The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-10-09
oUm wAsmINGroN LnrrEn.
W.sHtyqrox. DC. Sent. 10. 1880.

just now the Smithsonion Institute
seems TO be the special attraction for visitors
1t is estimated that for the past week the
average Of visiting strangers. has aggregated
two hundred daily. Many are disappont-
ed because the new museum, which is to be
filled with many familiar contributions from
the centennial, and the many curiosities
Uncle Sam has gathered in the past century,
is not open TO the public. The building
itself it completed save the floor, and the
introduction Of heating appliances. The
appropriation having been exhausted, it is
probable the flooring will not be laid until
next spring, and the building will not be
formally opened until that time. One Of
the features Of the Smithsonian collection
which is now attracting more than passing
attention is the grouped Photographic col
lection Of the eminent scientists Of The world.
Included herein are also the photographs OF
the correspondents Of the institution. 1t is
a study to snalyze these faces. They differ
as do the lights and shades Of picture, and
yet in each face there is 10 be found some
marked characteristic. IL would seem for
one thing that semitic men as rule are
blondes and have blue eyes.
Two novels have appeared lately, both oi
which are based upon Washi hingt0n life, and
concerning one of them, written by Mr..
Chas T. Murray a journalist, much uniavor-
able comment is current The book is clever
enough, but Washingtonians, feel that it
ISLANDERS the city. The title of the novel is
"Sub Rosa" aud it appears to deal entirely
with the underside of Capital life, the pict-
ure being even then overdrawn. In the
nature OF the case Washington is infested
with adventures Of both sexes, and they
have their victims. Perhaps, too, there are,
or may have been, senators as corrupt, con
gressmen as vile,women as designing, news.
paper correspondents as dssipated, heads of
departments as ignorant and brutal, board
ing houses as dreary, black mailers as i'm
pudent as are depicted in this volume but
a narrative Of their mutual relations and
fortunes is false and grotcsque picture of
Washington lie. There has been 50 much
Of this kind Of writing that some people have
come to imagine that Washington is a city
of abounding and extraordinary seductious
TO wickedness, imperling the morals of
every man who comes into it, On the con-
trary, Washington is like other cities. Those
who are weak and corrupt find the oportuni-
ty waiting for them; but here, as elsewhere,
the man or woman Of firm character and
high purposes finds friends and helpers in
abundance. That men and women who
come here begging for chance to earn liv.
ing as clerks, and waiting and hoping until
they have not the means to get away, are
likely to become desperate is true. Under
like conditions men and women become des.
perate everywhere, and are everywhere
liable to become the prey of human wolves.
Politics is the chief concern of this now
beautiful metropolis, and being the capital
OF the Nation it could not be otherwise. But
gradually iterature,art and science are find
ing home and congenal fostering. Til,
Congressional Literary the Corcoran Al,
Gallery, the Smithsonian Institute, aud Tia
National Museum are not by any means
the centres OF attraction tu educated uur
cultivated visitors. During the season Wash
Iugton offers social attractions as splendlL
and free as are " be found anywhere.
Is that society i'll Washnton has ceremon.
Ial and official side, which is quite as empl,
and unsatisfactory and great deal muI,
miscellaneous than society is elsewhere.
But if any one judges from the reports tina
mud their way into the press OF the country
that this all, he Is mistaken. While theg.
is circle into which ADMISSION Gepeuu.
chiefly upon official station, there ale other
where intelligence, accomplishment ana
virtues are carefully regarded.
Washington is IA popular winter resort,no
only for politicians, ,OuL or men OF learning,
OF achievement, of phIlanthrophy. Itlsn,.
only chosen resort, but is becoming t.
chosen home of sucn people, as We'll ID
vi wealth and leisure. People vino hdN
no engrossng business that confines then
to one city, but wish 10 have resldeuc,
where tho climate is not too severe au,
where they may always he sure Of congen,al
society when tney care " enjoy II, are III,
covering tnat Washington is such plAc
Tnls Is u movement whIcn, once Ueguu,
l,~eiy 10 Increase year Uy year
Some funny correspondence comes
hand III the various departments occasion
ally. Tue Trcasu, er ol The United STA.
received one day this week letter from .,
old colored man cover "A aud lull Of years,
enclosing 1854 in confederate money, whicr
ne held on a man in Wilmington, Del. A
ie WAS "old and poor, he thought he woulu
irop few lines 10 the Treasurer, that he
might not starve in the reach OF rutegna
Ight THIS is the kind Of money that ha
,een inslnuated on me. Please do me souI,
good. Please think ON me in lraterua.
light, US am an old barber by trade, anu
IA my lie have shaved seven OF our Presl
ienIs-the honored Andrew Jackson ,Zachar,
Taylor James X, Polk, Mllard Fillmore
VIM. Henry Harrison, Franklin Pierce aud
John Tyler" The letter is sisneI by R,y
5. G. Golden, IAN Ethiopian P. NJ NJ
Not long ago the Treasurer aai S6me inter
estIng correspondence with dlstrustiul IA
hvidual down South who had loru s.
Treasury note which he desired releemsl
But was 10Th to send it until he got tie -
~ new notes, fearing the Treasurer woul.
cheat him out OF it. Finally he was IN
dueed to take the chances and wrote saying
he hoped they would deal honestly with
him.
Politics are getting very hot here, Tn,
Congressional Committees Of both parties
are sending out tons of documents and al
the signs are watched with eager interest
Work has been resumed on the Washington
Monument, one hundred and seventy-fiv,
men being now employed. 1t is possible
that the old concern may be finished som,
time within the next one hundred years.
Don PEDRo.