El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-06-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
When the plckanlnnles Dance.-A
Vision Of 6orgeousness.-The
Sixth Massachusetts, Faith
full Young Soldler.-The Lighter
Vein.
Special Oofrespondsnce Of the HERALD.
WASHINGTON, May 29.-WsshinR-
too piskanionies furnish . picturesque
part Of its street life, the shabby, grin
niug, incorriRible little imps playing
many IN amusing prank, assisting st
every parade, ceremony, and accident,
poking their black grinding faces be-
tween tho awning flaps to watch the
gay ladies coming aud going to REQ p
tions or to admire Ahe bride IN her
white veil; selling violets and roses on
the street corners, and draining to the
dregs all OF tho joy Of hurdy gurdies.
sandwich men, and fskirs. After they
are bit older, these street darkies
are apt 70 be boisterous, unmsnnerly,
and unourbsd, but until they get to be
ten years old or therea bouts. they are
'nly jolly, frse, and delightfully."- sim.
pie. Some OF the children display re.
nsrksble aptitude for dancing. One
little girl with her bobbipg piatsil>
led With all eolors Of ribbons, In q
shabby fcock with . ridiculous black
apron and . big Topping black hat
that hss sometime bsen . ''white
lsdy6" picture hat, really has .
genius for the dance. She 10 often sent
out on errauds BY her mistress but she
Q IN never resi-s the strains of music
that tempt her scufling feet from duty,
to the dance. II . German band or
. rect piano comes within hearing, she
arops her bundle or note, catches her
sxirt hem lightly with her fnGer tips,
and the dance begins on the smooth
side walk under the shade of the trees
snd with the sky and sunshine in sym.
patty with her. Such bows aud wav.
ings Of arms, graceful crook ings Of the
knee. 'whirls and pirouettings! And
all done out Of sheer joy of keeping
time TO the music. When the band
sandwiches "D,e Wacht am Rhine, -
or "Ah have sighed to re-t me- be-
tween the Souss two-steps, che makes
frantic little efforts to dance them but
usu Ally gives 1t up and waits patiently,
pulling up her ragged stockings, I'd.
jussing her apron, and twitchinz her
b It In place TO DO ell ready to pirousS
again With tho arst quiokening DO e..
She sdspts the dance to the music,
too, with the msddest of whirle,
stamplngs, aud aou fishes for the live.
y dances, and slow bows, turns, ADD
trippiugs for the slower melo lies. All
In all. she 10 quite. llstle srtist, being
prompted by joy and love of music, aud
p -rfectly unconscious Of any art In ex.
pressing herself In this fashion. When
the band goes away, she picks up her
bundle and elouohes Oh. Grooming bit
OF tuue-the most careless aud shah
BY piece Of humanity imaginable.
Washington's CAV streets we're gsyer
than ever yesterday, aud the glory of
our soldiers uuiforms-even the glory
OF the spring girls hst-was dimmed,
f'r Captain AbilQdssrd, officer in the
Swedish royal army, was presented to
the secretary Of war. and of course
wore full Uniform. He 10 here on an
ofacisl visit TO watch our armies and
methods Of warfare. As he came down
the stops OF the wsr department he
was inde' d . vision, Of 9oreeousness.
Our artillery officers think & emselves
g.y with their inch-stripes of scarlet,
but SCARLET bands six inches or more
" de . ,eeuted the grace OF this Swed-
ish ofao.rs' trousers. and besides, from
his pointed cap d ,ated . hundred or 30
long, narrow, scarlet plumes mixed
With Q few Of brightest blue. Across
his breast we're shining decorations.
he Was startling ~ red headed
and as much more 90 a.
he rs larger than that gay bird.
There was some fuu here the day
She District boys left for Chickamsu-
gs-f0r 81 10 we'll that ends we'll. Be-
fore the review, . boy private WAS or
de- cd TO guard oert,in arms and am-
mu nitioo; In she excitemens of the re-
view aud parade be was forgotten BY
his captain and colonel. Long after
the reg m-nt bad gone to the trains
he va, disc 'vered sticking TO bis post,
sod although night WAS nesrlng fast
aod bis officers we're all gone away, he
would listen to no srguments, but said
that bis colonel had orde red him to
guard those thiogs and he had to do
Il until he received other orders from
bis 90 'onel. All Of bis regimentsl Of
Dc re beiug gons and there being no
generals hsr dy to change his rders.
his friends 6nslly resorted to the war
apartment and rot him orders to Join
his regiment. But not until no WAS
convinced that tho orders came from
Tho secretary himself, whom no re-
cogu' sed - ousrankiug oven his
would he bulge from his