Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-01-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WHAT HARRIS NOTES AT THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL.

] ton, Representatives. tofIsss
Babcoek and SpauIding Are Natives
of Our State.--LItlle Doing SO Far Ia
/ Congress.
WASHINGTON, Jan. y.
CHILLED CRITTERS At HOME-and
Whereabouts. don't know how much
or how little snow you are having ~
there, but probably more or less. II Is
January and that sounds cold in Yer
mont Some of the past week the
weather here has been like April and
some OF it like September; OCCASION
ally few hours like July. But there
is nothing here that bears any resent
blance to Vermont winter However,
vastly prefer foot of snow and clear
cold weather TO fog, mist and drizzle.
Every cloud has a silver lining, though,
aud we have rs much sunshine as
clouds after all.
The week began momentously Mon
daywith the official funeral Of Con-
gresham Dingley in the House of
Representatives. The telegraph has Of
course given YOU the facts of the oc-
cason. but a lew words Of descriptive
detail may be of interest.
AT 9 a. m the body was taken TO the
hall of the House and deposited in the
area before the reporters desks. II
was surrounded and banked with
masses of flowers palms were placed
in profusion around the walls and ON
them were hung wreaths Of smilaX.
The display OF flowers and the decora-
ton OF the hall are said 10 have been
the most elaborate in its history. The
right or Democratic side OF the hall had
been reserved for the official guests,
and the congressman were packed into
the seats on the Republican side and
into the area behind the
rail At exactly y NJ Speaker Reed
appeared and called the House 10
order The reading of the very brief
Journal of the saturday previous oeu
pied but a few moments. and soon the
gavel fell and the House arose 30 well
come the vice president and Senate
' ice President Hobart took a seat az
speaker Reeds left. while the senators
lied in by twos and were seated in the
Wo rows OF seats assigned them. Sen
It0r Ross walked with Senator Proctor
NeXt came the foreign ambassadors of
III colors and sizes and nall costumes.
They were headed by Sir Julian Paunce-
ote, the representative OF Victoria
# England, and among the following
we're the little Chinese minister in his
silk dress and spectacles. and |
nd the two representatives OF Korea |
nd Siam in their elaborate and pic. |
uresque costumes. The supreme /
curt of the United States next APP /
cared, headed by Chief Justice Fuller
d his flowing white moustache and /
lack gown The president of the I
'nited States and cabinet were then
and took the front row Of
eats on the right The light of a dull L
Loudly day filtered through the stained
lass ceiling and shone dimly on
Gene which not one of thousand or
lore spectators will ever forget. II is
cry seldom indeed that the execu-
i've, judicial and legislative branches
I the government are gathered to-
ether in one room, and much more
eldon that the nation comes together
{ the bier Of a congressman The
nightly solemnity and impreSsiveness
{ the occasion reached its elimination
nth the prayer of the blind chaplain.
he sermon, lasting a hali-hour, was
reached by Rev Mr.. Newman of the
congregational church. which Mr..
inglcy had been in the habit OF at
'nding, and was most beautiful !
llogy. Mrs. Dingley was unable 10
e present, but the remainder of the
lmily and relatives filed the front
Nv at the speakers leif
Admission As spectators was strictly
card and each congressman was
wen two for his family or friends.
hese were soon exhausted and the /,
llleries were filled an hour before the
,rvices began. Thousands were u-
Die to obtain admission and - was {
eely offered for tickets. Before and
Ter the ceremonies the general pub
passed through the hall to view the
mains, and double and endless file
Used in at one door and out at
lother. The remains left the city by
'ecial train for Lewiston. Me-, at 80 :
m. and Washington had seen the ,
81 OF a great statesman and a most
'norable and illustrious American. .
Is often said that mans death i a
lblic calamity, but seldom is il as
ne as It is of Nelson Dingley. {
Old Vermont is the birthplace of
genius. according 10 the a
ographies in the Congressional d.
Glory. -Four members of the present 4
nate, including Senators Proctor o
q Ross, were born ia Vermont , O
chard Franklin Pettigrew. senator il
lm South Dakota. was born i'm the
wn of Ludlow in 1913. He removed 8
Evansville, Wis. with his parents I
1884 and was educated at Beloit !
llege and the University of Wiscon- :
!. lie went to Dakota in 1869 rs =
Dorer for government surveyor and =
ally opened a law Office nj stony \
lis. With this he went into politics v
d was elected by the legislature 10 ID
Senate and took his seat Dec >
81. lie Is now serving his second Z,
m, which will end March 4. 1901 ei
senator John Mellen Thurston ~ W
naha, Neb., was born in Montpelier a
g. q, 1917. He removed with M a,