Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-10-12
Letter from Washington.
lFRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE
WASHINGTON. D. G., Oct. Q. 1871.


wondrously notwithstanding in crimson or
cleaning in FURNISHED gold. have written be-
fore ofmy special frend-thc silver maple which
stands near the foot of the lower flight of west
front steps.
1t seems each year to grow more perfect in
shape. A bullying conc-just now it looks like
one of sentiment barley sugar. My eyes linger
on it with rare delight; from its broad base to its
apex the leaves are all on, allHgoIden hued, and
sometimes one might imagine it Il curously
rare piece of goldsmith's work. just beyond is
another in which the green and red are contend
ing for supremacy. As in Ireland the red
always wins. The long arms shake out flaming,
gorgeous pennants, which autter radantly to
and fro in the mild winds of the season here.
Close by there is still another tree How like
ones mood they are-in which the frost has
just begun its work. There are a very few
scarlet-tps a few more in which the
green fades into gold, while the vel
vet verdure of the remainder seems
to deepen by the contrast Over all,
green and gold, red and brown, crimson or
sere-hues, out of the billOwy bosom of the leaves
browning the green turlcd terraces, and brood
ing over the city's Shabbiness like some artistic
dream rises the great marble pile, with the won
derful dome, the landmark for many miles, and
pivotal center Of the Washington landscapes.
INSIDE IMPROVEMENTS.
There has been a great change during the
summer Mr.. Architect Clarke's workmen have
Clipped and chiselled, painted and frescoed,
until whilom dingy passages and corridors have
grown gay in their light, fresh, cheerful aspect.
All the door jambs in the old part of the capitol
have been so cut away that travel between the two
chambers will be much improved and the in
terror perspectives made superb. | suppose that
we shall be asked to appropriate money for
new bronze doors for the house wing of the east
front, the senate having the Crawford alegori-
cal valves of peace and war, or the struggle and
consummation of independence, while the
rotunda now has grazing its east en-
trance Rogers magnificent story in bronze
| of Columbus. They have been removed
| from the stupid place at which they
were first hung, where the house wing joins the
| grand old hall. | have suggestion to make,
for which hope to be forgiven by the taxpav-
ers and the critics. who insist that we do not
have any art worth preserving in the capitol.
To complete the series we need for the house wing
and its principal entrance bronze valves which
shall tell the story of emancipation, allegoricaly,
| of course, for heartily agree with Mr.. Sumner
| that the building under whose roof assemble
the representatives of united nation, should
not contain what may unnecessarily irritate
any. Let some one fifty tell the story of our
consummated freedom-in symbols-the Ian
guage all may read, and let us then hang the
bronze poem at the entrance of the hall wherein
the popular branch of congress assemblies Who
can do this nobly ? 1t is not for me to say, but
surely it should be DONE Discovery is the CEN
tire, independence and freedom on either hand,
the triune epic which America has created
shaping the worlds history and moving with
thunderous harmonies up "the steep of time"
THE LIBRARY,
After all true instinct finds itself hailed here.
Mr.. SUPPLEMENTARY the right man in the
right place-seems ready to conquer the new
worlds. He got the Peter Force library, he
brought out the transfer of the Smithsonian
collection, and his last feat was the seizure to
become the recorder and custodian of copv-
rights. Truly he understands the old law motto.
"a good Judge always enlarges his office" and
adapts it to the role of librarian. Now he signs
for new lds-bibliographical- conquer.
In spite of ones dislike to such change, il is
perfectly certain that the accumulation of books
will put the library out of doors-or congress.
| MIR. Spoford's proposition for a national library
will have to be acceded to. The copyright edi-
tons increase the library with purchases, at the
| rate of SD 000 ndr +ba r;orbt
increase with every year Already the library
Is a pent-up Utica and decidedly contracts its
powers for usefulness. 1t seems to me that the
librarians suggestion to leave in the capital a
| complete library of reference, legislative. his
| torical, legal, economical and the necessary
standard encyclopedias ETC., and remove the
rest as the foundation of national library. is a
sensible one. To that complexion must it come
at last. There are nearly 100000 cities"
| in the library as now arranged Thirty
thousand volumes would embrace all there
could possibly be any need of in the capitol
This could be arranged in the main hall, as well
as complete newspaper and periodical files. The
two wings could be used for the preservation of
the legislative records-one wing for each cham
| Der. These records are now scattered in all
sorts of holes and corners, safe from
no mans hand. A great deal of this
mass is valuable, and all it is es-
scntial to preserve. The two document IL
braries would necessarily be incorporated in the
congressional library proper. The large num-
Der OF books now carelessly scattered around
committee rooms would then be gathered M and
put under responsible direction The files of
| hills and IA hnr ia, III
dled In all sorts OF places could be arranged in
the splendid halls set apart for each house and
more room be obtained for committees. &r. In
this way the library would render 10 the CAM.
tolan Caesar what belongs to Caesar. and we
should have, what we ought to have had lone
since, national library worthy our name. Mr.
Spodord is sure to win this as he has other
things. OBSERVER.
ANDREW JACKSON AND HIS DocToR-There
is a well-known physician in Washington Dr. j.
g. Hall, who relates many instances of the public
men he has attended in his long and brilliant
experience At the head of his profession, he
has attained old age almost without an enemy
| know no man more universally beloved. 1t is
one Of the doctors peculiarities that he docs moi
trouble himself with money matters, and is care
less about collecting his fees. Once, however
curing temporary absence, his clerk made out
some bills, and among others sent one to the
president. On his return, the doctor found a
, note rom Ten. jackson inclosing check for
the amount, deducting an old charge which had
peen called Tor and settled and for which he held
receipt. The fact that the bill had been sent
, was not less modification to DR.. Hall than the
error ID the account itself But on looking at
: the presidents check, he found that the general
had forgotten 10 sign it, He therefore returned
it, with the expression Of his regret that the Hi
had been sent, and pointed out the generai's
back inclosed in a note, with this remark: "Dea,
doctor-The best of men is liable to mistakes
Andrew Jacks IN" DR.. Hall testiies 10 III,
old hero's kindness TO all his people, especially
IN his eervauta Onpe whom tha sinatl 49,. 81