The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-11-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 90, 1882.
For visitors to be turned away from the
Capitol building is an unusual thing, but it
daily occurred during the last week or
mere,--FatheF- to- the dissatisfaction of the
ones who happened to be refused sdmis
sion. The occasion for il vas found n the.
Garfield Fair preparatiDnsA visitsrs mtef-
fering with the workmen and rendering
necessary guard over the many articles
of value lying about waiting to be placed
in position. All is now about completed,
but for two weeks heaps of lumber and
piles of chips and shavings have encum-
bered the marble floors of the rotnnda and
statuary hall. Squads of wofknen have
been saving aud hammering under the
dome, their blows reverberating with wierd
acoustic effects fromzsthe nconverging
walls The maroon firapery that
. iss# to form background for
the exhibit of paintings covers the entire
circle of the retunda To height of twenty
feet and hides the large historical paint
ings upon the walls. A platform four feet
high has been built against the latter, and
many valuable<Pictures lent for the oeca-
sion have been resting onf this With their
backs turned to-the spectator: T'his Is the
appearance the Capitol has presented dur
ing these days of hustle and fixing. This
house of legislation has been altiliZedyfoK
social purposes 4 The Centenniah Tea
Party, in Deeefnber 1917. hlnder tflf
auspices of ladies interested in the great
exposition at Philadelphia q year and
half later, was the first occasion. In No
Vember of 1879 the society of the army of the
Cumberland, whose tent had blown down
during their annual reunion, were per
mitted to hold their BAH, with which il
closed, in the rotunda, on one of the cold
est and windiest nights [ ever saw. The
Garfield hospital managers held a fair
there in May last, and now comes this ex-
hibit, on larger scale than any of the
pre- sding azssazazaaa s3sss
The. President still resides at abe Sold
iers Home, and Will remain there Until
after the assembling of congress as the
changes in the White House viii not be
complsted antil ths.eaply gaFt.ef December.
The fresco artists have 1gsossassion at pres
emit. The ceiling OF the eentsal corridor
and the ceiling and walls Of the state din
ing room, red paE1sr= and blue parier are
being covered With very rich desigdssin
color. The peoples gold is being laid oI1s
these afeas by the square foot-beaten
gold,sof course. In the main corridor both
gold and silver are used with dazzling
effect, that is the sfeosT viii be dazzlipg
state dining Ep4m IL going to be Bo ghaha-
some that when you are asked to q state
dinner and find yourself unable to carry on
a conversation with the guests around
you, you can feast your eyes on the ceiling
and not regret the absence OF your Hppa
tite or the opportunity to talk. OF course
there will be brilliant entertainments after
the house is again ready for use. Some
body has recently said that this Ia q gilt
edged administration, because the palings
of the fence around the White House
grounds are tipped with gold leaf. When
the new 100000 addition to the. mansion
is erected we shall haveaa cspacious and
presentable Presidential residence.
Congressman and senazoRa are turning
up by every incoming trainr and getting
their houses in order for the winters work
Some of them have honses and some
haven't Those who take lodgings find
that prices have IRIS since last year. For
several weeks the Washingtan Aandlady
has been abroad in the streets, hahnting
second hand furniture stores and renewal
ing old carpets, t. make ready for ths