The National tribune., 1902-01-09

| pishness," said the Deacon addressing tn,
officer, who was still struggling to FIRE,
himself The Deacon had the happy quail
! ity of his kind, in always finding ''judg
mcnts' in the msfortunes that came t.
those they might not happen to like
Pride gOeth before Il fall, and a haught!
'spirit before destruction. Let this be
lesson to you in future to bride you
tongue, and''-
Oi IL bride ycz, yez clod-hoppin' -
I'D recommend that you be Il little
more careful in your language,' said the
Deacon calmly, "or | shall feel it my dut!
to call the Presidents attcntion"-
"Bc careful, Barney" said voice in th'
| crowd, which seemed friendly to the oti
| Ger. That man looks like one of Mr.
Lincoln's friends, and may make you &
heap of trouble"
The irate officer restrained himself, bul
threw the hoop-skirt savagely back to
ward the track. A shifting engine was
rolling in with a few passenger coaches
| The hoop-skirt caught somewhere about
the cylinder, strained for Il moment. aud
then came 4 sharp snap from the machin
cry and v0liey of objurgations on the
text that That eccentric had
broke agin.''
The Deacon regarded the result with
lively interest, and inwardly commented
Great goodness, why didn't Deliidf
think to use her hoop-skirt to fasten
Sampson. There, that one has done up
two big men and broke down Il locomotive
and | don't believe Il riyet's bin started in
it. If | could only get some tracc-chains
made of that stuff
The Deacon finally gained the outside
Of the depot, and a comparatively clear
space, so that he could look around and
think. 1t was yet early evening, and the
full moon was shining bright and clear.
liz spite of the diSenchantmcnt of his sur
rOundings and the absence Of things that
he had sanguinely expected to see, it was
clear that he was really in Washington.
The signs on the brilliantly lighted sa-
looms, which were the most prominent fca-
lures all around, told him that. They all
had Washington Senate" " Cabinet, -
Congress" or some similar name worked
into their titles.
I've read so much about Congressman
drinking" thought he, but | never sup
posed that it'd take all these places to
keep them going. The Good Templars' Il
have some work to do here when the
wars over and I'll contribute to it."
On the hill just above him stood, in all
its marble majesty, the great Capitol of
the Nation, and he looked upon it with a
rcycrnnt cNaltatiOn that lifted him above
the sOrdid surroundings. The moon Shonc
on it with a flood of silver radiance as if
loving Il creation so greatly and purely
beautiful. Stately columns and noble pOr-
ticocs, sculptured friezes and foreated cap
itulS, the lofty dome, and the giant God
dess of Liberty all were transmitted by
the food of soft silver light into white
softness and grandeur like that of clouds
that lie along the Summer sky. They
seemed hardly of this earth, but that the
skies, in their most benignant mood, had
bent down and left something to forever
grorify the landscape.
Now | know just what Solomon's tenn
pie was like" murmured the Deacon, in
il burst of admiration. The Lord in
spired one man to build Him Il temple in
Palestine, in the midst of his chosen peO-
pie, and He has inspired other men to
build Him another temple in The midst of
His chosen people in America. 1t looks as
if it was built by the same hands that
make the snOwakes. the white roses, and
the sunsets on the Wabash
If nothing else had indicated to him that
he was i'll Il strange place, the number of
negroes would. Their numbers and va
riety were as startling to him as the ma
jestic beauty of the Capitol. Every age
and condition were represented in the
streams which flowed in and ont of the
depot, in the groups which lOafed about
it, in the teeming population of the shan
ties stuck around wherever they would be
tolerated, IN the NUMBERS driving carri-
ages, baggage, and delivery wagons, and
employed about the saloons and eating
houses. There were white-haired old men.
worn out by life of tell ON the farms,
tottering about with staff, and with a
dumb animal hunger in their faded old
eyes, longing for someone to order them
where there would be food,
rest, and warmth. Like vagrant dogs
they scanned every rag, every piece of
paper, every can they passed, as if it
might contain something they wanted
There were hordes of middle-aged men.
still full of Drawn and muscle, who had
been employed during the day, but were
drawn toward the depot by the glaring
lights, and the stir, and lounged around.
with eyes and mouths open, like cattle
staring at the moon. There were glib, i'm
pudent, well-dressed young messengers
and servants, full of the most sovereign
contempt for their lowlier brethren, fash
lily attircd BARRIERS and 'sports"
every barber was at bottom n gambler, q
and follower of the races.
There were men of pOnderous dignity,
wearing silk hats and frock coats, and
carrying silver-headed canes, who were
supposed to be 'men Of inhHence" with