Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1890-01-09

From our Regular Correspondence
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WASHINGTON. Dec. 21, 1880.
II "green Christmas" he repugnant to
the idea Of merry. making, what must be
said Of "A Christmas day that il 81 balmy
that overcoats have To he discar, and
the air is heavy aud moist and everything
one touches is sticky from it, That was
the sort Of Christmas day Washington was
favored with fer this year of grace.
The famil, rose betimes in the White
House. and by : ~ clock the wild shrieks al
childish delight rang through the cnrr,lors
of the Mansion. There never was "a family
that rvinced stronger affection between all
it's mrnbcrs. Mrs. Iiarr sons mourning
over her sister. Mrs. Lord is tempered by
none of that fashionable philosophy that
cIrbs sistcry affection, as it exists in these
advanced days. The presidents affection
for his grandchildren comes as near idol
airy as his nature allows. So you may be
sure that stockings were filed in the ortho-
ciox manner and there was II Christ mas
tree loaded with the usual presents. Presi-
dent Harrison. learning with probably lit
tie regret that there would be no service at
his church. the Church Of the Covenant,
spent all day with the children, assisting in
their amusencnts. There were picture
books aud dolls and ears and wagons ga
lore
The only member ~ the cabinet absent
from the city on Christmas day was John
Wanamaker, and the only one to attend
church was Secretary Tracy. All the cab.
met families spent the day very quietly,
save that Secretary Rusk had such of the
Wisconsin congressman as happened to lie
in town at simmer in the evening.
quite number of congressman spent the
day in the city. not ferling able Ia spare the
time tn 90 home. \ great many, including
Senator. Chandler aud ingalls,, had their
entire lamiirs with them.
The ancient social argument about the
order Of precedence in the receiving line at
the White House receptions has revived for
the winter. an. is now being waged with all
the weapons of wordy warfare. The "cca-
sion is found in Mrs. Iiarrison's nppoiut-
ment oi her daughter, Mrs. Mckee, To rep
resent her at the New Years reception. as
she herself will he Obliged To he absent ia
view ri the recent death Of Mrs. Scott Lord.
The ,liscontenied affirm that the place or
honor in the enforced absence Of the pres
dents wife belongs to the vice president :
wife. They ga further IN Saying that, Mrs.
Mekce's husband having no place in official
fife. she is not ent led To the recognition.
Another row is raised by the provision
T..
court of the District of Columbia with the
Justices nf the United States superior court
while senators aud representatives cool
their heels la waiting. The difference he
tween twecdile-dce and twee,lle-.luin is very
strongly marked ia our democratic coun-
try.
bn the last train to carry people north
lar the Christmas holidays was senator
Evarts. Amid merry, chattering throng
oi young people the old man eroucled far
down in his chair, silent and listlrss. On
the hook above his head danced his ancient
ever by contrast with the elegant surround
ings. There is something pathetic in the
picture of u tired aud feeble old man going
home to Christmas dinnev that his stom-
aeh will not allow him to eat. senator
Evarts has aged terribly in a year. The
temples have wasted to the last degree the
complexion is like parchment, aud the lack
lustrc eyes take no notice of surroundings
save when he is in conversation. lie will
sit by the hour buried in "a big chair, with
his legs crossed and his right hand thrust
into his trousers pocket. without move
inent. With the exception Of Fig Iron kel-
ley. til. father of the house, he shows his
age more than any man in congress. And
yet in that New York office of his he will
spend hall the holiday season planning the
ablest legal battles known to the profes-
sion.
II is understood that President Harrison
will send Ia congress, ON its convening after
the holidays, a special nessag ge on the silver
question. In it he will take the ground
held by Secretary Window, recommending
the stoppage of the coinage of silver dollars
and the issue of silver certificates upon
bullion to he deposited with the govern
meet.