Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-02-01
The classic rage ~ washInEsos.

INC Nl0oAAI AHHt ~ "aohtbhs WV
From scribner's, for February.l
Perhaps there will come no change
until Washington is no longer the Cap
ital, and we shall begin to erect the
bulldogs for the new one under the di.
rection of that saving common sense
that is at the root OF true art The style
of building at Washington grew out of
the prevailing taste Of the time, but the
retiring waves of the reuaissance-fairly
retired, in fact, and no longer any life
or movement in them, setting down into
full stagnation-had received new impe-
tus, been set spasmodically rolling again
by the sentimental enthusiasm, or make
believe enthusiasm, for so-called classic
ideas and ways which sprang up in
France before the revolution, an enthu-
siasm that spread all over Europe,
kinding touchwood Ital Y, rousing slug
gish Germany, setting common sense
John Bull to growing, and even
to singing In melodramahc
manner about Liberty-with q large
Land the Spartans; finally flowed
over to these shores Of ours in a softly
rehuent manner, and made our sensible,
prosaic Revolutionary fathers and moth
ers strike great many attitudes, and say
and do many things not at all natural to
them, or to any humau beings,at any time
or in any country. 1t was this influence
that caused so many buildings, public and
private, to be erected in imitation OF
Greek temples, and that imported into
this country, and into England as
well as from France, the fashion in
furniture which we call style Of the
Empire" from its having been in vogue
during the time Of the First Napoleon,
who shared to the full the aiTectation Of
classicism which infected world of peo-
pie, weak and foolish, in that betogged
time.
This affection it was that, among other
things, made curule-chaiFs, and sofas
la grecque, and stiff, formal side-boards,
and bureaus and wardrobes covered with
classic masks, and garlands, and torches,
all the fashion-furniture beautifully
made, but as dull and lacking in ideas
as ever was furniturel Old houses in
this country are full of it, particularly
in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington
and New York, and in the older large
towns Of New Jersey. All the furniture
in the Government official houses in
Washington, dating from the Jeftersons,
Franklin, Adams times, is in this style
happily almost all Of it now disappear
ing, and getting displaced by something
not much better. One sees traces OF
this theatric affectation for Greek and
Roman ways in the old portraits of our
notables of that time, particularly in
those of Washington, who is oftenest
represented standing by an Empire
table with fasces for legs, having Just
risen from curule chair, and is looking
unutterable Roman dignity las far as
that dignity is attainable in powdered
hair, lace ruffles, velvet breeches, silk
stockings and shoe-buckles }, his noble
figure relieved against highly improba-
BILE draperies connected somehow with a
marble column in the Roman manner
And just as in France at that time we saw
Madame Tallien at her parties setting the
fashion to high French ladies OF yelling
their beautiful bodies in gauzes as trans
parent as those Of Cos--because Aspasia
and Sappho did so, if they didl-and
Madame Reeamier, at her salons, ap-I
pearing with her pretty feet quite naked,
for similar Greek reasons; and homely,
stumpy Madame de Stael painted by
Gerard as Sappho-lyre in hand, stumpy
figure in peplum, Sappho sitting discon-
solate on the Lebian rocks and Napo-
leon getting his coronation robes de-
signed in theatrical, imaginary, Roman
imperial style, and taking lessons in
postnring Of Talma against the ceremo-
nial day-while classic tricks and man
ners such as these were playing on the
French stage, we have so sensible
woman as plain Abigail Adams, one OF
the best heads of her time, signing her
letters to her husband " Portia," and he
himself the embodiment Of strong com
mon senss and Straightforward honesty,
signing bis letters to the newspapers
Cato"
The memories Of this era--the queer
mixture Of hair-powder and peplums,
silk stockings and cnrule-chairs--are
written al over the capitol at Washing
ton, IS over the White House i've beg
pardon, We mean the Executive Man
sioni'') the Treasury building and the
Patent Ofiee-oFer these principally,
but also over much Of less importance.