Year: 1869

There are two sorts of process through
which fraudulent legislation is perfected.
One is called the "ring," which means
combination of rogues for some one pur-
pose; and the other is called the "lobbv,"
and designates agents living here and en-
ployed by the rings and individuals to push
their evil schemes through Congress.


l have made the acquaintance of several
specimens of these two sorts of jackals, and
propose photographing them some day, to
enlighten your readers as to the nature of
this third branch of the National Legisla-
ture, that costs the people more than the
Legitimate law-making power, the judiciary
and the executive.


/ was turning this over in my mind the
other day, while sat on a sofa in the Cave
and listened to the winds that blew to and
fro about me, when l happened to cast my
eyes into the ladies gallery above, and of
the gloom saw memory come in the shape
of fair face. These galleries were not
constructed with an eye to effect, as far as
female beauty is concerned, as the dim
light from above gives a ghostly paleness
that not only destroys the beauty, but seri-
ously damages the expression. Under the
circumstances the face failed to locate itself,
and my memory was as dim and uncertain
as the flashes Of former life that comes to
US at times between sleeping and awake.


was so disturbed and haunted by my
memory, that left my seat and sauntered
into the gallery, and seated myself near my
fair friend and without rudely staring, I
found my memory gradually gathering up
the disjointed fragments of the past, until
the fair face was framed in and located. 1t
was sweet face, not so young as it once
was, but with prevailing expression of
child-like innocence. Add to this man
ner of great refinement, set of and adorned
In the extreme of the fashion, but subdued
TO the best taste, and the most artistic har-
monizing of colors, and we have our old
acquaintance before us. Although looked
my fair friend in the face, saw that either
she had forgotten me, or was not disposed
to renew the acquaintance. She was talk
ing In quiet, easy manner to we'll known
member of Congress, and I CONSIDERABLY
withdrew, rs if 1 had been looking in the
face Of an utter stranger, instead of one well
known to me in times gone by. An hour
after happened to be upon the entrance to
the Senate Chamber, where the multitude
of marble steps seemed to run out and flow
down, when my fair friend came out ac-
companied by her Congressional escort, late
Of the gallery, and almost brushing me with
her dress as she passed, the two descended
/ saw neat private carriage, drawn by q
handsome pair of bays, and driven by q
coachman in livery, roll up. My friend the
| making power helped the lady in with
bow; the door swung to with bang, and
the fair lady drove away, while the Solor
came up the steps humming tune to him.
self and swapping his law-making fingers
as if especially pleased with himself. Hav
ing speaking acquaintance, begged par.
| name of his friend.


| MRS. -, of New York." was the quie
response.


The whole Of these surroundings were 81
entirely different, and apparently 80 life
long and respectable from those that be
lieved formerly hedged in the lady, that
was in doubt. But no, the longer though
upon the matter the more felt satisfied o
the identity. And the remembrance wal
singular. While detailed in Washington
during the war, awaiting orders, was in
vited by brother officer to a wine supper
The people giving the entertainment wer
strangers, but, taking my friends word 70
1t that l would be welcome, i went will
| him. The house was plain, unpretendinj
affair, but offered display of upholster,
rather uncommon in Washington, and


learned that the house and furniture be
longed to a secesh family that had hastil,
left the city before the battle of Bull Run
putting their property in the hands o
friends. The friends assembled on this 90
casion were questionable. The parlors wer
| blaze OF light, and under the glass globe
about the gas Jets were some very prett,
young women and a number of young mel
in and out of uniform. The bare necks an,
arms Of the women indicated party, bu
my friend told me that this was the sort q
thing that went on every night We had


rich repast, garnished with choice wines
and the lively flow OF talk the last nance
generally brings out. | was particular,
struck with two OF the guess-one n slen
der youth with dark, large eyes, and broad
thoughtful forehead, whom l took for a
Italian or Frenchman the other beautiful
woman of twenty, in fact, but much young
er in appearance. / found this young lad


exceedingly charming, as she was not onl


lovely in person, but lively in mind.


We broke up at a late hour of the nigh


or rather an early hour in the morning, an


being ordered away few days after tn


wine supper, the merry people there as


sembled soon passed from my mind in tn


hurried, eventful life of the camp. The
were destined to return. Gould the futur
have been anticipated, death would hay
sat at our board that night, and phantol


visions Of dreadful events dimmed the gil


tering lights and settled in horrible glooi