Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-12-17
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Gallipolis Journal.
WASHINGTON CITY, d. G. I
Dec. s. 1868.

Correspondence of the Gallipolis Journal.
WASHINGTON CITY, d. C. I
Dec. s, 1868. I
Washington, the seat of our Fed
eral Government, is very far from
presenting to the citizens of this
vast Republic, fair type of its ma
tional life, grandeur. or prosperity.
The tastes Of its varied classes of
residents are not characteristic of
any section, no one thing is strictly
national, if we except the military
and naval uniforms, which are GER
tainly lacking in taste and decora-
tive art, but many of its social hab-
its are eminently cosmopolitan. Had
the city not been so well named, the
"City of Magnificent distances by
an eminent European tourist, it
would have proved no misnomer to
have christened it, the ''City of fSham
appearances, while closing our eyes
to its acknowledged physical perfec-
tions.
Washington with its splendid ave-
nues and streets of immense width,
well graded and paved, is in striking
contrast with the many narrow dirty
thoroughfares of New York, the
crooked, serpentine alleys of ''the
Hub, or the malaria-infected. vel
low-scummed sluice-ways of the
"Crescont City," Washington, viewed
from the stand point Of its broad
thoroughfares, its pleasant drives
within the city limits, its well kept
roads and magnificent perspective
views, is irreproachable; but here
ends its claims to distinction above
neighboring cities, unless the rotten
ness of it's morals, the air of pollu-
ton and chicanery, which permeates
private and public life, are held to be
distinctive; if so, Washington exalt-
ed sits, "by evil deeds promoted to
that bad eminence."
To walk through these avenues
and streets intersecting, will disclose
the fact, that the city Principally
consists of the public buildings, res
taurants, sample rooms, magazins
de modes, and boarding houses, the
first and last of this list, stand out in
bold relief, and are specialties in this
wire-pulling and lucre-loving COM
munity.
Many of the public buildings are
works of elaborate design, boasting
much architectural merit, and adorn-
ed with the highest works Of art in
painting and sculpture, while others
are only dingy piles of brick or
stone, without belonging to any def
mite order Of architecture, and ap-
parently thrown together regardless
Of beauty, convenience or even cx-
pense. The buildings occupied by
the several branches of the National
Government have been so often de-
scribed, that an extended description
ofthem, consisting of measurements,
&c, would be Of no interest to the
mass Of your readers, though many
minor facts connected with their in
ternal adOrnment, and glances into
the mode of life and social status OF
the occupants who daily congregate
therein, may not prove entirely un-
interesting. Without drawing the
lines too carefully or numerously, |
life in Washington may be divided |
among the-old famiIies-members
of the various branches of the Fed
eral clerks and en-
ployes, lobbyists and all correspond
ing ulcers on the body politic-
boarding house keepers-and ne
groes-though last in the scale and
the very pariahs of society, yet after
all not so many removes from their
neighbors, for the numerous shades
and delicate tints Of color, speak
loudly of days past, when it was
deemed no disgrace to bleach the
faces of Africs tawny daughters
with the best blood of these self-same
old families, whose dreams are Of the
past, whose star has set, and as they
draw around them the robes Of their
sectional pride and aristocratic ex-
they sigh as they think
Of the losses that the power of God
and the rights of man have entailed
upon them; but noble yet is this old
family stock, of old, born to COM
mand-lovers and patrons of art
very bon viudnts at each literary feast
Of festive gathering of its own caste,
and if the young scions will but
spring up from the decayed trunk of
their dead past, divested of all ami
mostly and rancor, neither in the
Drum, nor in the pathway of the {
lation's honor, will be found cava-
iers more brilliant than those of the
I'D families of Washington and the {
iunny southland. Though many, 1 ]
night have witten, nearly all of this t
lass were formerly political intrigu- t
!ntes, yet they are by necessity at
PRESENT peculiarly exempt from po-
itical influences, their old power
nd patronage has departed, and $
onsequently the society that con- 4
in their saloons is less open
o the charge of low intrigue for po- y
itical capital or effect; removed be- 7
.ond the influence of the wild cir :,
ling eddies of the political whirl- B
ool, their courtesies may be deem
solid and sincere, and form the !;
ne strong contrast to the usual tone J
f Washington society, which on its Al
nrface is polite, fashionable and Sc o.
uctive, but is nevertheless, venal, n
,eacherous, and impure. ).
Mammon alias the q. s. Treasury a a