Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-07
An OLD LETTER.


Politics, Society and Weather.
The following letter. found among a lot Of
old letters in the archives of one Of the depart
ments, is printed in The STAR as an echo of the
past so like the sounds Of our own time that its
reading is almost that of January. 1921. The
letter is written on the oid-style. giltedged I'M
ruled blue paper. and il is sealed and I'M
stamped, as was the custom in the pre-onvelope-
and-stamp period. Fhe seal is done with sil-
yer dime Of 1888 on black wax and is quite as
fresh as when il was first put on. The names
OF the writer and the recipient are withheld.
although the name is not known here now and the
ADDRESS only shows that the recipient lived in
New Hampshire. One popularity not observ-
able IN the letter NAV be noted. 10 wit. that
while the writer thought Clement had no
cnance to become department clerk. the
Riue Book of lS45 shows that he had secured at
that time place in one of the departments at
Sl.ooo year and Was 10 doubt young man
about town" The letter is as follows:
WASHINGTON. Jan. l6. 1872
DEAR CLEMENT: 1t seems pretty certain now
that the repeal of the bankrupt bill will pass
the House of Representatives and mos; prob
ably the Senate, IN which case the action OF the
President is extremelyf predetermined. some
contending that by his own act he is irredet M
ably pledged 70 carry the original bill through.
and Others that the will of the people EXPRESSED
come all his own peculiar feeling. For INV own
part am inclined TO think from what hear Of
those around him. he will veto every repeal.
though he may consent TO any postponement
OF immediate operation.
The treasury note bill passed the house on
Friday and will pass the senate on Monday
whig Congress sanctionng within four months
measure origina:e led by democrats they have
denounced previous 10 thai time in unqualified
terms. ''lou see. Mr.. NJ" said Mr.. Wood
| 20,
are mutations in political principles. The very
measure L proposed last extra session as an
amendment TO the wing loan bill. and which |
advocated to the best of my ability and which
the wings scorned and rejected, they now ADOPT
with aiacrity and are rejoicod in their ability
to carry through" The Hon. was right and
he might have gone still further and foretold
that all the measures passed in that most extra
ordinary session, owing TO the reaction of sound
sense and dormant reason, will now be re-
pealed; bankrupt bill. distribution bill tthe
worst of alb and the loan bin must all share
the same fate, convincing proof of the futIlity
OF forced legislation and caucus laws. The
bankrupt bill, for your sake and Others. now
unnecessarily prohibited the means of obtain
ing an honest livelihood. hope will be al
lowed to operate: and IS sooE as past cases
can possibly be disposed of i as sincerely hope
may be repealed. In it, prospective tendencies
it holds out a bride TO dishonest bankruptcies.
which. under its operations, will MI our courts
and degrade our characters.
/ hoped to have made an engagement to
write for one of the New York newspapers. but
L End they all have regular correspondents
here-Brooks for the Express Bacon for the
American. L forget the Courier correspondent
and the others suppose you would know no
better II L gave their names. A writer FOR a
paper here gets $40 or Sl2 week on an aver
age, but then one man often writes for half a
dozen papers, which. you see. pays him hand
some salary. The best letter writer mere is UNI
doubtedly my friend Mr.. Parmelee of the New
York Herald, whose communications are not
only energetic in stylennd happy IN expression.
but may be pretty generally relied upon. as
few have better opportunities than the writer
| to find out coming events" He is intimate
with 1.-The Captain s. sons as well as with 1.-THE
Captain" anu from the former finds out hat the
latter intends doing. He goes into all the hes:
| society here-no very difficult thing. by the way
and learns all fashionable scandal 1t the As
sembly on Wednesday last he danced wi tn Miss
Elizabeth Woodbury., and suppose could have
done SO with any lady there. He is quite
a lion. clever (English). deep and wide awake
He ana are on very good terms. There an,
about $50 daily HeycidS sold here at 81 cents
each and don't know now many week.-Mrs.. Ii
Is undoubtedly the most extraordinary news
paper in the world.
The situation of the clerks in the depart
ments here is very good. They have far sala-
ries, not too much work and go into all tee
society they please-in fact, constitute about
one-half OF the young men about towa-"
wish YOU had one of the berths. Under exist
ing circumstances, however. believe it would
he impossible tor you to obtain one, 50 hope
you will succeed in New York.
The hall of the Representatives was crowded
this morning-hoor and gallcgies-by all the
ladies and almost al the gentlemen here 70
listen to the eloquent Nr. Mofht-one of the
most interesting humbugs of the age. / looked
in few minutes, saw the mass, bowed TO the
Woodburys and went cut.
We have had most delightful weather here
scarcely cold enough for an overcoat. You
have had some colder, suppose.
Truly yours, &c.