The daily gazette., 1878-06-11
Our Washington Letter.
THE COMING WEDDING AT THE
WHITE HOUSE.


Lie sQUAREs-THE RETURN OF
MRs.HAYEs-"r -"roTTERIsM"
From our regular correspondent
WAsHINGToN, June 3.
Never has body of leg slators been
convened in our national Congress who
have talked more and accomplished less
than has the Forty-ffth. The much har-
rangued silver bill-which was perhaps
the biggest stumbling block 10 practical
legislation in this "great cry and little
wool session, has caused no apparent in
crease in the amount of coin in private
purses, and the people are forced to con-
| clude that all these pleasing legends about
a revival of business and plenty of money
were so many delusions and snares. Now
that the session is nearing close, its
sins OF ommlssion seem even more glar-
! ing than those Of commission. One of
the most shameful of the former is its
neglect to make proper appropriations
for beautifying the Government ground
in and about the Capital and for continu-
ing works tending toward that end which
for lack of necessary funds, were long
since suspended.
| No city in the country can boast of
greater number of "breathing places"
than Washington. An unbroken park
of three hundred acres extends from the
| Capitol to the Executive Mansion, and
some ninety more are scattered through
out the city, varying in size from the
scrubby little "fat-iro MS" at the inter
section of busy streets, to vistas of forest
and lawn, whose presence is perpetual
beneticence. The largest of these is that
surrounding the W hite House, which
contains eighty acres the Smithsonian
grounds contain fifty-two acres the
Capital grounds forty-eight acres Monu-
mental grounds forty four acres; those
about the Agricultural Department thirty
three acres. Then there are the Lin
coin, Lafayette, Farragut, Franklin,
Mcpherson, and no end of other squares
each with its handsome statue (whence
it derives name,) and many of them
with expensive fountains, most of which
however are dry and empty as the Golfers
of those who would beautify them did
Congress but vouchsafe the "wherewith."
Year by year the weeds within them grow
ranker-thIiving, like human beings,
upon generations of decayed predeces-
sors-until to-day, that part of the Gov
ernment reservation fronting Missouri
avenue, from Third to Seventh streets,
look more like a Michigan swamp in it's
primeval state than the delightful resort
it was designed to be. The willful ignQ-
rance and gross stupidity of some MEM
bers of the Appropriation Committees
are all that prevent this "Paris of Ameri-
ca" from becoming worthy its name as
the capital of great country and indeed
are enough toprovoke even female saints
into the use of Sdcre mOts. Yet such is
human perversity that these same igno-
ramuses are duly returned to each sue
ceeding Congress greatly to the disgust OF
| WashingJonians. Both citizens and
strangers are unanimous in the verdict
Z that "some day Washington will be the
most beautiful city in the world" but
l that dies tdistts can never come Iill more
. public-sprited and liberal-minded men
! are sent here than those who now com
prise the majority of the aforesaid com
mittees.
Mrs. Hayes has returned to the White
| House from her trout fishing expedition
\ and is at home every evening to all who
4 care to make a social call. The family
dine about O'Clock, leaving the dining
/ reception room for these popular inform
al evening "visits." Stuart's full-lengtl
portrait of Washington occupies the
place on the wall formerly filed by por
traits of General and Mrs. Grant anC
their four children. Ushers are on duty
in regulation suits of black, with white
neckties. Visitors, upon entering the
White House, hand a card to the usher
who informs them whether or no Mrs
Hayes is at home. Mrs Hayes does no
keep her visitors waiting. If she ha
guests staying with her, she takes eacl
new arrival to these friends and gives al
introduction, not only the name, bu
their residence, thus giving each topl.
of conversation. These evening "visits'
:. are very pleasant, Mrs. Hayes is an al
> mirable hostess, making each guest n
home, interesting herself in them person
ally, going from one or other of her call
u ers to say a pleasant word of greet
ing.
Miss Platt, who has been with Mrs
Hayes the past year, and much admired
for her many accomplishments and gooC
qualities, is to he married on the 9th o
June, any in contemplation OF all The
White House weddings we are wonder
S ing who will succeed the pretty Mis-
Farland, Miss Mcfarland, Miss Plat
and others who have held social carni
val there. Miss Platt is the daughter o
the Presidents only sister, and has trav
elled through Europe, adding culture
grace, and dignity to her charms.
General Russell Hastings, Miss Platt'
intended, formerly of Willoughby, Lak'
county, Ohio, enlisted as lieutenant IL
the 23rd Ohio Regiment ut the beginnin.
of the late war, and was soon promoted
TO assistant acknowledgement on the
Presidents staff, and was very severely
wounded at Winchester in the battle o
Opician in "a. He was thought to b'
mortally wounded. Mr.. Crump of th'
White House, assisted in carrying hin
from the battle field. He was promoted
to lieut.. brigadier-ge for gallant ser
vices with the staff, when the famous
charge was made in the Marsh
The Potter investigation committee il
still grinding at the docl ored aud mixed
up statements oral and written which i
= brought before them. The witness An
derson is yet the center of attraction
and why so much weight should be plac
ed on his conflicting statements is mys
J. terry to many. Anderson is no strange
in this community. He has been for sev
| eral wears employed aS a printer in thu