“Don’t know what the navy department means,” he wrote, “keeping us here for no conceivable purpose under the sun. But I know what I mean. I mean to resign as soon as ever I get home.
“If there should come a war I will serve my country, of course; but in these ‘piping times of peace’ I will not stay in the service to be anybody’s nigger, even Uncle Sam’s!”
Odalite, Wynnette and Elva cheered him up with frequent letters.
Christmas is rather a quiet interlude in the gay life of Washington.
Congress adjourns until after New Year.
Most of the government officials—members of the administration and of both houses of Congress, and many of the civil service brigade, leave the city to spend their holidays in their distant homesteads.
In fact, there is an exodus until after New Year.
The gay season in Washington does not really begin until after the first of January.
The public receptions by the President and by the members of the cabinet take the initiative.
Then follow receptions by members of the diplomatic corps, by prominent senators and representatives, and by wealthy or distinguished private citizens.