THE OMAHA DAILY lU"E : SUNDAY , DECEMBER 25 , ISST.-TWELVF/PAGES.
A Merry Christmas ! to All Our PatronsI
The Union Sewing Machine.
The Union Sewing Machine.
The Union Sewing Machine.
The Union Sewing Machine.
The Union Sewing Machine.
The Union Sewing Machine.
The Union Sewing Machine.
The Union Sewing Machine.
The Union Sewing Machine.
UNION MANUFACTURING COMPANY ,
1609 HOWARD STREET.
MEXICO'S ' CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS
The Holiday Habits of the People
Observance of Pascua.
SOME NOVEL PASTIMES.
InterrMliiK and InMriictlve Ccrc-
nuinlrs The I'UNnlon I-'or Unique
Cjlftti - - Holiday Onlliurlneft A
Hcasoii of Great I'leumire.
HVIMen/or the Sitmliiu Tire.
\Vlion nuked what the Christinas cus
toms of Mexico arc , n , whole Hood of
pleasant remembrances and customs
como trooping over me like iv gentle
wind laden with spring , time perfumes ,
completely blotting from my vision this
chill northern season which only the
yule-log can cheer and the bitter-sweet
tan : brighten ; transporting with mo ,
you who care to go to that ancient city ,
to wonder at her ardent Christmas sun ,
and to behold her people celebrate the
birthday of our Lord , Jesus Christ.
Several weeks before Pascua ( Christ
mas ) , the capital , with the exception of
the phr/.ii , assumes an elaborate Parisian
toilet , garlanded and caught up , hero
and there , with Mexican ornaments and
devices. The abounding stores are
French , confounding the modest pur
chaser with their stores of costly
wares gathered from far and
wide. Curled and perfumed clerks
handle wonderful Paris dolls which
Bpenk to 0110 of their fathers and
mothers across the water , Haunting
their gay toilets in our faces. Costly
bon-bon boxes completely grace one
store , while the bon-bons lay tempt
ingly strewn around them. Plato glass
windows shield from black-eyed senoritas -
oritas with hair advantageously ar
ranged , rare laces and fans , as well as
exquisite devices in jewelry , and rather
( singular it seems , when these orna
ments remain unsold they are shipped
to Kgypt , whore a ready sale awaits
them. One store forms
A CILITTHUIXn HANK Ol' GOLD
and silver ornaments extending from
the lloor to the coiling , interspersed
with ( 'hristmas flowers. Truly this city-
is well named the "Paris of America. "
Yet , what one enjoys above all this rich
ulTuct at Christinas tide , is the skillful
work of Mexican peon lingers
in the toys and rem'embor-
unccs for las pasadas , as well as
their heartfelt sympathy in all the
lileasurcs of this glad season. Presents
for las pasadas occupy the portals and
] > la/.a , while hawkers of the same pretty
articles carry them through the streets
rending the air with their weird cries.
Mexico does at this time as well as at
nil others enjoy herself distinctly
through the church , whoso inlluenco is
mighty and far spread. For two weeks
before Christmas are held nightly las
pasadas , parties in commemoration of
the birth of Christ. Friends meet atone
ono another's houses very much as we
.gather around the Christmas tree ,
where they form a procession in the
decorated court of the house , march
ing around it and carryingatthoir head
a miniature baby Christ lying on a pile
of straw in that manger of fur-away
Bethlehem ; tilbo the Hles-sed Virgin and
Joseph with the lowly ass. As they
march around chanting , they humble
themselves before this stable from
which the bright light of all time blos
somed forth in a man child. On com
pletion of this ceremony , the
hostobs presents each guest with
n gift , then a member from
out the whole is chosen , blindfolded and
placed beneath a large earthen jar sus-
iionUud from the ceiling , which is gaily
decorated either with fluttering colored
papers , or the bright skirts of an huge
mper doll cnvulop it. This jar should
DO overflowing with candies , nuts and
raisins , though a so-called joke is often
perpetrated upon the expectant guests
in South America as well as in Mexico ,
by lllling it with undesirable matter.
'I'lio blindfolded guest must with a stick
strike at the jarmidst convulsive laugh
ter from the fair soxuntil ho finally hits
and breaks it.allowing the sweets to fall
in u sudden shower among the laughing ,
ecu-ambling guests. Dancing closes these
evenings of
I'KSTIVITIKS AT MIDNIGHT
until the nightboforo Christmas arrives ,
when they dance broad daylight in.
Valuable presents are often exchanged
curing the pasadas , though Now Years
is the acknowledged day for the pleas
ant interchange of remembrances.
The great center of attraction at this
lime is the Pla/a Mayor , which on two
sides is skirted bv a double row of
rudely constructed booths , facing each
other , with a passage between for pur
chasers. Those booths are attractive
in their decorations of national colored
papers , many jMissesslng a little room in
the roar where the Indian family live
during the busy weeks , skillfully manu
facturing with deft fingers , dolls and
toys toys whicli so often pertain to the
birth of Christ , such as staples of wax
with the infant Savior in the arms of
Mary , Josephs without end of benign
expression , Mocks of snowy sheep led by
the Good Shepherd , and all of the
npostlcs in goodly array. Peace
Eooms to breathe from these rude
booths. The murmur and hum of the
surrounding capital is hero broken by
the. babble uf a gesticulating , excitable
poop"io , and by. the shouts of gaudily at-
tirou toy venders and lottery ticket
idlers , the latter causing to' lose
oftoncrthnn to make the coveted dollar.
Dozens of little paper pails swing in the
breeze , to bo tilled by smiling Indian
girls with tlulees of the country ; furni
ture of inlaid woods cleverly executed
for hanpy children ; the rays and plates
of intricate straw work forming really
beautiful landscapes or churches and
public buildings , attract the attention ;
toys without end , all well made by
lowly lingers. Evergreen boughs used
during the pasadas lie arouird , for never
as yet has the Christinas tree shed its
brightcandlo rays on expectant childish
faces. Mosses bank the ground from
tender green to the grey , trailing moss
gathered'from the historical woods of
Chapultepoc. Emblossomcd on this
soft grey lie those brilliant flowers
called la flor do la nocho buonn ( the
Jlowor of the good night , or Christmas
eve ) a llowcr shaped something like
our homely sunflower with a deep
brown center from which radi
ate many long , narrow , scarlet
leaves a beautiful llowcr gathered
for Christmas eve , and it seems n
though when the bells ring out jubi
lantly on the stroke of midnight that
these ( lowers raise their bright heads
in adoration to Him above.
Following the toy , como the candy
booths , where , also , unices of the coun
try can bo bought ; sweet potatoes
steeped whole in boiling biigar ; bananas
with the peel on , quite delicious , petri
fied by sweetness ; crystallized cherries
lit for the melodious throats of twenty
robin-redbreasts , and orange pool so
delicately remolded that , it molts in the
willing mouth. On high strung cords
from booth to booth dangle the jars for
las pasadas , the large painted faces of
the paper dolls disguising thorn either
smiling or frowning , as the case may be.
Thoj lend the fantastic side to this for
eign scene as they float , bob and bowen
on the soft air to the eager
crowd below them. From the
band stand float strains of Christmas
musie. Under its magic influence wo
linger until darkness claims the .scene.
Then flaring torches light the booths
and electric lights , the whole.
I'JUVATK 1'AUTIKS
hire horse cars and start for pasadas in
some suburban village , decorating the
cars with flags , while lighted Chinese
lanterns festoon tnem with light. They
go singing on their way , breaking the
darkness of the night with fireworks.
When la nocho buena ( the good night ,
or Christmas eve ) arrives , all Mexico is
awake , is up to pay just tribute to the
Divine Leader. JJut no jingle of sleigh-
bells on a frosty , crisp air strikes the
ear , no hurrying footsteps over spark
ling , creaking snow , no rosy-checked
boy awaiting the broauing of dawn for
a slide down hill on the new sled , no
wide-hailed homo with its mistle
toe bough and trooping maid
ens , its big roaring firo. with
toasting apples. Instead , a warm sum
mer night with a mellow moon sailing
tranquilly over head. "Within the plaza
a band of musie plays to a listening people -
plo walking and standing within radius
of its inllucnce. Without the plaza are
camped the \endcrs of toys and Indians
from the country , forming picturesque
groups , sleeping , kneeling and chant
ing around their simply constructed
shrines before which glimmers the
iieriiotual little lamp. Fhu-ing torches
lend wiordness to the scene , the moon ,
pathos. Tread reverently among thcso
lowly people , dignified by their worship
of Mother and Son. As the hour of mid
night strikes , hundreds of brazen
throats from cathedral and church
tower ring out on the tropical night
acknowledgment of the birth of Christ ,
and from every open church portal
musiu of rejoicing streams forth.
Parties of plcasnre-.seekers flit
by strumming on gaily decked
tambourines , while in all of the aristo
cratic mansions they are dancing and
feasting the nightaway.
Christmas is passed very much like
every other religious feast day. Big
and little bolls are rung at certain in
tervals throughout the glad day , and
their churches , places of refuge from
the storms of life , stand invitingly open
to rich and poor alike , as all churches
should do. The theatres and circus
gi'vo three grand performances through
the day and evening , at reduced prices.
In the afternoon " 0 valientes turos a
muoto. " Six valiant bulls arc to meet
death in the popular bull-ring before
thousands of this sport-loving people.
vntK-woiyvS T.OOM THKOUOH TUB AIU
all day , as well as at night , and the
French pastry shops fill the air with
such a tempting odor that one needs
must enter qnp to behold the rows upon j
rows of delicious pantry tarts , round ,
or oblong and to tender that
they cannot be resisted. C'ako of fantas
tic mouldand quite doliciouslittlesriuare
thin walls of cake filled with whipped
cream , the delicate whole encrusted
with frost-work of curiously wrought
sugar. The smiling cook soils them
hinu-olf in immaculate white apron and
cap , convincing ono with many a bow
and smile that thcso dainty , palatable
things as just what one needs. Hut as
ono stops from the pastry shop with de
jected spirit and air , for more money
than was intended has gone to the
pastry cook , the pcrfumo of ( lowers
greet you , again the pus try unsuincs de
licious proportions and you rejoice that
your money fills the cook's pocket for
tliOMi flowers breath of "Peace on earth ,
good will toward man. "
GIIACU DKANI : HUNT.
PKI 1 KUM1NT imol'S.
Now the stormy clouds of winter
'Cover up the bright blue sky ,
And the Iccmnn mul tlio plumber
Do not s | ? k ns they pass by.
Through by daylight The night.
_ A bad sign An , illegible signature.
Now that Christina's is hero We should bo
very careful not to look our gift horses In the
mouth.
A watch that don't run doesn't need any
chain.
Failure In the yarn trade writing unsuc
cessful novels.
Mutiy an old book 1ms to bo bound over to
keep the piece.
Ths world owes us a living , but we have to
enforce payment.
The bucket-shops are kicking tlio bucket.
They nrc dead ami have no future.
Amateur Xo , an actor docs not go to an
iron foundry when ho is cast for u part.
Rome men < lat am do alikiteets ob diir own
fnwohunes creek mighty crazy buildln's.
A man's credit Is low down when ho can
not obtain money nnilcr false pretenses.
Adversity mny try men's souls , but pros
perity often grinds them to powder.
There is an athletic club in Indiana com
posed entirely of grocers. They arc all light
weights.
St. Peter will open wide the gate for the
man who In winter hero on earth always shut
the door. j
"No , ma'am , " said the grocer to on appll-
cunt for credit , " 1 wouldn't even trust my
own feelings. " |
It is no gre.it credit for the worm to turn
when stopped upon. A barrel hoop will ilo
the same thing. |
It is said that the poet Goethe's death was
Imtitonctl by his hearing an American pro
nounce his name.
In the Volapuk language the word for dollar
lar is "tloab. " But it will be just as hard as
ever to borrow one.
Kojoloo when your Chrlstnnistuvke.vmnkPs
n brave lieht for life. The bravest are the
tondi'rcst , you Isnow ,
As between the ilnilo and his cano at this
writing the cano seems to have a trifle the
best of it in the size of head.
If the hairs of every one's heat ! arc num
bered , wo presume those on the back of the
cranium are back numbers.
" \Vo met a man the other day who has liny
fever all the year 'ro'uiul. It breaks out
whenever you ask him a question.
\ Uoston man hiis advertised for the return
of "a green lawyer's bag. " Culture up that
way is still a liltlo nifrgcd about the edges.
It is said that 300.000 people in Franco live
In apartments that have no windows. Those
are the people who can safely throw stones.
Uuskin says : "Man should resemble n
river. " Some men do , in ono respect , at
least. The biggest part of them is their
mouth.
Smytlic , who lives in a boarding house ,
wants the old song , "Hold the Fort for 1 am
Coming , " changed to hold the pianoforte till
I can get away.
An Ohio family were made ill by eating
poisoned pio. Any ono wfio would add to the
already deadly character of the American pie
by putting poison in It , is a llend.
"You may bring me , " said a Doston girl ,
; a small portion of u Ccltlo disturbance. "
"A which is it ! " said the waiter. "Irish
stew , you stupid , " answered she.
Impassioned T-over ( quoting Moore in a
whisper ) "Onr conch shall bo roses , be
spangled with dew. " Pi-actlc.il Girl "It
would gviu me rheumatics , and so it would
you. "
The merits of a now organ are thus de
scribed by a provincial newspaper : "Tlio
swell died away in a delicious suffocation.
like ono singing n sweet song under the bed
clothes. "
"Oh. yes , " said a grumbling beggar , "folks
al'ays helps them as don't need any help.
Why , there's lightnin' ; it can git down to the
ground fast enough all by itself , and .vit folks
is nil the time a-puttin' up rods for it to slide
down on. "
Young Rural ( in a New York restaurant.
showing off before his girl ) "Waiter , bring
ns u bottle of champagne. " Waiter "Yes ,
fir. Dry ! " Young Unral ( hotly ) "It's
nnnc-of your infernal business whether wo
are dry or not. Just you bring it. "
"Move on , " shouted n west sulo citizen to
n organ grinder , who had stopped In front of
his house to exhibit the antics of his apo.
"My motlicr-in-law has Just left us this morn
ing and wo don't want any more monkey
business around hero for a while. "
A young German oftlccr. rather now to his
work , was drilling a squint of raw recruits ,
and gave the word of command : "Lift the
right leg 1" One of the soldiers by mistake
raised nis left leg , so that it Joined closely to
the right leg of his neighbor. "Doiincrwet-
terl" exclaimed the olllcer , "what Jackan
apes has lifted both his legs ! "
"Von integridy mid oojirigbthood , " says
Carl Pretzel , "vas got shtampcil on dor hoo-
man mind , dor owner of dot mind could vhent
ilshin' on Soonday , und it vns alrighth. "
Son "Papa , how do they catch hinaticsl"
Cynical Father "With diamond necklaces ,
deeollctto dresses and fourteen-button gloves ,
my boy. "
llnllooit Voyage on Record.
St. Nicholas : Prof. John Wise , a
world-famed aeronaut , sailed through
the air in July , 18.1) ! ) , from St. Louis ,
Mo. , to Henderson , Jefferson county ,
Now York a distance in a straight line
of 835 miles. Ho laid claim to 1,050
miles , by reason of the many turns
taken during the trip , which took his
balloon out of a direct course into
circles and curves. The voyage is the
longest recorded in balloon history.
The ballon was in the air over night
a period of about twenty hours. Pro
fessor Wise tried more tlinn once , but
without success , to equal or exceed the
famous trip mentioned. Finally a few
years ago , ho left St. Louis in a balloon
on a long trip , for the last time. Ho
has never boon hoard from. A reporter
who wont with him was found dead some
weeks later on the shore of Lake Mich
igan. By reason of this and other dis
asters , the suggestion of a long air-voy
age gives rise in the public mind to a
keen sense of his perils which attend
every attempt to stay in tlio sky over
night.
Little Stuart bad spent his first day at
school. "What did you learn I" was his
auntlo's question. "Didn't learn anything. "
"Well , what did you ito I" "Didn't do any
thing. There was a woman wanting to know
bow to spell 'cat1 and I told her. "
Mrs. Millnrd True * , of Wcathcrly , Mo , ,
gave birth to three bouncing boys last week ,
thejr combined weight being eighteen ixninds.
Ten months ago she yrcseutcd her Husband
with twin * . '
The
Only Machine Which
Will Sew
Backwards & Forwards
AGENTS WANTED
in all
Unoccupied Territory.
CAPITAL NEWS GATHERERS ,
Some Personal Points About Corre
spondents at Washington.
AN UNWRITTEN CODE OF ETHICS.
How tlifc Honor of the Profrstiloti IB
Guarded Men AVlio Have
Made Their Mark on
tlio Itow.
WASIIIXOTON , Dec. 22. [ Correspondence of
the BKI : . " | Over one hundred accredited
newspaper correspondents and reporters
will bo admitted to the reporters' galleries of
the senate and house in the Fiftieth congress.
This is the largest number that has ever
passed the scrutiny of the press committee
who consider the applications and credentials
of correspondents. The requirements for admission -
mission to the reporters' galleries have been
considerably restricted. Just before the
Fiftieth congress convened there was a mass
meeting of the professional writers who ap
ply for admission to tlio galleries , when what
is known as the'vix * committee was selected.
This committee , acts In co-operation with the
chairman of tljo CQinmittee on rules In the
senate and the .speaker of the house of repre
sentatives and make up two distinct press
committees , oao for cither branch of con
gress.
It is necessary at the convening of each
session for every man who is admitted to the
galleries to make application for a
card. In his application the corre
spondent gives the name of the paper which
ho represents , the number of times in each
week it is published , and the location of the
publishing ollldc. Besides this he declares
that he IB not engaged in the prosecution of
any claims before congress ; that he is not
Interested in any pending legislation , and is
not an employe of the government.
During the last congress it was discovered
that three or four men who wore admitted
to the reporters' galleries were interesting
themselves cither in legislation pending be
fore congress or furnishing information from
the departments and the white house for the
prosecution of claims , etc. The object in re
quiring applicants for cards of s'dmisslon to
the galleries to state specifically that they
are not interested In any measure before
congress and are not. employed under the
government , Is to keep out of the space set
aside for professional writers , a class of men
who do not make a livelihood solely by writ
ing for the press.
The press committee at its first meeting in
this congress took into consideration charges
which were filed against correspondents who
were interested in pending legislation , or who
wore engaged in the claim agency business ,
and , after deliberation , rejected their applica
tions for admission to the galleries. The
committee also concluded to reject the appli
cation of at least one corresjwndent who was
guilty of unprofessional acts. There is an
unwritten code of ethics among the corre
spondents here Jiu > t as high and as strictly
adhered to as was ever set up among doctors ,
lawyers and other professional men. This
correspondent had sent circulars to editors
throughout the country proposing to furnish
dispatches and letters from Wash
ington for prices , not only far below the
lowest being paid , but which degraded
reputable corrcsK | > iulonts. In fact this man
offered to do work at such rates that would
not have paid for the actual manual labor of
n copyist , and the only manner in which ho
could do this was by employing young men
who desired to learn the newspaper business
without compensation. Ho is in the habit of
advertising for young men who desire to
enter the profession of journalism , and re
spondents to his advertisements are Informed
that they can take a course of instruction
under him for six months or u year without
pay. and , at the end of that time , they can
shift for themselves. Ills jonrnalistio college
bears about the same relation to the regular
profession as the medical college of the cele
brated Dr. liuchanau did to the regular pro
fession of mcdlclno. Besides this , which
would hardly constitute n bur , ho issued cir
culars offering to represent claimants in
direct tax cases , which was decidedly against
the rules ; and further , it is charged that ho
intimated very broadly to a government em
ploye that ho could make a comfortable sum
of money if ho would aid in securing a cer
tain contracts for one of his ( the correspond
ent's ) friend.
It Is absolutely essential for the honor of
the profession in Washington that the corres
pondents should Iw above suspicion in every
respect , and for this reason the press com
mittee Is rigid hi Us requirements that no
man who is likely to receive or give a bribe
for any selfish puriwso should have the
entree of the scats reserved for reputable
writers.
As a body the newspaper correspondents
of Washington take the highest rank In the
profession in the United States. A largo
majority of them are young men sent hero
from the homo .ofllco oftho papers they rep
resent and are regularly trained journalists ,
but there arc a few wla > huvo been in News
paper Uow ever siiico the war.
Since the death of the well known Major
Ben Perloy Poore , who was the acknowl
edged dean of the profession , and who
opened an oflico In j Washington long before
the agitation of , ) ho abolition of slavery
began in real earnest , General H. V. Bojn-
ton , of the Cinpltimitl Commeocial Gazette ,
has been recognized as the leader. Ho is
chairman of the Press committee and proba
bly wields a wider influence over the corps of
correspondents than any man in it. General
Boynton Is about lifty-tlvo years of ago ; is
a little below the average height ; weighs
probably litt jxninds ; has u full beard , about
one-third grey , and is slightly deaf. Ho is
ono of the most fluent writers In the country ,
and brings the nggrrssivo qualities which
characterized his service in the nrmy to his
desk on newspaper row.
Major John M. Carson , who represents the
Philadelphia Ledger , and enjoys confidential
relations with George W. Child * , is the
second member of the press committee. Ho
is about the ago of General Boynton ; U fully
six feet In height , weighs less than 150 ,
wears short sldo whiskers and has the dis
tinction of being the best writer on financial
matters in the corps. JJko Generan Hoyn-
tou , ho is'a married man and Is the proud
xosscssor of a son who graduated with high
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UNION MANUFACTURING COMPANY ,
1609 HOWARD STREET.
honors at the Military Academy and had the
sand to decline a "soft snap'1 in the army ,
but chose Instead hard work on the frontier.
Major Carson Is a man of dry humor , has
travelled extensively , and Is a thoroughgoing ,
all-around writer who has few superiors.
E. B. Wight is a short , thick-set , little
gentleman , who , if ho were moro grey , would
make an excellent Santa Glaus. Ho is , per
haps , forty-five years old , docs more real
hard work than any of his associates , Is nn
encyclopedia of Information , and has u "fad. "
Mr. Wright's fad is scraps. His
house la full of scraps. Ho
has scraps on every subject. Ho lias
volume-vital volumes , and volumes of scraps.
The collection and assorting of his scraps
take up the greater portion of his life. It is
said that ho is inoro devoted to his scraps
than to his children , but this is unfair. Mr.
Wight has two of the handsomest little boys
In Washington. They are the grand-children
of Colonel W. W. Clapn , of the Boston Jour
nal , which paper Mr. Wight represents here ,
us well us the Chicago Inter-Ocean and the
New York Post. Mr. AVIght is also a mem
ber of the press committee.
\yilllam C. McBride writes the widely
copied and racey interviews ami special arti
cles for the Cincinnati Enquirer , and digs
. 1 out moro political notes than any other man
I in the row. Ho is about forty-eight years
old ; medium height ; inclined to bo stout ;
black-haired , black-eyed and can tell the dif
ference between a poker deck and t ho revised
version. Mack has travelled extens
ively and Is never happier than when
lulling his little black mustache- and rclat-
ng , in a confidential mood , the incidents of
his life.
The fifth member of the committee is
Major F. A. G. Handy , who served In the
confederate army as chief signal ofllcer , and
who was such a martinet and disciplina
rian that military offenders who were
brought before him for diciplino always re
ported that there was just one place worse
than Handy's command , and that was the
place that is never mentioned in polite so
ciety. Handy spends his summers on his Vir
ginia farm , where ho raises sweet potatoes
and cattle. Ho Is u man of family ; enjoys
life ; Is a good writer , and looks so much like
Delegate Cain , of Utah , that ho is always
well posted on Mormon questions because
Cain's constituents make a confident of him
whenever they como to Washington. Ho
writes for the Chicago Times.
Colonel Fred D. Musscy. whoso "F. D. M. '
is the most familiar and pleasantry welcome
signature in the Cincinnati Commercial-Ga
zette , is upwards of forty and handsome.
Ho has grown bald headed in the newspaper
service , although his well-shaped blonde mus
tache still flourishes. This shows that Fred
works more with his head than he does with
his jaw. Colonel Mussey's letters are as
versatile as were ever sent out of Washing
ton , dealing ii ; politics , religion , pleasant and
unpleasant personalities.
Major Stofer ( pronounce this Stofah ) was
born at CulK | > piK > r , Va. , in 1850. MajorStofer
was too young for active hostilities during
the late war , but his military title was well
earned. At the tender ago of seven ho did
excellent service for the union army by sell
ing pics to the confederate soldiers. Major
Stofer asserts that he killed moro confeder
ates than any one union rifleman. Ho has
been in the newspaper business in his native
town and in St. Louis ever since ho could
scratch a pen. Ho now represents the St.
Iouls Republican , and as he is of the bour
bon democratic proclivities ho enjoys his
work moro than most people enjoy a play.
There is nothing that pleases him so well us
to "go for" the republican officials and states
men. Ho Is an incisive and versatile writer ,
and is still in the matrimonial market , al
though it is about all ho can do to avoid the
matrimonial net. Major Stofer has a "fad. "
It is the banjo.
Charles F. Towle , of the Boston Traveller ,
writes three letters a week , in which he has
all the insldo society gossip and some of the
best stories afloat. Besides this ho covers
the entire New England with telegraphic dis
patches every afternoon. Ho is a light
weight , but mentally a hard hitter. He is
young , but married ; is proud of his boy and
in love with his wife.
Charles Nordhoff , ol the Now York Her
ald , is perhaps the best paid man In the list.
Ho is the head of the New York Herald's
bureau ; comes and goes as ho chooses ; has
the insldo run of some lines of infornjtttln
and Is a thoroughly posted man on nil Mb-
jccts of national importance. Ilo is a snort
man , stocklly built , wears spectacles ; has
closely cropped whiskers and his family are
among the leaders of Washington society.
William E. Curtis , who now repre
sents the Chicago News , has written
ono work on South American cities and an
other on the X.uni Indians , and he is now en
gaged upon a work on Uussia which will bo
published by the Harpers. Mr. Curtis him
been a newspaper writer und editor for fif
teen years , four years of which ho was man
aging editor of tlio Chicago Inter-ocean. He
sends his matter In the shape of telegraphic
letters over his full name , and is ono ol the
raciest writers In the profession. Mr. Curtis
is ab'out thirty-six years old ; lias a charming
family and rides a tricycle.
The two regular press associations are rep
resented at the capital by largo staffs. David
H. MclCee , the Washington agent of the New-
York Associated press , makes flying visits to
caeh house of congress and makes up the
connections by personal effort. Ho is a thor
oughly educated writer himself and knows
when tilings are going as tho.y
should. Ho is about forty years
old ; tall , slender and fine-looking , and is
assisted by George ICennan , who has the
proud distinction of being the only Washing
ton newspaper correspondent who is barred
out of Hussla. Itcnnnn has contributed a
series of very interesting articles on Siberia
to the Century magazine , and has had years
of cxpenlcnco In Astatic Russia. Mr. McKeu
is also assisted by Mr. F. T. BIckford , who
has charge of the congressional committees
and secret sessions. Ho was formerly ono of
the corresitondents of the New York Tribune.
Ilo has been connected with the Associated
press for four or live years ; is a hard worker ,
methodical writer , and has a wide and varied
acquaintance with public men. Ho writes
shorthand and Is an old telegraph operator.
The other assistants are Charles J , Hayes ,
Edwin M. Hood and Charles M. Herrlllat.
P. V. DeGraw is general manager of the
United press , and , like Mr. McKee , gives the
details of the work his personal atten
tion. Mr. DcGraw Is ono of the most
expert telegraph operators in the country , and
worked himself up by his own efforts to the
prominent and enviable position which ho
now occupies. Ho always has charge of the
United press service on big occasions , and
sits at the wire himself. Ho can get out a
good report in less time- than any man In
Washington. Ho is thirty-four years old ,
tall , heavily built , and of prepossessing an-
ixnirance.- Among his assistants nro W. F.
O'Brien , William E. HlngwaU , John Bpylo
and W. W. Burlmhs.
There are only two reurcscntatlvcs of
German papers. In Washington. Thcso are
U W. Haborcom , a man of forty-live years ,
who represents the New York Herald and
St. Louis Westllcho Post , and Paul Wolff ,
who was an engineer officer in the Austrian
army , and writes letters and despatches for
the New York Staatseitung. . Ho is per
haps about thirly-ciiht.\VHr old , Well posted
and of pleasing manners. Hancrcoin , al
though a German by birth and education ,
sends his dispatches In English , and his dic
tion is pure as the best. Ilo is an excellent
ncwsgatherer and gets oil many 'scoops' on
his hated rivals.
Mr. M. G. Scckendorf , chief of the Now
York Tribune bureau , is also a German , and
was tin olllcer in the German nav.y. Mr.
Seckcndorf is of light complexion , very care
ful in his dress , us well us in his writings ,
ranks high with every one. He is assisted
by Major S. N. Clark , who was born in Erlo
county , N. Y. ; was tilled with bullets during
the war. and writes his most cuUIngcritieisms
of the democrat in administration when the
bullets are most effective.
The New York Times ofllec hero Is con
ducted by Mr. E. G. Dunncll , who began at
the case ; has tried publishing country week
lies ; smokes continually ; wears glasses ; is
slight , nervo.us and bright. Mr. Dunnell's
assistant , Do Puy , who was also born in Erie
county , and , although Mr. Do Pay's father
was a methodist minister , his articles dp not
go in the religious columns of the : Times.
Both of these gentlemen are married , and the
latter knows moro about a billiard euo than
the former does.
A. W. Lynian , of the New York Sun , was
formerly tlio Albany corrc.spondcnt of
that journal. He doesn't always agree per
sonally with the editorial columns , and , un
like his newspaper , stands well at the white
house. Mr. Lyinan Is assist oil by David S.
Barry , who also writes for the Detroit Even-
Ill } ; Journal. Mr. Barry claims to bo the
shortest man in the profession , but this claim
is disputed b.y Mr. L. C. MePhcrson , of the
Cleveland Plalndcalcr. The two nro very
similar in build , with the advantage of
weight in Barry's favor. They are both
bright little fellows whom everybody likes.
H. B. MeFarland , of the Philadelphia
Record , Is u son of a newspaper man. His
father was the representative of a Phila
delphia paper hero before and during the
war , and ho inherited a taste for journalism.
He is young , unmarried and somewhat ex-
cliihivo in his friendships. Ho believes that
Bayard is the greatest statesman on earth ,
after President Cleveland , und has worked
faithfully to induce Randall to sec the errors
of his ways and como into the true demo
cratic fold. MeFarland would bo considered
n mugwump if ho lived whcro the franchise
was free , but as ho is a resident of Washing
ton his political proclivities arc of little ac
count except so far us they influence his
writing.
Mr. Edmund Hudson , of the Boston Her
ald , has been in Washington upwards of ten
years. He is an excellent writer , but , owing
to the fact that ho has other business inter
ests , his writings are not seen as often of late
years as they used to bo. Mr. Hudson is
proprietor of the Sunday Capital , Army and
Navy Register and United States Govern
ment Advertiser.
Mr. Robert J. Wynne , who is associated
with General Boynton , left the telegraph
key to become assistant correspondent of the
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette. Ho is well
posted on financial matters , a prolific writer ,
und is well known for his accuracy.
Fred Perry Powers , of the Chicago Times ,
Is a college man , about thirty-six years old ,
who looks likn an Englishman but isn't. Ho
prefers financial matters to the elaboration of
the details of a scandal , anil frequently con
tributes to magazines. He is a man who shows
his editorial ability In all of his despatches.
James W. Allison of the New York Star , is
n Kcntuckian who never touched a drop of
sour mash in his life. He is u genius in his
way ; u firm believer In the theory of 'Sim's
Hole , ' and , while still a bachelor , Is likely
to Join the ranks of the benedicts at any mo
ment.
S. E. Johnson and Gcorgo Gilliland , who
supplement the special articles of MeBrido
with the regular work of the Cincinnati En
quirer , are very bright journalists. Mr. John
son was for years a pungent paragrupher in
the editorial rooms , and Gilliland , being an
expert telegraph operator , was assistant news
editor in the home office. What with editorial
ability , electric knowledge and the fact that
their ofllce is the headquarters of Ohio and
Indiana democrats generally , the Enquirer
bcldom gets loft in Washington matters.
Charles M. Pepper has represented the Chicago
cage Tribune for two years. Howas former
ly at Springfield , where ho looked after the
legislature. Ho Is assisted by Mr. Vincent
B. Kclley , who has been hero such a short
time that he is not well known among his as
sociates.
Charles II. Gray , of the St. Paul Pioneer
Press , lias been in Washington off and on for
many years. Ho is part owner in a lively
daily In Dakota , is well up in north
western matters and makes it exceedingly
lively for his rivals , A. H. S. Davis , of the
Minneapolis Tribune , who began his career
as a newspaper man in Maine before the war.
and Mr. Smith 1) . Fryo , of the St. Paul
Globe , but recently in Nowsnapcr Row , from
department life. Mr. Fryo and his dog are
well known characters on the streets of
Washington.
John S. Shrivcr , of the Baltimore Ameri
can , has left us. John was the boy who
created such n stir in Baltimore when he first
entered the profession. Ho was assigned to
write up u meeting of the Old Ladies' Homo.
Ho described the scenes there In two columns
and u half and was compelled to boil * It down
to ten lines , and still stuck manfully to his
IKMicll. Shrivel- used to go to fires in a car
riage of his own and detail his footman tu go
among the common herd for
particulars. John lias gotten bravely
over that and before ho loft used to travel
on foot or in a common street car with
a Russian overcoat , which was the envy of
swelldom , und wrote u grout many clover
things. Ho named the president's country
place "Red top , " which nuino will stick to it
as long us it exists. Ho advertised Mm.
Cleveland's dog , Hector , to the world , and
has written more widely copied white IIOUHO
stories than any man who over lived In
Washington , Hi ) has Just become managing
editor of the Lorbon Publishing company at
Baltimore. Ho left Washington last week
with his thirty-seven suits of clothes.
Amos Cummlngs , member of congresn
from New York , does some wovk for the
Evening Sun , but most of the news h pro
vided by Mr. J. A. Truesdell , who furnishes
a vast amount of interesting matter for some
of the newspaper syndicates.
Ono of the best known and most clover
combinations is that of Colonel E. W. Ayers ,
uf the Kansas City Times und Judge J. J ,
Noah , pf the Chicago Herald. They arc
men In the prime of life , with the widest
range of 'political anil Journalistic experience
and wield a potent influence hi their work ,
To describe the.wholollstof correspondents
.who are entitled to admission to the galleries
would require two pages of this paper. They
are nil good fellows and nro all writers of
merit in their particular line and for their
particular section. In the above I mention
only u few of them und not even tried to pick
out the best. Among the others are Walter
B. Slovens , who bus charge of the St. Louis
Globe-Democrat ; U.S. Underwood , Boston
Advertiser ; Hugh Hastings and Frank H.
Carpenter , of the New York Worlu ;
Charles A. Boynton , brother of Gen
eral Boynton , of the Western Associated
Press ; H. Conquest Clarke , Boston Journal ;
Henry E. Eland , Memphis Appeal ; Charles
S. Elliott , New York Commercial Adver
tiser ; Holmrt Brooks , Cleveland Press ; J.
F. Durham , Louisville Courier-Journal ; S.H.
Klvnn. Baltimore Sun ; Julrs Guthcrldgo ,
New York Herald ; Cicero W. Harris , Richmond
mend Dispatch ; Cl. Heazelton , San Frun-
ciseo Chronlclo ; Frank T.Howe , Pittsburg
Commercial Gas-etto ; C. P. Hunt , Buffalo
Times ; Do B. Randolph Keim , Philadelphia
Times ; Charles 10. Klncuid , Louisville Times ;
Thomas B. KIrby , New York Journal of
Commerce ; Robert M. Lomiir , Baltimore
Sun ; John B. McCarthy , Hartford Times ;
George Martin , Philadelphia Press ; Frank
P. Morgan , Brooklyn Citizen ; James Mor
gan , Boston Dully Glebe ; Richard Nixon ,
Now Orleans Times-Democrat ; C. M. Ogdcn ,
Philadelphia News ; Herbert A. Preston ,
Now York Herald ; F. A. Richardson , Haiti-
moac Sun ; William E. Rltigwult , New York
Commercial Bulletin ; W. B. Shaw. Boston
Transcript ; Ban-old Snowdon , Alexandria
Gazette ; II. W. Spofford , Fort Worth Ga
zette ; O. O. Stealy. Louisvlllo Courier-
Journal ; Gcorgo H. Walker , Cleveland
Leader ; L. O. Washington , New Orleans
Picayune , and James R. Young , Philadel
phia Star.
All lovers of dramatic art will hope Messrs.
Booth and Barrett will bo able to execute the
purpose which they uro understood to enter
tain of building 11 theatre in Now York for
the purpose of producing high class plays
with all the accessories which may bo needed
to give the fullest development to their dra
matic themes. That Mr. Booth ventured hla
fortune and his energies in a similar enter
prise some years ago without obtaining such
a response from the public ns was needed to
save him from 1'alluro docs not furnish a rea
son why the proposed experiment should not
bo tried. Mr. Booth was Just " little in ad-
vunco of his time when ho undertook his the-