New-York tribune., 1880-04-11
WASHINGTON THIRTY YEARS AGO.
REcoLLEcrIoNs OF A POLITICIAN.


TER JOYS OF A GOVERNMENT cLERKsHIP N OLD
TIMEs-STRANDED WRECKS OF THE "AK-kEA-
INIsCENCEs OF FAMOUS MEN
TO the Rdftor Of TAe TrtbUn0.
SIR: A visit to the Capital reviVes tho
OF thirty years ago, IN the good old De-
fore the War; when Washington was my home can
not shake of feeling Of sadness as recall my gay
young companions IN the Parent Ofnce-our pcncS 20
Mount Vernon and the falls OF tho Potomac, horse
back rides the long bridge and up the river road
always stopping at Arlington TO be warmly greeted by
George Washington Parke Custis; the last representa-
tive OF the Washington family. On bright Summer
afternoons usually found the old gentleman seated
in the shade the spring between the mansion house
and the river kind gentle and gnrruous, fond OF the
society OF young people. who would listen to his Oft
repeated stories OF Washington at Mount Vernon.
Ny intimate friends in those days were all among the
old families OF the District descendants OF the Catholics
OF the Eastern shore-among them the CAROLS and the
HoweIls-whose kindness and hospitality TO the young
NcwEnglander. fresh from college, seemed to ignore
the wide difference in training and religion between tho
descendants OF the Second Chares's cavaliers and the
roundhead PurItans of Cromwell And now think
how all is changed. Nearly all these young men went
into the rebel armies most OF them found carly graves
fighting the "lOst cause; their families are scat
tered their estates wasted and in the Treasury
to-day are TWO sadaoed widows out OF whose life nll
light has passed. their husbands and brothers and prop
erty all gone earning their bread by daily toll. met
one Of them this morning whom had known as gay,
ght-heared GIRL Even before presented my card she
recognized frequent visitor at her fathers home
and her brothers intimate friend. Her hair was
almost as white own, and she exclaimed,
my God Mr. F., is this youi" as she sank into a
ohar and burst She told me OF her brother,
who fell at the head OF his gmeut at Antie0m OF her
sband died in Northern prison; OF her three Sis
ters of whom dead of their once charming home'
which passed years ago the bands OF strange Her
- fr,o,,., .l,f,a rvhoa
names are not and be upon the pension rolls Of
government they fought destroy Their fate is sad
almost cruelbut it is nexorable justice, and can see
help for it.
At the Arlington yesterday met two old friends who
were my travelling companions nine years ago IN NOrtl-
India. Together had three hours drive around
Washington from the Georgetown line on the west to
the new Lincoln Park on Capitol Hill. Elegant private
residences and we-paved streets cover hundreds OF
acres which thirty years ago old fields" Few OF
the old LANDMARKS remain OF the public buildings only
the White House seems unchanged. Granite aud marble
dtons and extensions have rendered the old ones un-
recognizable. Thirty ago, when there were only
500 clerks in all the Government Departments, posi-
ton Of this kind considered great prize. Now the
Treasury building alone contains over 5000. One OF
my friends iocunrly remarked, "Why, yod
ought TO have come back, after thirty years
In the great West, United States Senator at least
AlasW replied, am neither Bonanza king nor
A great statesman When I obeyed the lamented
Horaces njuacton did not go West far enough"
Every year the projected removal Of the Capital to the
Valley OF the Mississippi becomes less probable with
the increased erection OF new and magnificent public
buildings IN Washington. One monument OF folly, an
architectural barbarism has re7ained unchanged for
whole generation II ought 10 have been blown up by
dynamite years ago. when II obstnAtey refused to sink
of itg weight lutO tie ground can baiuy forgive
Rdvhrd Everett for wasting his magnificent gftS OF ora
tory in the attempt raise the funds 70 complete the
Washington Monument As It viii not 90 down at our
veried Into National cremation column. It looks lkc
the Parsee towers Maabar Hill near Bombay here
the dlscprs Of ZlrOaser cremaed This architec-
tura eysore has much TO answer for ON me Fourth OF
july thirty years ago he nero OF pue t "a" ro oTs
its marble shaft, and q week AFTER there was was
the Nation mourncd for q dead President;
Then Il was that Mr.. Seward, who had been General
TaVo chief adviser as he descended the steps OF the
session Tom CorWin, the Wagon Boy " OF Ohio loft
the IEsaey @n9 Of tbs b neEor YounS TOMS as he
was called. a handsome young fellow, was appointed
was his frst oce. and be aud the writer were of the
same age aud intimate friends remember now proud
ho Of that office and 0t his fatheTs position Tor
was holding modest cerkshlp In his DepartDent but
the people OF ONO preferred charley Foster Tor cover
nor. Notwithstanding Young Toms gallant record as
a soldier. , <,.,,..
ouently seen the Godke Daniel going through the
S" wh sRet on ar selecting me choice cuts at
butchers stalls l heard his famous 7th Of March
promise measures and u few evenings after, when
Fillmore had signed the bl was in the crowd that
serenaded him at his house next 10 the old Unitarian
Church on Flfthst He came out on
tho stems, ami while two OF his guests
AT dinner held candles that dlmly lighted his massive
head and dark eaVernOus ewes. no commenced hls
sneccn by saving; Now Is the summer-no. now Is
The Winter of our disoOnten made glorious Summer by
this sou OF York" lie went home 10 struggle yninD
arnnst the tide OF public sentiment his State.
which had begun to swell with ressess force In favor
OF Justice and humanity. , .
fhc Texan hero and Senator. Gam Houston, could in
those DAYS be SEEM clad IN his Indian blanket sur
rounded by his chosen crOnies sitting In front OF be
National Hotel whiting soft pine sticks until the
shaVings were deep all around hun.
These aud other "reminiscences Of the oden time come
ctowdlnR back on my memory, vivid, yet SAD, ana
tinEcd With the romance of my own youthful dreams
aud ambitions
'Wnere oh whore are the vsions OF morning,
Fresh as the dews OF our primet
Gone like tenants that quI without Warning'
Down the back entry OF Time W.PF
Washington, April 2. 1880