Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-17

| AntonelH and n drawing by Dore, with
friendly note from the artist himself. The
young lady is now at work on Dust oil Admiral
Farragut In her studio were three ring-doves,
which are her pets; they went abroad with her,
and now live in a corner of her room, among
the busts and medalons.
Wednesday we went to Mount Vernon. The
sail down the Potomac is delightful; the scenery
cannot be more beautiful than it is now; and
Mount Vernon was charming-still and sunny,
and bright with wild flowers; we found there
four varieties that were new to u.s. The house
is in perfect order, and, although it is UNI
furnished, it gives one feeling of comfort, re-
finement and elegant hospitality. The sun was
pouring into the chamber where Washington
died, and from which he could look far down
the river and over the country. A private stair
case led to his library, and the long windows
there opened on porch, where vines were clus-
| tering, and the warm air was sweet with the
odors of spring. There is a great deal of orna-
mental woodwork about the house; the rooms
have deep wainscOtins, and the mantels,
doors and windows are richly ornamented; the
dining-room is still a fine room; the house
is strikingly different in this respect
from General Lees house at Arlington, which
is finely situated and has a generous piazza, but
is almost shabby inside; its staircase is narrow
and mean, it is unpleasantly plain; one looks in
vain for single trace of taste or elegance. All
the outbuildngs at Mt. Vernon are kept in good
condition; we bought some milk of pleasant
looking mulatto woman, formerly slave of Mr..
| John Washington, and drank it in the kitchen
| which was commonly used; a large kitchen
| away from the house, III which the frame of the
old jack for roasting meats is still fastened over
the fireplace and the great brick stove where
the rest of the cooking was done now serves for
a table. A cooking stove was set in the old fire.
| place and there was room for two or three more.
Another kitchen, used only on state occasions,
stood near the other wing of the house, and was
| connected with the dining-room by a covered
way. A large number of visitors are always at
Mt Vernon; the day we were there dozen
small parties were scattered about the grounds,
lunching or love making. We noticed particu-
larry the Russian minister, with his beautiful,
| stately, blonde wife, her minute, shaved, ugly
| lap dog, and party of friends, who were having
picnic under the trees; and another group
sitting on the low steps Of the piazza, an elderly
| lady and two younger ones, who were very
| pretty; they were evidently New Englanders,
and they shared their luncheon with score of
hens and ducks who crowded around them and
became so familiar at last that the youngest lady
was obliged to drive them away, which she
did, according to the approved method of
soaring wild beasts, by suddenly opening
| her parasOl at them; there would be huttering,
an awkward running, and then the hens would
regain their courage and flock around the
ladies again, till the crumbs were gone, and
nothing more was to be gained. Then came
the two hours sail home, and the lovely day was
over, but its "tender grace" will linger long in
| my memory.
There are so many things of interest in
| Washington, besides congress and quarres and
politics and the president and public buildings,
that it is impossible to tell half of them in one
letter. The Howard university is of great i'm
portance; it is laying the foundation of very
noble work, but you could not spare me room
| to tell its merits or what measure of success it
has had, yet one of its needs l must speak of.
1t numbers among its students several young
men of great promise, who have nearly or quite
exhausted the small amount of money with
which they started, and who will be obliged to
leave the institution, and give up all hope of
the education which they desire, and which they
would use SO well, unless friends will give them
| money TO complete their course OF study. In no
way could money be used for more direct SER
vice to the cause of education of freedmen and
any sums sent to the university to help poor
students would do immediate and lasting good.
On one of the hottest of the last hot days the
Germans had great celebration in honor of
peace; and the German streets were gay with
flags and ribbons; even the poorest little houses
and beer saloons had some ornament, and those
who could do no better were not ashamed to put
over their doors foot or two of green wreath |
tied with bit of faded ribbon; and after the |
procession had toiled for miles through the |
sitting heat and the choking dust, they all went
to the Schutsen park, and thought they had a
good time. As we came away tonight there
was republican mass meeting in front of the |
city hall; platform was erected, stars and |
arches of gas lights were blazing; long rows of |
Chinese lanterns stretched along the streets,
banners were waving, the large crowd was
shouting, and the speaker on the platform
whose voice we could not hear, was gesticulatng
wildly, and looked as if he were playing Wig
orous game of " dumb orator"
The gay season is over here, the receptions
have ended, the tide of fashion has ebbed, the
hotels are no longer crowded, but the guests re-
naming are treasures left on the shore, and one
could nowhere find company of more brilliant
or more truly noble men and women than have
been gathered at "The Arlington" this week;
whose wit and grace and wisdom made the din
ners good, in spite Of the fat stale and INSULT
cient food, and the useless lowering of dark |
crowd of walters.
Jefferson is playing Rip Van Wrinkle at the |
National theatre, and Mr. Cromwell is exhibit |
inc an excellent stereonticnn