The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-11-20

[From Our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. Is, 1879.
The equestrian statue of Gen. G.. II.
Thomas has arrived and will at once
be placed in position. The most ex-
tensive preparations are being made
for the exercises next week. The dec
orations at the circle where the monu-
ment stands will be on a grander scale
than those of any preceding unveil-
ing. Amplest provision of seats for
visitors will be made. All our militia
ry will parade and everywise it is in
tended, should the weather perm it, to
give the deceased hero a fitting memo
rial tribute, not only in a magnificent
statue, but in appropriate ceremonies.
Next week we will describe the whole
affair more particularly, for sh ould we
attempt it now, it is possible our pro-
gram will, through a November tenn
pest, be as mythical as a certain bill
liantIy pictured description in the past
in Harpers Weekly, of the Presidents
New Years reception, which a heavy
snow storm interposed to prevent. The
artists sketches of the various rooms
of the White House were of course
correct, though prepared necessarily
several days prior to the reception, but
the grand display made by visitors and
callers which his imagination pictured
unfortunately did not occur. Mr..
Ward, the sculptor, has been engaged
for more than six years in preparing
the model of this statue and the horse
on which it is mounted, and, it is
claimed, has succeeded in giving us a
perfect specimen of art. We hope so,
for several of those already erected in
our Parks are open to severest criti-
cism, sufficiently so to lead many to
ask that we be spared further effort in
the equestrian direction. We hope
farther, that the pleasant balmy wealth
er of the past ten days may continue,
so that the thousands of visitors whom
the unveiling and reunion services
will bring here will not have their
pleasure marred. Our hotels are al
ready beginning to fill up with the
advance columns of the numerous del
egations from other cities.
Since our last letter Mrs. Margaret
Eaton, one of the most notable women
that ever moved in Washington socie-
ty, has passed away, after suffering
from prolonged illness for several
months. Mrs. Eaton became famous
during Gen, Jackson's administration
by her causing the disruption of his
Cabinet, through his attempt to force
the members thereof to recognize her
socially. Her maiden name was Mar
garet O'Neill, and she is said to have
been peculiarly handsome and fasci-
mating when she reached maidenhood.
But the fact that she was daughter of
an inn-keeper sufficed to bar her from
admission into the higher circles of
Washington society, which in those
days was as intensely aristocIatic as
any portion of the South, and as
strongly opposed to parvenus" as the
Bourbons of France. Her maiden vi
vacity of disposition never deserted
her, though we saw little in our limit
ed intercourse with her during the past
ten years to indicate that personal
magnetism and strength of character
hat led her into single handed conflict
for years with official and social aris-
tocracy, and with which she was so
eminent tly successful as to become vir-
tual controller of the government and
dictatress of the White House. Her
tall, slender form, only slightly stopped
with age, her apparent intense mental
and physical activity, clear cut features
marked throughout with decision of
character showed how much she was
capable of performing and of master
ing if associated with the rare beauty
and personal fascination which tradi-
ton gave to her. While the wife of q
member of the Cabinet she asserted
her strongest power of mind, for there
she met the greatest obstacles inter-
posed by society against her and her
history during those days reads like
some vividly drawn description of fic-
titiOus life. Since the war she has led
a retired life, and particularly so since
the eventful chapter growing out OF
her infatuation for and marriage with
Ilvpn hi NJ ~, Il