The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-05-22
I WASHINGTON LETTER.
Senator Clark's Family Concerns.
Senator Depew's Cake Walk.
A Week of Revelry.
Especial Correspondence

room for a large mansion.
The senator has recently purchased
Stewart castle, the former residence of
Senator Stewart of Nevada, in Dupont
circle. In this city. The house, which
is old fashioned and In an advanced
state of dllapidation, remained empty
all winter, and he has told his friends
that If he retained his seat in the SEN
ate he should tear It down and replace
II with a handsome residence.
The senator's family now consists Of
his daughter and sOn-in-law, Or. and
Mrs. L. NJ. Culver; Miss Catharine
Clark, a young lady of 20. who IS soon
TO be married TO New York physician,
and william A. Clark. Jr., student at
the University of Virginia. 1t is no
longer a secret among the senator's
friends that some time during the sum-
mer he will be married TO Miss La
Chappelle the daughter Of q French
Canadian miner formerly in his en-
plov who was killed in one Of his
mines. Senator Clark generously placed
the widow In comfortable circum-
stances and provided for the education
of the children. He sent the eldest
daughter to Paris to study music and
art and then fell in love with her. She
is younger than his own daughter, but
the latter is said to regard her future
stepmother with great affection.
Senator Depew's Cake Walk.
The Corcoran house, on Lafayette
square, which has always been social
center, has been an especially attract
i've place since Senator Depew took
possession of 1t. Assisted by his niece,
Miss Paulding, the senator has given
there some Of the most enjoyable en-
tertainments Of the social season In
Washington. His dinners have been
notable, while the dances and "at
homes" have been especially brilliant.
Miss Paulding introduced an innoYS.-
ton In Washington by giving a. cotil-
lon recently which was precedeI by
cake walk. 1t was voted M. que and
one of the most enjoyabl', functions
that have occurred In Washington for
a long time. II was the first cake walk
given in Washington society and was
not only refreshiaY. in its novelty, but
delightful and Successful in It's execu-
ton. The Ter man ambassador, Sena-
tor DepeT{ a'nd Senator Kean acted as
judges. Twenty couples participated
in tie walk, all attired in picturesque
Costumes. One Of the features OF the
entertainment was the illumination of
the garden in the rear of the mansion,
which covers nearly city block. 1t
was brilliantly decorated with tiny
electric lights Of many colors and fra
grant with poisoning fruit trees.
A Week of Revelry.
Beginning May %, Washington Is to
have q week of revelry and fetes. 1t is
not to be a convention, but a pilgrim
age. and the Mystic Shriners who have
| been preparing to convert the city into
| an oasis for the week have evidently
| determined to make irrigation expert
| ments IN the District of Columbia with
| out the aid of a government appropria-
ton. Much money has been subscribed
to advance this work, and every local
| Shriner is prepared to act as runner
/ for boarding houses or hotels in order
| that no pilgrim shall be without di-
van upon which to rest between shad
bakes, midnight patrols with torchlght
and bands and little pllgrimages to
| Mount Vernon, Cabin John Bridge,
| Glen Echo, Marshall Hall and all the
| region around about that can be reach
ed by steamboat, trolley and stage.
One visiting temple of Richmond will
serve nothing to its visitors but mint
| juleps of great potency. All visitors
are to have souvenir badges, which are
| to be regarded as an "open sesame
everywhere. One of the features is to
be a grand night parade on Pennsylva-
mia avenue of all the visiting and local
| temples, and on this occasion the ave
nue. is to be illuminated at considerable
expense. Almost every city Of impor-
| lance in the country will send temple
here to Join In the festivities. Each
temple has promised to bring brass
band. II promises to be seven days Of
brazen music.
A Butterfly In the Senate.
The calm dignity of the senate was
very much rufiied by the appearance of
butterfly within the historic chamber.
| 1t was q beautiful cream colored crea-
ture, and where 1t came from no one
knew. Probably during last fall, when
the windows and doors Of the capitol
were all open, some adventurous cat
erpillar made its unobserved entrance
into the building and became a chrysa.
lis in a dark corner of the gallery.
At any rate, the butterfly came forth
the other day and 1uttered around the
room, vainly seeking an outlet to the
sun and air. 1t bobbed around over the
bald head Of Senator Gallinger, dis
tracted the attention of the reading
clerk and then sailed gracefully toward
the glass paneled ceiling. Finally II
rested upon the top row Of seats In the
gallery and from it's novel perch sur
yeyed the scene.
But no butterfly ever before had Sc
strange a birthplace or mingled with
such distinguished company.
The postoffice department estimates
that the bill for the Reconsideration OF
railway mail clerks will require an adj
ditional appropriation Of 81, 10000; the
bill for fourth class postmasters, $5,'
$4,000; for letter carriers, $3,37O,OOO
for clerks In first and second class post
Offices, S1,OOO,0O0; for substitute letter
carriers, $4,000, or an increase In
compensation for 10000 postal employ
ees amounting to almost $12,0O0,0OO.
CARL ScHoFIELD.
| 49,
An Epidemic Of whooping Cough.
Last winter during an epidemic o.
whooping cough my children contracted
1 kko ltooaoa having nQVoRa OOuQnlUf