The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-10-17
mi i S c @ liza N q ON 8 (.
For Tile 4Egis and HteNigencsr.
The National Capital in War Times.
BY FEsTUs.

| BY FEsTUS.
The late civil war had done much for
and against our National Capital, indeed
that it was hardly recognizable by its old
est inhabitants The tide of northern
population had been so rapidly pouring in
upon her that she had already assumed the
air of a northern city. Gothic and Corinthi-
an store-tronts were continually being con-
structed, while sign painters were busy in
executing with Yankee flourishes, Yankee
names to grace the portals thereof.
The population, apart from the military,
had been very considerably augmented (;
and Pennsylvania Avenue was constantly
crowded by q busy throng, causing the con
templative mind to query whether it be
possible that so many human beings could
have sprung from a single pair, and this
throng was composed ofall classes, grades
and conditions.
Here could be seen the Senator, the Mem
Der of the Cabinet, the Colonel, Lieutenant,
Captain and Private of the Army anon, the
tall figure of the President, picking his
way several squares ahead. There too, and
not least among this galaxy of notables
could be seen the yellow silk of Mrs. Lin
coln-tor she did not always ride behind
black steeds ofsmoking red nostrils. Upon
this avenue could be seen also, the flowing
flounces of Senator'S wives, together with
the dazzling silks of other ladies OF eXquis-
lite pretentions
But there are still other features connect
ed with it to which we turn for moment.
Here occasionally the lady of honorable
toll passes by, clad in plain attire of neat
arrangement. She appears to gentlemen,
common or uncommon, far more handsome
than gaudy. She was toiling, perhaps, to
keep together the remnant ola family once
prosperous and happy, but now desolated,
and the fathers chair vacated by the sad
effects of a "cruel war" Then asifto COM
plete the picture of these passers-by, there
was the little, thin-clad feet of the orphan
or neglected child, which would excite the
sympathies of some few, but UNDECIDED by
certain gentry, who, just at the moment,
seemed to be engrosscd in the study ofthc
philosophic movement of the clouds, and
without leisure for philanthropic contem.
plation of human woe.
At almost every crossing were ranged
shivering urchins of poor parents, or with
out parents at all, sweeping the flag stones,
and crying-"Penny, please, for sweeping
the mud"
Then as climax, here comes young
stranger to soap, such as we see i'll every
city throughout, crying with n lusty voice,
"Here's the Evening Start only three
cents All the late news Another Union
victory"
We are not sure but that the environs OF
the city would have reminded the Eastern
| traveller of Jerusalem, as standing upon
some suburban summit he could see spread
out before him upon hill tops and slopes
either groups ofwhitc tents or white cover
ed army wagons, to the latter of which
were usually appended the ever incorrigi-
BILE long cared, short tail maneless mule
| But let us ascend the Capitol DOME
| From this lofty eminencc could be seen q
panorama never before witnessed by an in
habitant of W ashington. For miles around
were hills and valleys, once smiling in
peaceful verdure now whitening beneath
the tramp of soldiers. Once green with
Natures spring attire, now white with the
tents of wickedness.
There too flowed the beautiful Potomac
upon whose quiet bosom the humble craft
once spread her sail, "like bird sleeping
in air." and, from her deck, the merry ye
peaceful song of the crew echoed forth il
ambient air, while around her bow the mel
low ripple once sang innocently of peace
but now the gunboat's iron wheel is plying
and splashing, while the waves are foam
ing and dashing against hostile shores.
In order to get a glimpse ofhigh life il
Washington in those troublesome times
one had only to attend levee at tn
"White House." Your correspondent wa
present at one of these in company with
friend. We passed through spaciou
outer chamber surrounded by profusiol
of silk and broad cloth in front and real
and crossing the velvet floor, entered an adj
joining hall of superior style and finish
which was also traversed by measured trea,
ere we gained the room where the Presi
dent was in waiting to take the hand o
each visitor. Giving his white kid gen
tie squeeze we passed on through two hand
somely furnished parlors, and finally enter
ed the East Room"
The gay scene in this gorgeous saloon
rather beyond our feeble powers of descrip
ton. The distinguished of the land, fror
the stern warrior to the gentle fair sex
were present. from the President in hi
suit of glossy black, to the groom in hi
blue-clad livery; from Halleck in his gild
ed uniform, to the private in his blouse.
Pardon us, but we noticed that the la
dies especially assumed sundry airs som
apparently would personify the peacock
others, the feathercrowned wood pecker
while some indeed, seem to have grease
their heads and pinned back their ears 70
the ostensible purpose swallowing them
selves, although their male attend ants up
peared sufficiently enamored to perforr
that indigestible office for them.