Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-05-13
FROM WASHINGTON.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL IN ITS oLoRY-UNvEn-
ING OF THE FARRAGUT sTATUE-LARKIN O.
MEAD AND HIS NATIVE TOWN.

THE NATIONAL CAPITAL IN ITS GLoBY-UNvEfL-
ING OF THE FARRAGUT sTATUE-LARKIN O.
MEAD AND HIS NATIVE TOWN.
WAsHISoToN, d. O., May 4th, 1881.
Never was Washington more glorious than
to-day. The weather is perfectly heavenly
and all naturesevidently happy. Trees are
budding, flowers are blooming, birds are sing
ing children are playing, and all humanity
Except the Senate), are smiling and things
generally look and act springy. The cold,
dreary, long winter-never a winter like II in
Washington-now seems a sorrow Of long
ago. Truly Washington is beautiful and
picturesque city city that all true. hearted
Americans can feel just pride in. Now
and then comes a grumble from some quar-
ter, saying that Congress is spending too
much of the public funds for useless improve
ments. Much has been done In Washington
in the last ten years, and there is much more
that should be done We cannot have too
many Improvements we must have our ma
tional capital the most beautiful and cultured
city in all the world. Why not Are we not
the grandest people to be found on this
globe? So If there are any grumblers in or
about Bratlleboro, hang them But am
unwilling to believe there are any. There
seems TO be a rush in real estate sales, which,
of course, betokens that fine class of peo-
pie, outside of politics and politicians-thes
are an uncertain class-are building and buy
ing lovely homes. Cultured and gifted men
and women from all parts Of our country are
making homes here. BY and by Washing
ton will be the literary and art centre of
America. We have great deal Of quackery
in art here but art quacks, like quack doc
tors, will have TO advertise in small towns out
West.
The great event of the past week was the
unveiling Of the Farragut statue in Farra-
gut square. Surely it was day long TO be
remembered by the sculptor, Mrs. Winnie
Ream- Hoxie She has toiled long and well
to achieve success and fully deserved the glo-
ry she was crowned with. The day was one
of April's best She played no fckle pranks
of smiles and tears upon us that morning
The display was as brilliant and imposing as
blue and gold, grey and silver, shot and she'll
cannon and sword of the army and navy
could make ii, and the scene made enchant-
ing by beautiful women clad in red yellow
and black, looking like bouquet of varie-
gated tulips; and our noble statesmen and
young department clerks, in their now light
spring suits, looked like a nosegAy of sweet
williams to be laid at the feet of the fair ar
tist who had not only immortalized the brave
old admiral, but her own self. But TO think
OF all this crowd sitting and standing for four
mortal hours listening TO long speeches, and
could not hear at that But the vanity Of
our public men must be gratifed, even IL
delicate naval cadets do faint with fatigue
and lovely women perish with endurance
Mrs. Winnie Ream-Hoxie is a pretty, viva
cious. brilliRnt-eyed little woman, with ac-
complished manners and very pleasant ways
aud she seems to understand the art of using
her gifts and powers to the very best advan-
tage. All honor TO the American girl who
merits the success she has won.
And this reminds me that must beg the
pardon of Justice, " from Chesterfield, N. H.,
for kidnapping the gifted sculptor, LArkin
g. Mead. was perfectly honest in claiming
him, for supposed, as had never heard to
the contrary, that he was born and educated
in Brattleboro, and in fact he is spoken of all
over the world as the Vermont sculptor"
Kidnapping is dangerous business, and espe-
chilly hazardous for a Green Mountain girl
to attempt to carry off Granite state-ed"
man. return him to Chesterfield, N. H.,
with many regrets. / don't know why Mr.
Mead should be ashamed of his birthplace or
youthful playmates. My father was born in
Chesterfield, and many of his kindred are
buried there, and l believe some are living
there still. And used to have youthful
playnfates there. too, who used TO sit on the
bank of that lovely lake and try to teach me
how to fish. Now, may be Justice" is that
salfsame youth. And l well remember the
gallant boatman, George-well, no matter
what his other name wRs-who used to row
us across the lake. l thought of this boat
man, of his perfect skill, as l saw Hanlan
rowing that easy glide down the Potomac last
June. should ike to see HAnlan attempt
TO cross Spalford lake on a wager with the
Chesterfield boatmRn. 1 should bet on
deOrge -. n. c. s.