The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-12-24

walls and throughout the entire estab-
lishment; display of the beauties of
nature which all the gold, silver and
wealth Of this world could not dupli-
cate, for it is the tangible expression of
infinite thought Every bud and flower,
stamen and pistil, is the materialistic
Iuea or conception or DIVINITY; ana one OF
the Divine attributes is beauty. There
fore, have said that this attractive
place contains that which wealth can
not duplicate. Within window there
is miniature of the great capitol, made
of various kinds of pure white flowers.
The resemblance to the original is per-
feet in symmetry from staircase to dome;
even unto the tiny fairy-like reproduc-
lions of the electric lights throughout
the edifice. The crowds which throng
this place by day and by night cause me
no little wonderment. If there might
be an influx of people from all the
states of the union who had never seen
the real capitol, nor even seen it's floral
counterfeit presentment as we have
seen it before, it would not be matter
of surprise should they linger by this
window. 1t is no wonder that our chill
dren are delighted with the sight, for it is
new to them; but even our mothers and
grandmothers and great-grandmothers
in Israel pause in establishment and
give expression to their pleasure with
the exuberance OF youth.
One of the tellers in the cash room of
the treasury told me to-day that within
the past week he had given out from
the counter in exchange for bills of
various denominations over $4,000 in
bright new pennies, coins fresh from
the mint and shining like gold. He says
that these pennies are sent throughout
the country to children in little pocket
books containing fro& twenty-five to q
hundred pennies, and that they are re-
garded as the most welcome presents
that can be given to children at Christ
mas time. Each little tot becomes not
only the possessor of a pocketboolz but
of wealth seeming unto him or her as
great as the prize of Monte Cristo.
The new members of congress are
spending their vacations in business
like manner by acquainting themselves
with the various bureaus of the execu-
tive departments and the individuals in
charge of the multifarious branches of
the work. They are accompanied in
their daily rounds by older members of
congress who know all of the ms and
outs of department life, and thereby
their pathways are rendered smoother
and more agreeable. The departments
are ready for business at nine o'clock in
the morning, and the statesmen are
many of them as promptly on hand as
the government clerks themselves. In
this manner, by familiarizing them
selves with work which is of utmost i'm
portnnce to all of their constituents,
the honorable members of congress are
spending their holidays in manner not
only agreeable to themselves but profit
able to their constituents. The pension
Office, the post Office department and
the general land Office require great
deal of time and careful attention on
the part of strangers to gain knowl-
edge and understanding of their work
ings.
The wives and daughters of these
congressman are putting in their spare
time buying presents for the dear folks
at home; although some of them are
busily engaged in dress-making and
other preparations for the public recep-
tions and other social occurrences which
will form so large part of their lives
during the remainder of this season.
My readers will remember that the
social duties of the ladies of the families
of public officials constitute large
part of their daily existence; and de-
scription of the senatorial, cabinet, rep
resentatives, supreme court and other
reception days, will form the subject of
letter for the very near future.
SMITH D. Fry.
PnllY,a Educafinn LYas Dan norona