Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-06-13
A Glance at the CAPITAL.

~ NA0uCV o. luC S0YIV0As
No one who saw Washington in 1864,
and sees it now for the first time since
that melancholy epoch, can readily be-
lieve that he looks on the same locality.
Then, when the clouds of dust raised
in Pennsylvania Avenue moved the
visitor to glance at the main features of
the city, he could see little beyond
crowds of wild young soldiers awaiting
orders to go South, or groups of creep
ing, wounded men, lately returned from
severe campaigns, or vehicles discharg-
ing dead bodies at the doors of the
many charnel houses, where the pro-
cess of embalmiug was undertaken.
These spectacles were only diversified
| by tho presence of numerous loungers
anxiously awaiting the arrival of friends,
sons, brothers, husbands, while the pa
pers continually published dispatches
and letters from the front, detailing the
operations of armies. 1t was dismal
time altogether. and those who came
for curiosity or stopped en- route for the
west, were glad to hurry away by the
first trains. On change tout celia.
Now, the capital is the most delightful
city in the Union. may even go the
length of saying that, its dimensions
considered, it rivals any European cap.
ital you can name. The Pennsylvania
Avenue is duplicate of the boulevards
of Paris. The mansions in II, ]. X,
and some other streets, are perfect
palazzi, and the furniture and decora-
tons of many Of the houses illustrate
aristocratic luce combined with repub-
lican good taste. Travelled Americans,
and those who have resided in diplo-
matte capacities abroad, have brought
with them innumerable gems of art,
which embellish spacious parlors,
drawing-rooms and libraries. The
residences of Mr.. Corcoran, ex-Minister
Ito Austria) Beele, the French, Eng
lish and Spanish ministers, the Misses
Delafield, Judge Mott, Admiral Stan
ley, and several others, are admirably
equipped. "Costly as the purse could
buy-but not expressed in fancy-rich,
not gaudy." Grand enough, and at the
same time sufficiently simple to please
the severe taste of the old Danish
chamberlains who discoursed through
the brains of William Shakespeare. And
the society of Washington is of piece
With the garniture-hospitable, grace
full, and unpretending. The private
equipages are in keeping with the
other works of wealth and modesty
combined, and impart a gayety to the
moving scene which is now beginning
to be associated with the floral and ar
boreal rides of the parks and circles.
A lady of Washington, lately returned
from visit to New York, remarked to
me few days ago that, after seeing the
great commercial city, Washington ap
peared to be unfinished" Aud it is
so but to judge from appearances it
will not continue very long IN the tran
sition state. New buildings-nay, en-
tire streets-are in course of erection
in every quarter. The northern boun-
Diary Las been reached, and architect
ural pride will assert itself on the banks
of the Potomac on the other sides,
when the drainage in that direction has
been improved. The unsightly display
of stone and brick in piles, to the west
Of the White House, has now given way
to the magnificent army and navy
office, which is quite complete, and, as
l write, the process of removing desks,
records and employees. is going on with
system and rapidity. l had the curl
osity to enter the building. 1t is su-
perb collection of iron walls and stone
staircases. The fire god could not de-
stroy the shell, do what he might. Only
one thing is requisite now to satisfy my
desire. l should like to see the mill
tary statues in the squares, with the ex-
ception Of those to the memory of Gen.
erals Scott and Jackson, removed to
make room for the etiigies of statesmen
who have adorned the country's his,
tory. The statues of warriors who fig
ured only in the civil war recall events
which had better be forgotten. 1t is
to the anxiety of many good citizens
and representatives on this score, that
we may ascribe the rejection of an ap-
preparation for the painting of General
Thomas, and to somewhat Of the same
kind of feeling we may attribute the
veto of the proposal to perpetuate the
elective painting so cleverly limned by
Mrs. Fassett.--Albion, in Home Jour
nal.