The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1881-11-12

I'll " - ] -
NasIsssnI GaPffsz1-
From onf Regular Correspondent.
u WksHsgrox, ID. c., Nov 5, 1881.
a For the naxt -four weeks Washing
ton will devote herself entirely Il
fixing fer the session. The presi
dent has gone to New York: some sa,
% vote; others say for purpose 10
mantle and matrimonial. One thing
is certain, he cannot vote, for he bai
failed to register; but who will SAY b,
cannot get marriedi OF course tb,
elaborate fixing" that is going on Al
the White Honse, new carpets, frcsco
ing. furniture upholstered in old gold
regilding, and other exquisite dctails
of Identification, may have nothing to
do with permanent female occupant,
but the personal interest taken by the
president in the new installation of
the old mansion would seem, at least,
to Indicate that he knows something
about mural decoration, and thciesthet-
ic befitments of the home OF, of-well
let us say the executive of great ma
ton. Perhaps he win live alone for
three years and four months in these
splendid halls and luxurious bondoirs,
but it is the most inappropriate cave
for an anchorite that Satan ever in
vented. Furniture has been ordered
from New York, and it is expected
that everything will be completed, and
the mansion ready for occupancy, by
the goth inst. The East Room, with
which visitors to the Capital are most
familiar, will be refurnished through
out, and the wood work will be carved
in modern and elegant designs.
All the government departments are
being repainted and placed in proper
condition for flie winter. But it is not
the government alone that is laboring
TO improve the national seat of gov
.crnment, and prepare it for the thou
sands of visitors who come every
winter to spend few days or few
months, in Washington, to engage in
its fashionable gaycties; TO view its
historic and architectural monuments;
to see its art collections; and, especially,
to hear, in the two Legislative halls of
the Capitol some men who, though
living, arc historic. Such are the
power and facilities of the press that
men and history are given, as it were,
by instantaneous photography, TO
jewellers in hamlets, and our public
men may see the judgment Of poster
ity in the criticism or the praise re-
focted from the factory, the farm
house, and the miners camp. To re-
turn from This digrcssion-1 began TO
write something about the private inn
provencnts and the growth of the
city. Real estate agents say that such
activity has not been known here for
several years. There are al this time
fewer houses vacant than ever before,
and All houses situated IN desirable
localities are readily rented at prices
ranging from five to ton per cent an
advance Of the prices current last year.
The class Of houses sought, too, are
Of q higher order than those in demand
last season. The northwest section of
the city seems to lead, though in
Georgetown and on Capitol Hill the
demand is steady and the prices d little
in advance Of last year. SO great Is
the demand for rcsidcncesiu the north
west section chat many, still nncom-
plctcd, are already rented. During
the past year q larger number Of sub
stantial dwellings have been erected
than in any season for years. The ont
look for building next season il bright,
and argues well for the advancement
Of the Capital Of the country.