The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-11-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
CAPITAL DULLNEss.

CAPITAL DULLNEss.
ColOmbier's Opinion of 1t
Private Residences = Star
Route Cases IngersOll,
Bliss, Brewster.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Nov. 6.-At
this particular time Washington is not
a very lively place: ga dead-alive
town" is what Marie Columbier, Sarah
Bernhardt's companion, terms it in her
American "reminiscences, now being
published in Paris journal. l have
not seen Washington at its best which
is during the session of Congress, when
the gay and festive office-holder and
ohice-seeker hold high carnival. But
Bernhardt and Columbier did see it
while Congress was in session, hence |
Judge the latter's reasons for calling it
"a dead-alive town." are because she
contrasted it with her own incompara-
bic Paris, in whose gilded salons Marie
and Sarah are wont to revel. 1t is
doubtless true that neither Washington
nor any other city In the world will
compare favorably with the French
metropolis in point of gayety, variety,
and attractiveness of its social life but
in a moral point of view there are
probably few cities in the civilized
world that will lose in comparison with
Paris. Even New York and Chicago
bad as they of course are, would not.
European Renaissance writers would
do well to remember the moral as well
as the social contrast when they give
their experience.
Washington is certainly magnificent
city, in so far as its streets public build
ings and many of its private residences
are concerned. There are now said to
be about five hundred of the latter in
course of construction. The most cost
ly of these is that of Secretary Blaine,
which is estimated to cost $50, 900 when
finished 1t will probably cost about
$40, 900 to furnish it completely, so that
when finished, it will doubtless be the
finest private residence in the city. The
construction of wooden houses within
a certain limit is forbidden, consequent
~ the housees now going up are either
brick or stone, almost invariably brick.
In stead of brown stone a pressed brick
of reddish color is used for the front
and makes very handsome appearance
As space is an item here, no ground il
lost in building, the houses now build
ing to be rented being in blocks with
from two to four stories and basement
and of the width of an ordinary store
room, with bay window and slate roof
They are attractive as well as comforta
bic. | shall have something to say o
) the public buildings hereafter
The all absorbing political topic il
Washington for the past few days, ha'
been the discussion in the district cour
of the motion to quash the information
filed by Messrs. James and MacVeagh
against ex-Ass't p. M. q. Brady, an(
the Star Route contractors. There il
a very able array of talent on boil
sides, but each one has its salient feat
ure. Col. Ingersoll is the most promi
, nent lawyer on the side of the contract
ors, and on the side of the Govern
ment, B. H. Brewster Of Philadelphia
and Col. Geo. III. Bliss of New York
! are the leading spirits. The most inte
est is centered probably in the speeche
of Col. Ingersoll and Mr.. Brewster
They were both very powerful efforts
Ingersolps effort was mastery in con
E vincing argumentative reasoning, Will
Mr.. Brewster's abounded in citation o
authorities, precedents, historical allu
sions, etc. Mr.. Brewster at an early ag
had a mishap in being burnt or scalde'
in the face which detracts from his per
sonal appearance, but he is certainl,
an orator and pleader Of first-class abil
ity. His appearance in this cas-
, awakened additional interest from tn
fact that he is considered by some,
E prospective member of the new Cabinet
, [ close this letter before decision i
! neached, but it seems from the weigh
! of argument that the information vii
j not be quashed. +. X. B.