New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-03
GOSSIP OF THE CAPITAL
MANY STATESMEN EAT THEIR THANKS
GIVING TURKEY IN WASHINGTON

.rxoR NERVOUS RETIREMENT-THE NEW CENSUS
orr1cE-FRUIT AT THE PARIS EXPOSITION.
washington. Dec. 2-If the rosters of the
,,ouse and Senate had been called here on
thursday few would have been found missing;
,sarIv all the members of those bodies had their
thanksgiving dinner at the capital. many OF
then, from their own mahoganes. 1t having be-
anne more and more the custom in recent years.
wing TO the lack Of privacy found In hotel life
and the fact that their incomes go much further
g., housekeeping than in boarding. for the Repre-
nortatives and Senators TO establish themselves
a., bon,es of their own. AS rule the members
reach Washington some two weeks before the
oonvening Of Congress in order to become set
,,ed and to attend TO the routine work which
sccnnulates during the long summer recess be-
,ore the duties Of the session begin in earnest.
r,bis wear. Of course. they have been attracted
bore by their desire to offer assistance to the
sneaker-elect regarding the formation of the
,or,ous committees. for hardly a member but
tools that his advice will be a potent help to
that executive officer.
Thanksgiving dinner rarely represents large
outlay for official people, as grateful consttu-
ents send prize turkeys and pumpkins. prize
november of all sorts, in fact, with which TO
grace their boards. There is always an abun-
dant supply received at the White House. be-
ginning with the big turkey from Rhode Island
which has been sent 10 the President every year
since Senator Anthony began the custom
.,,or,or Of n century ago, and ending with the
- ., ,oipceueat from some notable housewife.
ho raceives in return thanks and acknowl-
.asn,ent on paper marked Executive Mansion
Tho President and his wife receive, too. guam
titles of begging letters but If they should
,rent all the requests contained therein not one
,,aar.s but the whole four years salary of the
Cbief Executive would be exhausted. All offclai
mail for that matter. is Influenced more OF
loss by the season. Just now there Is ABUNDANT
advice for "our Congressman In the letters
from, home and. strange TO say, frequent re-
ouests for recipes for old fashioned oaihlies
"r,eor Senator -" writes a worthy old soul.
CONFIDENTLY. whose handwriting would indicate
that she was born near the beginning OF the
49,, won't YOU ask your wife to send me
her recipe for mince pies? Mines been goou
aro,eh for lake for fifty years. until he ate
some of your MISSES last fail. IL the uu'h
$40 known. I expect Mrs IS pies had
more liquor in them than mine. and that STRUCK
y.ts.s taste. but anyway let me have the recipe
Amenber Of Congress. who shall be naInelesS
received some time ago a handsome pumpkin
made IN a spirit Of irony. however. as the note
accorpanying It said, II send you the best pump
tin in nv garden. AS it's got more brains than
vou,ve got. II may be some help TO you this
winter and the Lord knows you need It,"
The Roberts question. which has awakened
widespread interest. is a subject in when the
wives OF the members Of Congress are even
moro absorbed than their husbands. and has
been the cause for bitter and frequent discus
sion certain member of Congress- more
from the spirit of contradiction than because
his svnpathies were really with Mr.. Roberts.
succeeded in irritating the wife Of one OF his
colleagues 10 such an extent that, tired OF the
controversy she said, half in fun and half in
earnest Il know what would do to you IL you
were my husband l would give you cup OF
cold poison"
IF were your husband madam" replied the
member, with more wit than gallantry, II am
sure should be only too happy TO take It,"
Mrs. JOY wife of Representative Joy, OF
Missouri, who organized a crusade against the
seating Of Roberts. received from the petition
she sent out no unfavorable answers except
one. which came from Mrs. Minor, wife of the
member from Wisconsin. who returned the
paper indorsed: THE people Of the With Dis
Congress. have every confidence in him, and
so have T."
sehor Merou, the Argentine Minister, who has
accepted the portfolio Of Agriculture in Presi-
dent Roca's Cabinet made enviable record
during the four years he represented his country
at this capital and both he and his charming
wife will be genuinely missed Indeed, it was
hoped until the last moment that this popular
diplomat would reconsider his determination Of
resigning his position here but reasons Of a
PERSONAL character and the wishes Of the Presi-
dent Of the Argentine Republic who is ex-
sremely anxious that SeHor M4rou shall occupy
post IN his official family. prevailed. and when
the retiring Minister and his wife left town on
Monday. their parting was sped by all the mem
bers OF the Diplomatic Corps in the city. includ
ing Lord and Lady Pauncefote. who went to
wish them a happy voyage and to offer their
sympathy to Sonora Merou on the death Of her
mother news Of which reached her on the eve
OF starting.
The retiring Minister OF the Argentine Repub-
lie is one Of the most distinguished of the rep
resentatives from South America. He has had
a credltable past and his future holds brilliant
promise His career as a diplomat began in
1881 when he was sent as Secretary to Panama.
Later on he served as Secretary Of Legation at
Colombia and Venezuela. whence he was trans
ferred TO the Legation at Madrid. and from
Madrid to Paris. returning 10 Argentina In 1888
TO accept the office Of secretary to the President
Subsequently he acted as Minister to Paraguay.
Peru and Brazil. being promoted some four
years ago 10 take charge Of the Legation at
Washington
Senior Merou is still young man, far on the
sunny side Of fifty. and like his predecessor MT.
zebellos author OF note He is a man OF
great culture. widely travelled. and with those
agreeable personal qualities that insure social
success. Sehor Msrou is a devoted adherent OF
President Roca. and just before he left town
said that the republic had never been more
tban updar tho standardization of this