
guests. For a time lie got along very well,
save an occasional slip that brought a tit
ter from the galleries. But toward the
last he went all to pieces and reading from
the paper he held "the Venezuelan Com
mission he made four or five feeble stag
gers and finally, in sheer desperation blurt-
ed out the VenuyzeeIean Commission to
the immense edification 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 uneon-
sciousIy takes note of small things. Twas
struck with the intense pallor of President
Harrison and Secretary Blaine; Mr.
Blaine's pallor was extreme, and neither
looked like = well man. When the Vice
President and the Senate came in, they
were all dressed in decorous black except
Senator Quay, who wore a suit of ugly,
obtrusive brown that seemed to swear at
every other suit in the crowd. Justice
Lamar attracted much attention, as it had
been expected that he would be far away
attending ceremonies of a far different
character, the services of sorrow instead
of triumph. That Mr.. Lamar wonld have
been glad to be at the side of Jefferson
Davis bier 10 one doubts, and it is only
fair to say that his sacrifice of personal
feeling to remain at his post OF duty in
Washington is to his credit.
The suicide of Franklin b. Gowen, form
erly President of the Philadelphia and
Reading railway, and one of the most prom
inent corporation lawyers in the United
States, created more excitement in official
circles than any suicide in Washington in
five years. Mr.. Gowenhad been in the city
for a week or so prior to last Saturday,
| arguing Important cases DclOIc Tie llItT-
state Commerce Commission. He retired
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 a ball through his brain and
the revolver still grasped in his hand. The
aust of the suicide is unknown. The de-
ceased had nc financial troubles and no
domestic complications, ne was in sound
health and not overworked. His friends
were legion. He had attained eminence in
his profession. In his beautiful home near
Philadelphia, resided his charming wife
and daughter. He had everything that
heart could wish for. Can it be that
Franklin b. Gowen, in a second of insanity,
felt the inadequacy of life, the fruitlessness
of human triumphs, and crossed the Styy
to satisfy his WEAKNESS? Mr.. Goweu's
courage was of the highest character. A
dozen years ago the Molly Maguires ruled
the mining region of Pennsylvania with an
lion hand. Their lodges were on every
hillside, and once an enemy was denounc.
ed 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 municipal
politics. Franklin Il. Gowen resolved tC
exterminate them, and lie mapped ont the
details of as careful and searching a cam
paign as was ever urged against a hidden
and cunning enemy. The result Of his eff
forts was that in two years the Molly Ma.
guires were scattered and broken, scores
of them killed in encounter with troops
and detectives, aud nearly forty of their
leaders hanged on the scaffolds of Penn.
sylyania. 1t had cost months of danger,
thousands of dollars and many lives, but
it was done and done thoroughly.
WESTON.
Professor Atwater, of Washington, d. C.,
who was offered the dictatorship of the
State Experimental Station at New Bruins
wick, has declined the position on account
of pressing engagements. President Gates,
"a II,4norn Inn Lnnn. 4naa.anan.lr a1.roin4