Year: 1878

but | regret to be compelled to 60 fur
ther and say that in too many places
brass backed by hard cash knocks
brains and breeding into the background.
Baltimore claims the handsomest wo-
men in any American city and l guess
she can substantiate her claim, for the
latitude of the city is such that the in
habitants get the full, rich. warm south
ern coloring of the blood and at the
same time enough of northern frosts
to give them bright eyes, animated
countenances and quick wits.


Back again in Washington, after more
than two years absence,-two years in
which | have swung around much
larger circle, than did Andy johnson
when he took his famous trip, and l
haven't made half so much fuss about
it.


The flags were flying over both wings
of the Capitol, so 1 knew the honorable
body Of men representing this nation,
with such remarkable disinterestedness,
were still busy with the affairs of the
people, Notwithstanding that it was
dinner time, and Irish Biddies were no
doubt quarreling over the fact that they
would not get the dinner cleared off in
time for the beaux, for, you know, the
horn does not blow for dinner until
after night draws her heavy curtains,
and an hour of waiting counts
with the queen of the kitchen.


AS the cars moved slowly into the
city, fell to wondering whether it is
such desirable thing to "go to Con-
gress," as one would judge from the
fight men often make to get there. In
the first place the man who sat the ear
nest solicitation of has friends, consents
to become a candidate," must make up
his mind to spend large portion of his
income in campaign expenses then he
must prepare himself for attack from
every conceivable source submit to
have every private and public act of his
held up and torn to shreds before the
public; and honest as he may have
thought himself, pure as he has endeav-
ored to make his life, he can safely
count upon being denounced as villain
of the deepest dye, thief, liar and a
scoundrel. Half the little world in
which he is known, finds itself wonder
ing why wise providence has permitted
such man to disgrace the world with
his presence, and the other half is busy
blackening the name of the opposing
candidate. And then, if fortune favors
and the goal is won, what doth it profit
him The man who serves full term
in Congress, and comes out with clean
hands is either too great a coward to
dare to take the risks attending venali-
ty, or else he carries with him into those
halls, principles of integrity the founda-
tion of which was laid in his boyhood
days, and dates back to the time when
line upon line, and precept upon precept,
as taught by his parents, were enforced
by the example of practicing what they
preached. The parent who says long
prayers on Sunday, and thanks God for
clean hands and pure heart, doesn t
impress his little son very favorably. if
lurking in that little fellows memory is
the boast his father made of sharp
trade he drove with a neighbor. in
which the neighbor came off second
best i; and what wonder if, when he gets
to work for himself, he silences con-
science, by saying to it: "Father did
worse things than that, and he was a
church member in good and regular
standing, and I don't claim to be any
better than Others"


But while we have moralized, the cars
have driven into the depot of the Balti.
more & Potomac road and passengers
are hurrying out as if for dear life, SC
| join the throng and hasten along
through the depot and out on to beauti.
full, broad, Pennsylvania Avenue, which
is, without question, the handsomest
drive in any city in the Union.


Washington has changed since l saw
it, changed in many ways. 1t has beer
extended and fine buildings are now t.
be seen, where two years ago it was only
stretch of unimproved land. Rea
estate has felt the pressure of hare
times here as elsewhere, and is to be hac
at figures far below those of two year,
ago, and of course rents are correspond
ingly reduced. Public Improvements
have been going slowly on, and l fine
good many changes for the better, es
pecially on the east side of the Capitol
The new State department is finer thar
any of the buildings previously erected
for the use of public officers, and il
interior finish is very elegant, withou


the show and high coloring one is apt t,
find in buildings of similar architecture
New faces have supplanted old ones
in many places. besides the White Hous
and Cabinet officers, and however kin,
the new ones may be, | miss the ones
! knew before.


: At the Capitol it is very hard for m


to reconcile myself to the new regim