The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-07-09


peeping TO disturb me in my repose
and an obliging "culled porter tc
anticipate every want, aud then
thought of my former ride with
''the boys" as we lay promiscuously
in the old cattle car, head to feet
brogan to- shin, and heel to eye, ii
may be. supposed that the contrast
was to say the least interesting.
Save these cogitations and memo
ries of the past, my ride was without
particular note.
Arriving in Washington on time,
at $50 o'clock Thursday morning,
| was driven to the elegant residence
of my friend, Register Bruce, whose
excellent wife extended to me the hos
pitality of her mansion, as only such
cultured, elegant ladies as she can do,
the Register having gone to his
office.
After refreshments and other pre-.
liminaries, concluded to 'take in
THE TOWN.
Well, Washington is a magnificent
city in every respect, and am not
surprised that when a fellow has
been here a little while, he wants to
stay, and only leaves with regretful
step. The streets are said to be the
finest in the world, Paris, save the
Boulevard, not excepted. A pilgrim,
from the Future Great, remarked,
on seeing these streets, that they are
smoother and cleaner than the floors
of the houses in st. Louis, which is
doubtless true. l will not, of course
| could not, draw it so hard on our
own beloved city of 'concentrics, but
to one who, for years. has plodded
through the mud, or held his breathe C?)
mid one of our dust GIFTED -whirl-
winds, the contrast is marked. The
city was laid off with reference to de-
fence, as we'll as artistic beauty. 1t
has seemed to me that it was
also laid off with a special
view of loosing strangers.
Whether the engineer had that
thought.in mind or not, no stranger
will deny that the deed has been most
successfully carried out. l am seri-
ously contemplating a suit for dam
ages against the Government for ex-
ira street car fare and bribes to small
boys TO take me home and keep mum.
But the streets was remarklng
that they were laid of with reference
to defence. At intervals-just how
l don't knOw-they all center about q
square or a circle which is converted
into beautiful park. Artillery
placed in the center of the square OIL
circle could sweep dozen streets
more or less. Thus the city is full Of
beautiful parks with cooling shade
and flowers and statuary. AS soon
as | have opportunity | shall visit
the places of note and tell the read
ers of The Leader something about
them.
Soon after my arrival, i was met by
an old friend whose first question
was, "Now what did you come tC
Washington for?' "For the good o
my country" | replied; "to sacrifice
myself If need be upon her Official
altar" "Good," he said. "The day.
Of our country will be numbered
when men become unwilling to max,
such sacrifices" Speaking of office
seekers, [ may remark that | never
saw so many in all my "born days.
Every other man is either seeking
an office or "legging' to keep the on,
he has.
The readers of The Leader will o
course be anxious to know something
of the Registers office. The Regis
ter's Bureau is situated on the frs
floor south end of the Treasury build
ing, and contains five divisions
namely, coupon and note, fractiOna
currency, loan, receipts and expendi
lures, and tonnage. In these divis
ions there are about $50 employees
with salaries ranging from
1920 down, a number of whor
are ladies. Register Bruce
perfectly at home in his position
He is treated with the utmost defer
ence by his subordinates, and wit
marked consideration by the mos
distinguished officials, from member
of the Cabinet down. The Register
elegantly furnished Office proper is i
the southwest corner of the building
and looks out upon beautiful var
filled with choice flowers. Their
are few offices in the building ths
have more visitors than the Register
a large majority of whom are whit