The Washington union., 1858-03-17


pass the Rue de vo in Paris But the opportunity has
been lost. and can again STILL IL rs mposs
bic not 10 believe that Washington will yet become the
most splendid city this continent 1t has all the ele
ments OF beauty we'll of greatness both IN itself and
in its immediate enyrons and when IL becomes popu
lous New York, which ii is likely TO be in less than fifty
years the inferior buildings that line its spacious streets
will disappear, and its magnificent distances VIII be
adorned with an architecture worthy OF the cartal OF
fifty or perhaps Of hundred young and vigorous re-
publios.
The site Of Washington was chosen by George Wash
ingon himself who laid the coine stone OF the Capitol
the 18th of September 1893 At that time, and
for years afterwards the sttngs of the Legislature
were held in Independence Hall, Philadelphia The
city stands in the District of Columbia in territory ceded
for the purpose by the Commonwealth of Virginia and
Maryland, and covers of sixty square miles
Originally its measure hundred square miles; !;
but IN 1896, forty square miles restored 10 the
Commonwealth The design, well rs the location of
the city is due to the genius of General Washington un
der whose directions the plans executed 10y MAYOR
Il LEnlant. 1hc limits extend from northwest to south
east about four miles and half and from east to south
west about two miles and half The circumference Of
the city fourteen miles, and tho aggregate length OF the
streets is computed at 1919 miles and Of the six
tyhve miles and the average width is from seventy to
one hundred and ten feet.
The original Capitol was SO much damaged by the
British. invading force in the unfortunate war OF 1871
that ia the following year il found necessary to re-
construct IT, I'm 1923 it entirely repaired and in
1851 being fond insufficient for the increasing business
of the nation il determined 10 add two wings TO IT,
which al the present time in process OF construction
The Capitol contains the halls chambers OF the Senate
and the House of Representatives former numbers
g. and the latter about 250 membcrs IL also contains
the hall Of the Supreme Court where nine judges, robed
but not bewgged-and the only functonares, except
those of the army and navy, who official cos
sit TO administer justice, and TO control and regu
late the whole action of the government in manner
quite unknown to the constitution OF Great Britain The
Capitol s built of pure white marble which CLEANS in the
the eyes of any Englishman accustomed to the murly
sombreness Of the public monuments OF London.
The White House, Presidents mansion, is of free
stone, painted white in imitation of marble II is plain
but elegant building, bcfttng the unpretendDg dignity
of the popular Chief Magistrate Of country where gov
enment is minimized and where the tappngs and para
phernaia OF State and Office unknown and uncongc
NAL. Here the President who possesses, during
his of ece far greater amount Of power and pa
tronage than the sovereign of any State in Europe except
the Empervrs of France Russia and Austria -hansacs
without any unnecessary FORMS and with fornality
ceremony at ALL the business of his great and growing do
mnon Here he receives ut stated days and periods, la
dies gentlemen who choose to call upon him. either for
business pleasure or from curiosity Here hesaNes
hands with the courty and urane ambassador of European
powers with the verics rowdy from New York, and
plug- ugly from Baltimore who either have, or fancy
they have business with him and that, too, without
the necessity of personal introduction. There is
man in the United States who has such quantity OF
handshaking to get through as the President Through
everybody else though the ladies far chary of
the privilege than the ruder If the gentlemen would
but shake hands less and the ladies' would shake hands
little more America would be perfectly delightful TO the
man of many friends and acquantanccs Perhaps the
President if not happier would be better satisfied,
Chief Magistrate.
Washington has no trade commerce Of its own,
snd is deserted for nearly half the year IL therefore
presents greater number of the characteristics of a
fashionable watering place than of capital city. But,
rs the country increases in wealth and population,
Washington viii increase with it, and will gradually
lose the provincial appearance which it now presents,
and assume the completeness to which it's position as
hs seat of ihe legislature and Of all the departments
of government entte it, Never there place in
which Office hunters and place seekers more assidu-
ously congregae The techambers of the President
are daily thronged with solicitants-wth men who think
they helped make the President, and who
quently Of opinion that the President should help to
make them thought when presented to Mr. Buehan-
an that he seemed relieved to find that was English
man and had nothing to ask him forno little place for
SELF or cousin friend or son. for which to beg his all
powerful patronage. Gentlemen he said, when the
crowd usheIed pcll nell into his presence, without
the intervention Of any stick gold or silver in waiting
must take you by the millers rulefrst first
served Have the goodness to state your business
shortly possible have much to do and little time
to do it in" And the crowd passed up, each man
shaking hands with the Chief Magistrate and receiving
a polite, and in many instances cordial reception.
Whether they received anything else, ut that at any
future time whether they still nger on feeding upon
hopes deferred which make the heart SICK is best known
10 themselves hut saw enough to convince that it
is not an easy thing to be popular President.
Hos NlR EvEREIT's LEtTURE--1he saloon of the
Smithsonian Institute crowded last evening with
audience comprising numbers of senator's representatives,
government officers and others of the elite and fashion
able of the city. The number of ladies in attendance
was unusually large. Altogether the audience was prob
ably of the most apprecativc that has been called
together at the Institute this season The Marine Band
stationed in the gallery and engaged the attention of
tte audience while they awaiting the Lecturers ar
rival by dscoursng tolerabc music, which sounded
hardly tolerabe, however in the lecture-rcom.
The sounds especially those of the bass Instruments
fell on the with deafening crash jarng the very
brain and causing the to saggcr oppressed be-
meath the accumulated weight of muttudinous noises
To one accustomed to living in the vicinity of a ma
chine shop this music was no doubt appreciable. We
cannot however but regard this feature in bad taste
especially when il is remembered that the subject of the
lecture was Cbarty" What affinity there is between
a military band and charity cannot imagine unless,
II is that il may remind the listener of the sobs and
groans of soldiers widows and The walls of their Or
phaned children.
Mr. Everett accompanied the stand by Hon
Lewis Cass Hon. jacob Thompson, and Hon. Mayor
Magruder Before the lecturer commenced Mr. Magrudcr
requested that report of the lecture be published and
we therefore forbear than general notice
The lecture richly ntempersed with anecdotes and
eloquent appeals TO the sypathics of bearers Among
the latter especially beautiful in behalf of the
poor girl who forced by extreme pcnury to sell all the
cherished relics OF bygone happiness is thrown upon