Telegram-herald., 1889-05-20
BETWEEN SESSIONS
How the National Capital Manages
70 Amuse Itself.
FULLpRESS Parties At TIE CIRCUS
a S@ssl soeissy Diysrti=smsnt-fns Bat
IsF-Port~r Coatroysrsy-Lifs al ths
White aoase-Ths PFesIdeHt
10 "a Good Health

circus 40 llattCA e--f4t - A%~t '-'
forth, and when one II the great tented
aggregatons comes " Washington We
hear the same Old mouidy jokes that
you have o. listen 10 IN Grand Rapids.
There are the same dazzling beauties IA
al the giOyies OF their abbreviated
skirts and spangIes, and they DO the
same wonderful feats IN the capital
city that turn the heads OF the youth OF
Grand Rapids. Bat here We make
society event out OF the circus, as We
do everything else when there Is only
half 4 chance. and the young people
who have fathers with lots OF money,
and Who have more time than they
know what % DO with It, give circus
parties that are all the rage and are al
the more appreciated because the saw
dust rings are only seen here Tor two
nights IN the year, and Il Is not every
one that has the nerve 20 De member
vi circus party.
Last week when Forepaugh's was
here a number OF the bellies and beaux
made up little sets and enjoyed the
fascination OF the ring from comfort
able seats IN that portion or the circle
set apart for those who could afford an
extra 80 cents. These people generally
came late, as one lll-uatured person re-
marked, 50 that everyone might see
them, and probably good many OF
the attendants OF the show had never
seen such a speCtac la before. The ladies
were arrayed IN full evening dress,
without hats and IN decOllete waists,
and men were IN brOadclOth and swal-
low tails with tiny bOuttOnnlers pinned
IN the lapels of their coats. OF course
they were the observed of all behOlders
and they divided the attention of the
audience with the clowns aad the trick
elephant. But they did not seem To
mind that. In fact, they rather APP
peared 10 like the sensation they were
creating, and they sat through the per
forInance with a. little concern as If II
was the proper thing for people 10 20
% the circus IN full evening dress.
Probably Washington has set a new
fashion, but il Is doubtful whether il
Will spread TO any alarming extent.
What kind OF a reception DO you sup
pose the society people OF Grand Rap
ids would meet with were they to go to
the circus in this costume?
Butler and Porter.
The two men who are filling the
largest share of popular attention just
now are. perhaps, two OF the most re-
markable men that this country has
produced. | refer to Gen. Benjamin
r. Butler and Admiral ID. ID. Porter.
Porter Is now 70 years old, vet he has
all the activity of u Well preserved man
OF 80. and his memory Is as good today
as 10 ever was.
He IS at the head of what is known
a. the Inspection Board, and It Is the
duty of this board To inspect every
nan-of-war before 1t goes on cruise
and after II returns from one; To exam
me the condition Of the ship. and To re-
port 10 the Secretary of the Navy what
repairs or alterations, If any, are needed
and the amount of money that should
b. spent. He has an Office attached to
his spacious house on I-st.. and every
day he NAV BE- found there hard at
work debating letters and reports to
his stenOgraphers and considering the
various papers that are brought 10 him
for ms decision. His mind is very
clear. and ne san see through a knOtty
and intricate naval problem about as
quick as any man IN the navy, and he
Is ali the time working on various IN
ventions and devices 10 improve the
condition OF the service that he has
served 50 long and so faithfully. His
reports are some of the most interest
Ing that are issued by any officer con-
nccted with the government, aS they
alwavs abound IN useful suggestions
u is delight % talk to the admiral. as
he - full OF "reminiscences and anec-
dOtCs and has seen more than fails to
the lot of most men.
The office where the Admiral works
reminds one very much Of the cabin of
a man of war. In the first place there
Is a suggestion of portfolios about the
windows, and one invariably and AL
most unCOusciOusly looks round expect
ing 70 sec somewhere the black muzzle
OF big gun pointing rs frowmng nose
% sea. Pistols. guns. swords aud cut
iasses are suspended on the walls.
while here and there are the models of
hfe boats. torpedo boats and other
craft. The table = Uttered with charts
and other documents showing the class
of work that goes on there. 50 that
everything IS very suggestive OF the sea.
As you may imagine from the way IN
which the Admiral has held his own IN
the recent controversy with Butler, he
u Just "a good a fighter today as he
ever was. and ss In this controversy he
has All the facts on his SIDE. he has up
% date got decidedly the best of the
rather heated argument that has been
gong on. Popular sentiment is entire
" with him. People who know Butler
best have not much use for him. and
here IN Washington he Is known pretty
well. As for Buffers attempt 20 make
the Admiral out 20 be- A coward that j.
laughed at. said one of the most
prominent officers of the navy TO me
today. Talk about Porter being
coward. why the dCa IS absurd Why.
every one Of the P0rters IS Just about
as brave as any set Of men ever were.
They couldn't be towards If they tried
%. because they are not made that
wav. As for the old Admiral I know
him we'll. ard I also know that never
once in MS life did he show the white
feather. No. Butler must cal some
other man a coward f be wants 70 have
the world believe his story
Butler has not changed much SINCE
the last time when YOU saw him IN
Grand Rapids. and that & You remem-
her vas during the Harrison csmpa gn.
II anything he has grown somewhat
sfouter and he chews Elm with a trltie
more vigor. but with those exceptions
be looks ard acts Just the same as be
always has during t'le lass few years.
His language as be grows older does
not seem - 10 snv more refined Than
he Used to b. bat it must b admitted
that the old man shows 40 decadence
cf hrs mental powers. and - the s3nle
remarkable person that he has been for
~ 81. 80