The Republican journal., 1875-11-11
Letter from Washington.
Corresponding of the journal.
WASHINGTON, Nov. s. IS

H..
timore, in a lesser degree, is complaining
OF hard times, Washington. at the close
of one of the dullest seasons its lodoino-
house keepers and trades people have
ever known, is bright and hopeful 1t
looks to the Democratic House Of Repre-
sentativcs, to assemble on the first Mon
day of December next, rs a panacea for
all its Ills, financial and otherwise; nor
VIII 1t look in vain. The coming session
is Il long one, the candidates for office
under the new House are legion, and all
who come to Washington must leave
more or less money behind them when
they depart hence. Then, the Capitol,
since it3 streets were graded, paved and
lighted as never before, its parks and
squares beauttied, ana its buildings i'm
proved, by the much abused Washington
King, has become 4 fashionable winter
resort, as well rs u favorite visiting place
for great many literary men, artists and
| wandering foreigners. There is no such
cosmopoitanism IN this country us is to
be seen here in the winter time; and it
will not he long before the phrase '.See
| Paris and die wilt be Americanizcd with
"See Washington and die Unless it be
| Canal street the great boulevard of New
Orleans, there is no promenade in this
fry f, ,,ith u, ;
! Avenue, from the White House to the
Capitol. On broadway, ~ ON Washing
| ton street, Boston, YOU are clbowcd and
crowded SO that saunterino is almost out
| of the question; but ON "thc Avenue As
| Washlngtonians term it, there is elbow
room for all, broad pavcments fringed at
the oater edge with trees, and promenade
ers enough TO give life and animation to
| the SCENE. In the winter time one meets
more distinguished persons and sees more
! beauty in Il street of Il few squares ON this
| great tEoroughtare than could possibly be
met Or seen clseW here. Just now there is
a general painting, furnishing and fur
| bishing going on Hundreds of workmen
| are busy in the Capitol grounds. and I'M
| der the directions OF Mr. Olmstcad, the
| eminent landscape gardener, Wondrous
| transformation is taking place, New yis-
tas have been opened to and from the
| Capitol; all that is unsightly is vanishing
from the vicinity; and but tor the tracks
of the Baltimore and Potomac railroad.
Washington would soon have a continue
GUS and beautiful park connecting the
White House and Capitol grounds. 1t is
q sin and a shame that Congress should
| have permitted this railroad to come into
the city; but some day it will be forced
back, where it will be neither IN eye sore
nor a nuisance as now
Inside the Capitol building busy prcpa-
rations are making for the opening OF
Congress. a new carpet has been LAID
down in the Hall of the House of Repre-.
setatiyes, which is, however, in the worst
| possible taste, and positively Disturbing
Nor was better judgment shown in select
| ing the new gaseiers hung N the sur
rounding Corridors They are glarine
and tawdry and entirely out OF keeping
| with the tone Of the building. The Sen
| ate Chamber is to have u new carpet, bu
it will not be laid down just yet, to b,
| detaccd by the throngs OF people who
| daily visit the Capitol II is of a quiet
| pattern and in harmony with Tie prrdoml
! nant colors of the walls and corniccS
which are buff and gold, and i of Amor
can manufacture. All the carpets hereto
fore used tor this purpose have been OF
foreign make. The diplomatic gallery
| opposite the Presidents clair, now up
holstered in faded green. is to be done
up in dark blue; and the gallery reserved
| for the friends and families OF Senators
| will be upholstered in pale buil' to cores
| pond with the main galleries. The PreS
dents room is to be relurui,hed. Tho
| to order, and there is but one in the coun
| try like it, and that i in the library of A
| L. Stewart of New York. The centre i,
| plain and of 4 deep rich red the border
is formed Of leaves and vines strmountco
| by two rows Of white stars, and the cor
| ners are of very elaborate design IhE
carpet is fully IN inch thick and Of Til,
| finest texture The curtains are to cor
respond in color, and the furniture Will he
| upholstered in red morocco This room
has always been one of the show place,
Of the Capitol, but when rciurnished il
will be closed TO the general public, an(
country constituents will have to call up,
on their Senators or Representatives tt
obtain 4 peep at its magniliccnce.
An addition to the sculpture OF the Capt.
tol has been made during the recess, a
| bust of the late Chief Justice Chase, by
Jones, which is to be placed in the SUI
preme Court Room. 1t is very credit
| able work The same artist is now en-
gagged upon q bust Of the late Chief Justice
stantly adding to its store Of paintings
and statuary, and already occupies II prom
inent place among the attractions OF Wash
ington. 1t is reported MI Corcoran will
supplement this muniicent gilt by the cree
ton of another building for a school Of
| design, and to contain studios for artists,
of whom Washington can boast quite a
number, including successful landscape
| and portrait painters.
From art to politics is not so abrupt Il
transition rs 1t may seem; for arc not pc
liticians arttul, especially those ono meets
at the National Capitol? But really there
is very little to be said on politics just
now. | am more than ever convinced,
since the events of Tuesday last, that this
is emphatically an 'otf year. Then, re-
OOrtS TO the contrary nOtW th standing