The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1882-11-04
TON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence.

Washington. ID. C. October %, 1882.
Washington has been attractive be
yond any city in thi, hemisphere. ut
least for the grandeur of its public Ddi.
Aces. 1t is not 30 generally known
that it la. a larger number Of colossal
bronze equestrian statues than any
city in the world. But what | wish t"
write about to-day is the splendor of
private residences that have been erect
ed in the last, five years. These resls
dences may perhaps be eclipsed y
some private palaces that have been
built in New York by the Stewards.
Vanderbilts. Tild-n>, and other million
aires. but for luxurious. spacinusness
and unstinted use of air. earth, and
aky, the width Of street and park in
the Capital city presents advantages
in building which II" city of mere con
mercial and manufacturing growth can
rival. 1t is perhaps to call any of
houses recently built by Mr. Blaine
and other millionaire statesman pri-
vate residences. 1t is true that the
owner will have a sleeping apartment
that will De-, at certain hours, tree from
the intrusion IF his admiring cons,it-
uents, but the plans and the appurta
nences of Mr.. Blaine's immense pile on
Massachusetts, Avenue, are peculiarly
adopted to the latitude, the life, the
society and the politics of Washington
This mansion was never intended for
that retirement from the madding
crowd and that ideal privacy and rests
which poets and lovers dream about,
and which soured and disappointed
people sometimes seek.
Mr.. Blaine's new house is in the fash
ionable West end. near the cOniunc-
ton of Connecticut and Massachusetts
avenues, and fronting Dupont circle,
which is, apretty circular park. des-
tined. at sometime. t." have a bronze
statue of somebody, perhaps of Mr..
Blaine, in it. No park in Washington
can escape a bronze statue. But to re-
turn to the house. 1t is the largest re.
idence in Washington, covering less
ground space than tho house Of the
British Minister. but rising TWO stories
higher. l: was designed ny the same
arcbitec: that built the house Of the
British Minister, but the original de-
signs have been very materially alter
ed by the suggestions of the owner
and it is said Mr.. Blaine has also had
something to say about it.. Perhaps
the most Distinguishing feature Of the
house is the ~spaciousness Of its halls
its s%tairways, and it's reception room.
On the second and third floors are
many finely proportianed bed rooms
good closets, and bath rooms. There
are three ofthe latter Zone for servants,
on the second floor. In one of these
for Mr.. Blaine's use, is a Russian hot
air bath. The wainescoting above
stairs is of Georgia pine. The back
stair case. while much smaller, o
course. is as pleasing in its way al
the grand one. 1t runs all the way III
to what was first meant only for a loft
but is now utilized for sleeping rooms
which are we'll lighted, for the servants
while the dark rooms formed by til.
slope of the steep roof make admir-,
BILE baggage room The elevate
which is to be used for baggage ant
fuel only goes up to the third story
The rooms on this floor are fully a
handsomely finished Is those below
and will be used by members of TIL
family.
In the rear Of the house are a cisterl
and a filtering apparatus, the rain wa.
ter from the roof passing through TIL
latter before entering the cistern. Thi
water will be used tor drinking.