Washington Letter

During this winter, Washington has been allowed only an ocrasional day of surisiiine, tbree consecutiye days of fair weather being considerad m especia] favor, and the city saw Lent ushered in with sombre clouds and lalling sleet. But the bad weather did not prevent the morning and afternoon services at the different churches on Ash Wednesday from being well attended by penitential devotees, whose pale, haegard countenances told that tlie end of the season had come none too soon, for the mad rout of the past few weeks has left well defined marks upon the constitutions and faces of even the hardiest society veterans, the wiriest of waltzers. The tariff continúes to be the absorbing question at the Capítol. The Senate is rapidly approaehing the end of the bill, and the House, as a nieans of forcing things, has followed the example of the Senate in holding nightly sessions. The Republicans understand now that they must take a decided stand on the question and define their position before Congress adjourns. They will probably let the discussion go on long enough to satisfy the country that the Deinocrats will defeat the bill if possible, and Uien turn around and pass the bill as it came from the Ways and Means Comraittee. But a parliamentary breaker threatens. The Senate has tacked is tariff bill to a House internal revenue bill as an ainendment thereto. When it comes before the House, a point of order can be raised that the ainendment is not germaine to the subject matter of the House revenue bill, and that the Senate cannot attach an entire revenue system to a House bill in the form of an amenduient. The House would have no objection to the Senate tacking its tariffbill to the enactinglause of the House bill, but it is jealous of its constitutional rights, and will defend theni regardless of party. Business must be done in proper form you know. Senator Lamar made a lengthy speech yesterday upon the tariff question, which was voted a very able effort by both political friends and opponents. Senators Windom, Saunders, and Ferry are in their seats again this week. It would seem that the men who build palacea in Washington never have any political luck afterwards. Senator dom fix.Sanator Blalne, and Mr. Robe. son are w irning examples. Senator Pendleton is forewiirned of political decay by the same token. But then General Butler built liimself a palace here, and he is not the retired list, If there is unything in sif iis and prophecies. Two wedding that have long interested fashiunable circlestook place Tuesday. The marriage of Colouel Coppinger, Major Tenth Infantry, U. S. A., to Mis Blaine, eldest daughter of the ex-secretary, was solenmized at the Blalne reeidence. It was intended to be a very quiet and exclusive afiair, although hundreds of guests were present by invitation. The wedding of Mr. Kobert Koons, of Philadelphia, to Miss Brewster, step-daughter of the attorney-general, took place at the Epiphany church, and was the most brilliant afl'air of the kind witnessed at Washington this season. The President honored both ceremonies by his preseuce, and while on hls way, with his daughter, to attend the lattcr, a panel of hiscarriage was crushed by the pole of a carriage in the rear. Neither of the occnpants were hurt, bnt as they returned from the church, the whcels of the President's carriage became locked with those of eeveral others, and, knowing thfl accident would cause considerable delay, the President abandoned liis already damaged drag, and walked home with his daughter through the ruin. Au honr afterwards, the President assisted by Mrs. MeElroy. several ladies of the cabinet, and others, was holding the last White House reception of the season, which was given to the ofttcers of the army, navy, and marine corps, the ladies of their households, the members of the diplomatic corps and their families. Special preparations were made for this reception, but there was no effort to marshal the guests according to their rank; each took place in line as he emerged from the cloak room, General Sherman and staft" being preeeeded by two young midshipmen.