The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-02-28
Our Washington Letter.

Our Washington Letter.
Death Of a Noted Artist Good News for
Invalid Pension Claimants An En-
forcement Of that T Famous Civil Service
Order Needed What Congress is Not
Doing, Etc.
WAsHIsaros. D. c.. Feb. q. 1880.
EDITOR CHIEF:
Death has done its work and Con-
stantini Brumidi, whose paintings may
be seen iD all parts of the Capitol, has
gone to his long rest. Last year he
narrowly escaped a fall from the scat
fold on which he was at work ia the
rotunda and he never recovered from
the shock. He was botr, in Rome in
1906, and for years has been in feeble
health. With . wide reputation as
an artist in his native land, he became
involved in 1848 in political troubles
that exiled him from home and kim
dred ip 1852. Locating in New York
his first great work was painting the
"Crucifixien" in St. Stephens church.
He soon was called to Philadelphia
and painted est. Paul and st. Peter,n
went to the City of Mexico and
painted the Holy Trinity" which is
a master work, visited by thousands.
Returning, he stopped in this city and
impressed with the possibilities Of the
walls Of it's then Capitol, Gen. Meigs
permitted the artist to decorate the
room of the Committee on Agricul-t
tnre. He selected as the central figure
/" Cincinnatus Driving the Plow."
This completed work attracted great
attention and the fame Of Brumidi
was heralded everywhere, and thence
forward to the day of his death lie was
constantly an employee Of the Gov
ernment at a salary Of $40 per day.
His life work illumines the walls of
the Capitol on which the magic touch
of the artist has painted pictures,
visited daily by thousands and that
will he admired by generations to
come. The belt of allegorical paint
ings inside the dome begun in 1873
is now but half finished. He longed
to live to complete the work. The.
writer said one day to him as he was
wearily going to the rotounda to be
drawn up the dizzy height: eve all
hope you may live to finish the work,
but if not, is there any one to take
the brush when it falls from your
.hand7" "Ah, saire," said the artist
with a smile on Rfs wrinkled face,
]" no man is necessary in this world.n
In his sick chamber he made the car
toons that will be the pictures some
other artists brush will paint, so in
all our lives we leave some part Of
our work to be filled up By those that
live after us.
Lives OF great men oft remind us
We may make our lives sublime,
And departing leave behind US
Footprints ON the sands of time.
1t will be gratifying to the invalid
soldiers who are waiting SO patiently
for action upon pension claims to
learn that Congress has provided for
a large corps of assistant clerks to
clear up the tagging business of the
Pension Office. There is no reason
why soldier should not receive his
pension, if entitled to one, in four
weeks after his application is fled,
yet it is our experience as attorneys
that claims lay in the Office two and
three years, despite all efforts to OBJ
tain hearing. Men are waiting for
their cases to be passed upon whose
lives have been rendered. useless to
themselves and their families women
who have faithfully nnrsed them ;
children growing up in dispair, ours
ing the country their parents had
served in their vigOr, while the aims
house 10 sought by many as an asylum
from starvation pending the tedious
and tardy consideration of their
claims. Aaron Barnes of Independ-
ence, Iowa, VAS advised to go to the
poorbouse, as he was old, inGrm and
destitute, but he said, "l'd die first,
and hobbled away toward his lonely
shanty. He was not seen for a week
and was found dead, from hunger anl
cold, by a messenger who brought thu
news that his claim for $1,000 pension
had been allowed. This condition o
affairs is disgrace to our nationality
and the new force, it is hoped vii
dissipate the mastery inactivity o
the Pension Bureau.
There has been for two or thre,
weeks deluge of accusations tina
one Of the Republican Presidents.
aspirants was using his official posi-
ton to aid him il his ambition-il
/ fact, that he expected his subordinate
to work for him, and promised office
1 to others as an inducements to worl,
| The charges are met with an emphati
denial; but would it not be well fo
the official SO CHARGED to ca,iiiun a