The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-02-17

the men who retire from public career
of any great length.
Seeing Chairman Blount ambling along
reminded friend of mine, with whom
walked up the avenue of story about
the somewhat famous dinner given by
Senior Montt. the CHILEAN minister, about
six weeks ago 81 was at that dinner"
said my friend. land it was in some re-
spects the finest dinner | ever attended
in Washington. We were positively en-
barrassed by the profusion and richness
of the dishes. Everything which an aris-
tocratic caterer could think of to swell
the cost of dinner had been provided.
And as to wine, we could no more than
take sip OF each of the kinds served. 1t
was indeed a surnptuous dinner, but
this is not what wanted to tell you
about. After the coffee, when the gen.
tlemen had retired to the smoking room,
the conversation partook of the nature
of discussion of the Gillian situation,
which was at that time rather threaten
ing. We then saw the strange incident
of a United States senator making a lit
tie speech in favor of the Gillian side of
the case, his remarks being applauded
by other senators as well as by every
one else present. All this was as mat
ter of courtesy to the host and hostess,
and was not intended to be taken seri-
ously. Senior Montt understood it all,
but Nine. Montt, who knows but little
English and who is of an excitable tenn
permanent, became very much agitated.
She shouted u huzza to her native coun-
try, declared that if war between the
United States and Chill ever started she
would contribute to the cause of her
countrymen not only every cent she had
in the world, but her services as an army
nurse, and by way of peroration brought
out little Chilian flag and waved it en-
Enthusiastically over the heads of her
guests, who applauded her with clap
pings Of hands,"
1t was dull day in the house and
senate, and saw very little in either
end of the Capitol worth mentioning,
unless it might be additional evidence
that the lemon is becoming the favorite
adjunct of congressional oratory. In the
house saw no fewer than five members
use lemon instead of glass of water
while making speech, and during the
course of half hours talk on the rules
Mr.. McMillin used up two or three
lemons. In the senate Mr.. Coke, of
Texas, had the honor Of introducing the
lemon style of oratory, and now large
number of senators moisten their lips
with the acid juice Of this fruit while
making set speeches.
In the supreme court the scenes were
as impressive as usual and large num-
Der of visitors were present. 70 the
stranger the supreme court is awe in
spring. He is afraid to whisper to his
neighbor, and smile he would expect
to be punished for with instant death.
Everything is very solemn in the SUI
preme court. Even when Justice Gray,
who had been out late at dinner the
previous night, fell asleep and actually
snored while a lawyer from Chicago was
arguing the case of the anarchists. no
person in all that courtroom dared to
permit the faintest shadow of laughter
to come upon his face.
When the court had adjourned that
afternoon and the justices had taken off
their great silk robes and put on their
overcoats and hats, Chief Justice Fuller
made a novel proposition to Justice
Blatchford: sit is said, Blatchford,"
remarked the chief justice, "that no
man has ever walked from the Capitol
to the White House on the south side of
Pennsylvania avenue. Suppose you and
| make that journey this afternoon?
Blatchford agreed, and few minutes
later people on the avenue were sur
prised to see the two justices walking.
for mile and a half on that side Of the
thoroughfare which pedestrians invari-
ably desert for the more attractive
shopping side.
These are half dozen or more char
acteristic glimpses Of life in Washing
ton. Every day brings them forth by
the thousand. WALTER WELLMAN.