Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 May 1885 — LETTER FROM ONE OF THE PILGRIMS. [ARTICLE]

LETTER FROM ONE OF THE PILGRIMS.

Willard Hotel, Washing-) ton, D. C., May 23, 1885. j Dditor Sentinel: Having made application for an appointment under the present administration I, as well as many of my friends, thought it necessary for me to come on to Washington - and urge my claims in person. Accordingly, Sunday night, at 11:33, May 17th, I l>oarded the cannon ball train for Indianapolis in company with our fellow townsman, Mr. Archibald Purcupile, arrived at Indianapolis at 4 o’clock a. m., May 18th. After partaking of a good breakfast at the Grand Hotel, I sought to have an interview with Hon. Joseph E. McDonald, but found that he was absent from home. As the time sped by I enjoyed myself with friends until 4 p. m., when I purchased a ticket for Martinsburg, Va., —round trip ficket over the 1., B. & W. and B. & O. Rr., for $14,50, good returning until June 22d. Leaving Indianapolis late, there was nothing to attract the attention of the traveler, as almost the entire run from Indianapolis to Wheeling, Va., was made in the night.— The velocity of the train and the vert rough condition of the road made us (Hon S. H. Busey and nyself) regret that we had forgotten to take accident tickets at Indanapolis.

After breakfasting at Wheeling, ie stepped on the B. & O. train aid were soon climbing the mountins and rushing through tunnels, Thich, to me, was a grand sight.— Mny times we were seemingly hhging to the mountain, with a yiwning abyss of two or three bunded feet beneath us. Arriving in Washington, we took Idging at Willard’s, at the (very lev) rate of $5 per day. But cheap aithis rate was, it was too rich for or blood and finances, so we renter rooms at 75 cents per day, and txe our meals at a restaurant at 2i cents per meal. So we are livig very cheap. We found many Indianians here, -nil with care-worn faces and cqntenances which were suggestiv of “I want to go home to mail” We have visited many of th places of interest, such as the Any, Navy, Treasury, Persion ai Interior Departments, Navy Yxl and its adjacent buildings, th Capitol, Washington Monunnt, and many other places.— Ta Washington Monument stands mr Smithsonian Ins itute, its hght being 555 feet from the ftndation,and being 55 feet square athe base, one is almost sure to a< why the monument was built vere it now stands. But the anser is—“tradition has it that Washington selected the site him-

The sights seen are worth the (penses of the trip. Washington <ty has a population of 206,000 — £OOO of which are colored, and £OOO office holders, and as they $ from work at 4 p. m., 90 per «it. of which are Republicans, fading rlace under a Democratic fministration, and having done I in their power against the prinoles of Democracy, no wonder imocrats get impatient and growl » times. But there is no doubt fat all who are not under the civil «•, ice law must go soon; and why it some of those und r civil serje? I was informed by an em. Pyee of the Treasury Depart

ment that there were only about 10 per cent, of those working under the civil service law but what were Republicans. Will sethe President to-mor-row, and then we are about ready to shake Washington City dust from our feet, and journey homeward much sadder but wiser than when w’e cam

EZRA C. NOWELS.