The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-12-13
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Our Letter from washin s,on.

Our Letter from wasIAin StOn.
The Prosperity and Beauty Of the National
Capitdi.-Pdnorama Of Washinqton-Hs
Citizens, Soctety, and Strdnqers.-.PoIitical
Whispers.
WAsHINaToN, u. C., Dec. Q, 1879.
The usual winter session of Congress has
now fairly begun, and all through the citv
are indications of good time coming, or at
least expected by the merchant, landlndy
and various species Of the cormorant tribe
With wise hrethought, 1.-The founders of the
seat Of government reserved large portion
of the land for public purposes, and on the
ground thus held there have-been erected
from time to time-a collection of public
buildings, which do credit to the taste and
generosity of the nation. The finest struc-
ture Of all, and, in the opinion of many eel
ebrated authorities on architecture, the finest
building in America, is the capitol, designed
for the accommodation of the legislative
branch of the government. This superb
building, with its vast dome, ranking fifth
in height and fourth in diameter among
similar structures; ITS wings Of marble, with
their long lines of Corlnthian columns, its
artistic establishment without and within,
and imposing deliberatve chambers, inn
presses a visitor as fitly emUlemarlcui Of q
great and prosperous commonwealth. The
liberal spaces of the building are devoted to
the House of Representatives and the Sen.
ate chamber, with their clerk, committee
and document anti-rooms, to the courtroom
of the Supreme Court Of the United States,
and to the Congressional Library, the larg-
est collection of books in the country. The
perversity Of city's growth is proverbal
In the case of Washington this is strikngly
exemplifed by movement westward, TO
the rear of the Capitol VIII ich is thus left to
face very inferior section of the city while
turning its back on the real town. A mile
to the west, interruptng the sweep of Penn
sylvania Avenue, stand cluster Of noble
buildings, comprising the Treasury, the
State, Army and Navy Department and the
Executive Mansion. Perhaps mobile" is
not ;he fttest epilhet by which to character
ize the last named of these structures, un-
/ less we attach to the word its meaning as ur
adjective of republican simplicity. A less
imposing palace fora sovereign could scarce
| ly have been built, aud, enthusiastically, the
White House is inferior to many private
residences in the district. The older build
ings reflect the partiaity of the last genera
ti"n for the classic order of architecture. The
Treasury and the Patent Office are fne
specimens Of Grecian, Ionic and DOric. But
the immense new building, which, IN one
connected whole, gives accommodation tn
the three departments Of the Army, Ma "
and Foreign offices, is in the style Of tn"
Renaissans as are many other Of the lesser
buildings, erected Of late years. The cost
Of these structures has been enormous, but
it is source Of qualification u reflect that
the expenditures Of muney have not been
the cause of scandal, MS has been ton often
the case with similar disbursements for pub.
lie buildings ami improvements. BY the
valuation Of property in the District Of Col
bus, just published for the current year, the
aggregate for the Government reaches the
total of seventy ight million dollars against
a total Of seventy-fpur millions for the COM
munity proper. or this large sum, the Capi,
tol has cost thirteen million dollars, and the
State Department, TO date, about seven mil
lions.
The society Of Washington takes the mot.
ley complexion Of its official visitors. The
body of the community get their living in
one way or another from the executive OF
legislative branches Of the Government and
reflect their peculiarites. 1t is, supposr
the most Democratic city in existence. The
sufiixes and alfixes, which strike a respectful
terror in the heart OF every provincial citi-
zen have no spell here where familiarity has
done her perfect work. We are all Coils. and
Hons. and Judges by social brevet, if moth
ing more and having thus sati,f ,c;o-
MY settled questions of rank, we estimate
neighbor rather for what he is than for
what his constituents expect him To be The
/ NA~SN7 "a hhAo hSAiAhhnAaAllc hplIt arc Olltl
amusing and probably quite shocking tc
one who cannot comprehend or who has nc
; sympathy with the genius of our institution.
: but, these once understood and liked, the
( extravagaace, vulgarity and cruelty of the
{ Capitals society finds more than a balance
! in tho courage, strength, fraternity and
4 hopeful prnsress everywhere visible.
5 Mr.. Levi P. Morton said to friend to-day
that he had no personal knowledge that hi
l. name was being considered by the Presiden
p and Secretary OF State for the vacant Euglisl
n mission. He said that he had not at am
n time any conversation with either of then
6 on the subject, and that he was not an apli
It cant for the position. At the same time Nj
u Morton conveyed the impression that h
Il would accept the position # il was tendere,
Il to him. As he is a man Of large wealth r
9 would be able TO enjoy himself at the Coul
e 0fst. james without snbATrasslnenL,