Owyhee semi-weekly tidal wave. [volume] (Silver City, Owyhee County, Idaho Territory) 1868-1869, 1869-04-30
Letter from Joe.
APRIL 18th. 1869


atmospherically and typographical
ly. The map of the place reminds
me very much Of the frontispiece of
an almanac, the central figure of
which consists OF man with his
bowels laid open, and the whole sur
rounded by crabs, scorpions, etc,
Illustrative OF the twelve signs of the
zodiac. The map of the Capital city
looks like big paunch, with the
smaller bowels descriptive of the
different streets and corners. have
deliberated over this matter some
what, and concluded that | have
finally found something like an aecu-
rate comparison. Anything | may
have said heretofore on the map of
Washington, | beg leave to take back.
promised you something about
the White House, but as there is
nothing of it but an old stone jug, |
am at loss for anything to say. 1t
is located at the northwest end of
" the avenue" one mile and half
from the Capitol building II is but
a few rods from the Treasury, which
accounts for the city being lop-sided,
the Capitol being the center cot the
plan), everybody gravitated from
there to the Treasury, &c. The
Presidents House is supposed to be
in Lafayette Square, and fronts
north-if at all. The square is lying
round loose, and is studded with
trees and stud-horse statuary, but
that will need a special chapter.
The White House is d tw0-story and
basement affair, with only one hole
to get ia or out at, and that too
small for either tall or u big bellied
individual. The building is better
illustrated by throwing demijohn
on its side-the handle will answer
for portico. Ii is admirably adapt
en- for latter-day Presidents. | am
now satisfied with the result OF the
impeachment trial the Senators did
the best they could to get old A. J..
out of that rat-trap. Ii Grant makes
as good President as \. J. didn't
(which | believe he wild, | want
him to declare himself permanent
resident. But more contemplate
old bastile-old stOre-b0X, cavern
on the top of the ground, architec-
ture that would do credit to a colo
ny of muskrats, perhaps never
graced the Capital city OF any ma
ton. had nothing to do at Wash
ington but study natural history
sometimes called human nature),
and architecture, and things. saw
the White House arrangement under
all the varied quiet and excitement
incident to the last days of an
old and first of new administration.
Two or three days before a. J. left
the she-bang, | surrounded 1t early
in the day (early for that neighbor-
hood, and then at night went to his
last public reception. My first visit
was as suggestive as the last. The
premises looked quite deserted, and
as quiet as graveyard in the coun-
try. | saw no signs of life about
the place, except two yellow pups
scratching themselves against
moss-covered statue OF ThOs. Jeffer-
son. a few rods in front. Thomas
green robes suggested the idea that
he ought 10 be the head center OF
the Fenlans. | will never forget
those two mulatto-colored dogs,
however. Towards evening, they
had to give way to about ten thous-
and other sons-of Democracy and
Republicans mixed, who were anx-
ious for a parting scratch with the
-, til, ,ho White House