The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-10-05


! and handy reference. These he handed up,
one after another, for the Senator to read and
comment on. When the silver orator would lag
in his comments on one clipping. his mind read
ing lieutenant would slip another into his hand,
never failing to pass up tho one which either
fitted into the train of thought which the able
gentleman from Nevada was following or fur
nished admirable continuation thereof,
thereby renewing the fires OF elequence.
A good many members of Congress, @ nrciiIly
the Southern Senators and Representatives. are
anxious to get away to their homes, conse-
quently there is talk once more of a Congress
sional recess. This recess is, OF course, con-
ditional upon the repeal of the purchasing
clause of the Sherman law. The House will
very gladly cease business for awhile. after
its passage of the Federal elections repeal
bill. But if the Senate has not passed the sill
yer repeal bill by that time the House may
not take a recess at all. and if it does it can
be for only three days. As for the Southern
Congressman, their desire grows principally
out of the fact that individual members are
vitality interested in the local campaigns in their
respective States.
-
This season will he an especially gay one in
Washington society, bidding fair to rival the
days of "befo' de war" Not since that time
has the South been so prominent in politics,
and in Washington that means lack of promi-
nence in society aIso Many and brilliant will
be the balls given by the Southern women this
Winter. and Southern supremacy will be vaunt-
ed in the draWiDg-room we'll in the halls
of Congress. As for the ladies of the Cabinet,
they have put their heads together on the all
absorbing question Of entertaining, and have
come to the conclusion that numerous small
and esrlies," with cosy luncheons and hand
some dinHer-parties. will be the approved order
of official things this season. The official Mon
day. Wednesday, and Friday afternoon public
receptions at the White House have been dis
continued for the present at least to the dis
appointment of many tourist and excursion
and transient guests, principally, who always
make it part of their visit to see the President,
whatever his politics.
x*#
There ELL be some royal entertaining done
this Winter, too, by others than Southern
statesmen. Senator Murphy, of New York, has
leased the handsome house on Farragut Square
where the late Senator Stanford entertained SO
sumptuously. and there the New York man
will dispense great social honors. New York
Senators, with the exception of Eyarts, have
not been prominent in Washington society Of
late years, whatever they may have been in
politics. Senator Conkling before his separa-
tion from his wife, used to be quite social
IL
he lived in two rooms and was practically
social reclGse. Senator Platt was hero too short
a time TO make any impression on the social
world, even if he desired to do so. Neither
Elbridge Gerry Lapham nor Warner Miller,
who came after Plat and Conkling had the
social gift, and both were practically unknown
in the society Of the Capital. Senator His
cock, while he gave dinner parties and theater
parties, lived at al uptown hotel. and did not
swing very far around the circle. Senator
Hill retired to his bachelor shell soon after
coming here, and caring nothing for society
lives comfortably at hotel. But it is expected
that Senator Murphy will do much to restore
the traditions of hospitality for which the
Senators from the Empire State were once
famous.
Z
One of the strangest characters to be seen
about the Capitol is an old woman of the genus
crank. She makes herself entirely at home and
to the casual observer appears to be an employe.
She is well advanced in years, but wears her
| hair IN curly ringlets about her wrinkled fea-
tRres, and the effect is very grotesque. She
| wanders bareheaded about the building, greet
| ing with simpering manner every one she
meets. She speaks in piping, childish tone.
and is very voluble. Sometimes she sits at
window in one OF the corridors for hours at
/ time, speaking to every one passing her way as
if she had known them for years. If one of
! these stops to talk with her she is eager for
conversation and tells some marvellous tales.
| What may be her motive in frequenting the
! Capitol no one knows. Those who should
| know state that she is not ON the payroll in
any capacity. and she does not ask aid in any
way. Where she comes from to the Capitol and
/ where she goes when it closes is mystery but
as she appears entirely harmless no one inter
feres with her or demands to know her bust
| ness.
Considerable interest is attached to a eolec-
tion Of Abraham Lincoln relics that have Just
been placed in house No. SIC Tenth street n.
W., where the martyred President breatheI
| his last. The Memorial Association of the Dis
trict Of Columbia, whose primary object is the
marking and preserving Of certain noteworthy
houses Of the Capital. was incorporated March
IS. 1892, Is members being appointed by a
resolution in Congress by the President, Vice
President and Speaker of the House. The first
work was TO endeavor through act of Congress
TO buy the house in which Lincoln died. Fail
| ing in this they leased the house for year by
personal subscription. Capt. o. II. Oldroyd is
the owner of the collection of 2, 500 relics which
have been distributed throughout the house
Among them are furniture from Lincoln's home
Lsncoln's manuscripts, a series Of pictures
statues, library, containing almost every
work written about Lincoln, and campai gu
literature Of 1860. Capt 0ldr0yd's collection
was begun ia 1860 at Mount Vernon, o. The
Captain was an agent in charge of the news
stand at the depot in that city lie belonged
70 Lincoln club called the "Wideawakes.'
The badge of membership OF this organization
which was given 10 him, is the nucleus of his
now large collection.
Most men would be very much pleased to bs
of such youthful appearance at his age as Comp