Year: 1876




quite willing to argue just cause among
themselves. l wondered to-day if th'
honorable Senator'S upon the floor saw th'
scene in the gallery, and what they
thought about it,


There was spicy debate yesterday
upon the Indian bill These Indians are
no joke to those who are forced to live
near their reservations, but the topic
never comes before our legislators without
eliciting any amount of wit. Whenever ID.
Oglesby rises to his feet, there is cessa-
ton of writing and talking, chairs are
wheeled round, and everybody listens.
The old gentleman is always fluent he
shakes that round white head in an en-
phatic gesticulation, when his hands are
also busy pointing his meaning his merry
eyes twinkle with contagious fun, and all
his big body becomes magnetic. His higs
| yesterday were not such as to bear separa-
tion from their context, but if you will
read his speech, you will readily under
stand why those grave and reverend
seignors utterly forgot their gravity, or
induced its explosion every two minutes.
Is that sentence an odd one Well, please
tell me if laughter is not an explosion Of
gravity, sending that imminently respect
able but tiresome attribute out Of sight
and hearing This puzzling question Of
the Black Hills is vexatious enough.
Senator Oglesby insists that the red men
are quite as tit for citizenship as the black
men, that they ought to be amenable to
law, and that we might at least try the
experiment, since all others have failed.
HIS allusion to the ''unwritten policy, p" by
which the Eastern and Middle States
shook OF the Indians, were very aHusin3
The poor wretches really seem t. have no
right to existence in our midst, since they
are SO unchrlstian as to cherish undying
hatred for the white men who have taken
from them their wide domains What a
pity that If they can't comprehend the
beauties of forgiveness or the charms Of
loving their enemies, that they can not
Learn the philosophy which bravely en-
dures disaster, and robs misfortune Of It's
sting, by laughing in its face. But the
red mans laugh is something as awful as
his war cry, and his smile, D that is so
hideously suggestive Of lurking cruelty
that one never desires to see it twice, 50 |
don't know whether fate could be disarm-
ed in that way.


SENATOR BOOTH.


Among all the gentlemen filling the
Senatorial chairs, there is not one attract
ing more attention than the bachelor
from California. His erect figure and
dignifed carriage give him an air Of dis
tinction his perfect complexion, soft
brown hair, and pleasant smile, make him
decidedly handsome, and then if you
know him, you will find an added charm
In the low, rich voice and couTtly manner,
which are so emlnently his own. He
makes but few speeches, yet those few
carry weight, and he commands degree
of wrapt attention which is never accorded
his colleague, Senator Sargent. Senator
Booth rises quietly and stands easily, and
never hurries in speech or manner, but
Senator Sargent occupies his chair under
protest he is never happy unless he is on
his feet, but while sitting he restlessly
watches for an opportunity to speak, and
even while writing you can see his ears are
alert TO catch any excuse for dashing of
his Eyeglasses and springing up like a
jack-In-the box Then he always snarls
and aggravates there isn't bit of calm
ness IN his composition, either physical or
mental he brushes his hair the wrong
way, and he rubs against everybodys pet
prejudices, while his words tumble out in
such haste that all his speech is sputter.
But poor man, We would Judge him kind
ly, since his better half belongs to the
Sorosis, and the Senate floor is to him a
haven where he can assert himself without
fear OF a conjugal quetus. If Callfornians
Judge their Senators by the number Of
times their names appear IN the record,
they must think Sargent a miracle Of in
dustry and tireless vigilance, but we who
know something Of the Congressional mill,
understand that the noisiest wheels are
not most useful.


Nobody in the House has especially dis
tinguished himself within the past week.
Tuesday you know was holiday, and
after holiday one doesn't settle back to
work easily. Sunset Cox didn't find the
Speakers chair all his fancy painted it,
and don't believe he would again so ar
IDENTIFY covet its distinction. 1t is curious
how our illusions vanish when anticipa-
tion becomes reality. Mr.. Kerr returned
from his brief absence, in greatly improved
health, but he looks quite too frail to en-
dure all the wearing and incessant strain
which the Speaker must endure. One
misses him in society, but Mrs. kerr's re-
ceptions are delightful. ''Willards" il
unusually gay this winter, since on
Wednesday Mrs. Kerr receives, and on
Thursday Mrs. New, the pretty wife of
the Treasurer, holds her own court Mr..
New is wonderfully young to hold so inn
portant place, but he has filled it ad-
mirably, and one never hears Gen Spinner
named, indispensable as his services we're
deemed a year ago.


GEN. BABCoCK's AcQUITTAL


was received with universal delight.
People didn't stop TO think of possible
political complications, or anything except
their personal regard tor the charming
gentleman who has made friend Of every
one who knows him. The only wonder is,
that with his kindly impulses and willing
ness to oblige, he was not more involved
in the schemes of those adroit rascals who
sought his ruin. Our thoughts at once
turned to his sweet wife, who has borne
the time of anxiety and suspense with
such noble faith in her husband, and such
brave courage. Mrs. Avery was present
on Thursday evening at a children's ball,
her first appearance in public SINCE Mr..
Avery's conviction, for now she thinks a
second trial will secure the acquittal Of
her husband also There will be new sen
sations now by the dozen.