Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-04-23

some OF tne places visited and noted were
St. Johns Church Patrick Henry's sacred
forum). Libby Prison, Old Stone House
Washington headquarters), Capitol build
ing, and Capitol Square, with its monu-
ments to Washington, Clay and Stonewall
Jackson. The State Capitol has, among
other works OF art, an original statue of
Washingtonan6 bust OF LAFAYETTE by Hou-
don. Leaving Richmond next evening install
dusk, we soon had darkness, with slight
fog or mist, and found the trip to Wash.
ington about as interesting as a bulls run
through wilderness. Washington is n
city that every American should feel proud
Of Whatever mistakes were made in
economizing ground by giving the city sew.
erai narrow streets was well offset hy many
vide ones, and when =" Boss Sheohardn
took the city in charge, it was fortunate for
those who have to plod the streets day and
night 1t is considerable to have placed
along these handsome avenues small signs,
No heavy trucking allowed here, and
one would think that the truckmen had all
seen the notice, aud left the city. We did
not see heavily loaded truck anywhere in
the city. TIE trade appears to be nice
lively retail trade, and with the many peo-
pie, gives it the character of city Of sober
holidays. One at once notices that there
is peculiar style and
QUIET ACTIVITY
Entirely different from that to be found in
any other city OF this country. We have
heard it called the Paris of America"
but if so we judge it to be an American
Paris. We were disappointed in the ap-
pearance OF the Capitol building. The
dome looks well, but the wings lack hight,
and " lille 1t may satisfy all and answer the
purpose, 1t occurred to us that il the Capt.
toll stood anywhere else but on thai proud
national hill. it would be well to turn it
over to one of the departments. Il ia not
in keeping with that American building at
the other end of the avenue, the State,
War and Navy Departments. citizen
can stand before that, alongside an Eng
lishmap, and with some satisfaction slightly
raise his beaver and say, Look ere, that's
one of our buildings" The White House
is modest and plain enough TO satisfy all.
We trust it will not last long where it is
1t should be moved modesty is commend
able but no one likes to see it stared at
The National Museum is good building
for the purpose. but many of the public
buildings belonging to the National Gov
eminent look best on paper and in draw
ings as shown In the architects Office. 1t
does seem in order and almost necessary,
that most of these public buildings
should have neat, appropriate sign placed
on them. A smart man in six years can by
industry learn their names and uses, but
life is too short for visitors to run around
o,l ash onl boS hoE
building is this - Besides, it sounds YER
dant to some, and we cannot all be six-year
citizens of Washington. 1t was on a Monday
morning we called with others at the White
House toseethe President and the interiorof
the building. The reception-room was full,
and after few moments the President ap-
peared and first called for the "greeting
set, those who wanted nothing. He waltzed
through our set a la " grand right and left"
in cordial business style, and in about
the usual time it takes-we missed the
music-and then turned to the sufferers,
aud when the writer left he was getting
through the other set in good shaps, and
showed adeptness for one who had been
practically at it only few days. Cal ing
at the Capitol,
THE SENATE
Was in session, and by the courtesy of
Senator Miller we were admitted INFO the
Senate chamber He and Senator Farley
introduced us to Senators Logan, Conkling,
hone and others. The last named bears
his honors and notoriety well-quiet, self
possessed, and with bearing thai indi-
Gates his mind as constantly readilsting
some question. When the South gets the
problem settled satisfactorily as to how
she is to pay her enormous State and city
debts Virginia 800, 000,00 State debt
alonel, with country years behind the
age, many of the higher classes bankrupt
and uneducated to the Northern spirit of
industry /; when a goodly number OF her
citizens conclude that perhaps the present
management of the Government is quite
satisfactory, and turn to it with cordial
support-when these questions are more
settled, Malone will be a more agreeable
subject for criticism for many. Perhaps
he is just little abreast of the times for
the South. 1t is barely possible that Mr..
Gorham's desire to be Secretary of the
Senate had something to do with Senator
Mahones late course but if SO we be-
lieve it to be in line of the Senator's Souths
ern policy. When at the Capital, no one
should fail to visit Mount Vernon. and
view the place where rests the remains of
George Washington. The ladies who have
taken charge of this place and grounds are
getting along nicely, and will soon have
the grounds and house in the con-
dition Washington left them in, doubt
or as near as they can be, as old pieces of
furniture have been returned, and in some
cases new articles are supplied to suit.
Those supplied are OF course in keeping
with the surrounding style, and are more
or less historical in interest The house is
quaint, plain, cut up with the numerous
and usually small rooms of the modern
everyday house. Divest this house of its
history, and man would Lave job on his
hands to rent it in Sacramc ato. We were
prepared to see plain building but thought
1t stately and roomy. Some of the rooms
were almost too small for any use.
Passing the general view from the house,
which Is interesting, and the main first
floor rooms, which are disap yointing, one
feels most interested in going up to the
second floor of the house, and visiting the
bedroom of the great hero. While it is
moderate-very in size and apparently with
low ceiling-it was as cosy and comfortable
as one need to have. 1t is said that after
his death Martha Washington took posses
sion of the small attic chamber over this
room, and spent much of her time locking
out of the small window from which could
be seen the old or first tomb, then contain
ing the Generals remains. Beyond this
tomb and in line are the willows brought
from Napoleon's grave at St. Helena. One
is here reminded of two or three occur.
rences in history familiar to all. How
Washington was urged again and again to
forego his great hurry to execute the COM
mands bearing on the interests of George
Ill, and go into certain house to see the
I" young widow, if nothing more how he
finally handed the reins to the Lieutenant
and went into the house. aud forgot King
George, Lieutenant, horse and all on
The outside, that day and night
md next day the faithful lives these