Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-09-23
LETTER FROM CINCINNATI.

LETTER FROM CINCINNATI.
''The Paris of America''-A Dingy, Dusty
Place-The Exposition-Col0nel Piatt's New
Home-Speaker Refers Course, Etc.
Special Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR.
CINCINNATI, September 21st 1892
For the first time In my life / am seeing sone-
| thing OF Cincinnati, through which have passed
| many times In travelling. To one who lives ia a
non-manuiacturing city like Washington, whose
| atmosphere is never befouled by clouds Of smoke,
and whose streets are kept so wonderfully clean,
the dirt OF western metropolis like this is the
hrst TACT forced upon the consciousness, and q
most repulsive fact 1t is. As we drew near on the
railroad we could see the clouds Of smoke hanging
like pail over the city, and when we entered il
seemed as II we looked at the sun through smoked
| glass. Some OF the city papers, notably the
Commercial, earnestly advocate the general adop-
| ton in all buildings, where there is much ma
| chinery, OF the smoke consumers, and hear the
| Commercial building has for some time been
using one with gratifying success. II feasible (as
| clafmed) all large manufacturing companies GER
tanly should adopt this means OF freeing SO fine
| city from SO great an incubus.
THE CINCINNATI EXPOSITION.
| The exposition now in progress attracts many
strangers to the city, and all its approaches are
crowded. The streets are so full that the horse
cars are often blocked in their progress endured
| blockade while riding In one of them the day
| after my arrival for three-Quarters OF an hour.
Business certainly seems to be as lively here as
| any one could wish. am amazed, however, to
observe here as also did In travelling through this
state that the concession is made OF the superior
| fty OF New York. by putting on signs to recon-
| mend goods that they are just from New York, or
are OF New Y ork brand, even mems clothing and
| other articles which could Just as well be pro-
ouced In the place which has so often styled itself
1.-THE Paris OF America" and which / had pre-
a 20 hn ral
| Paris, or at least was accepted throughout the
small towns OF Ohio as giving the s'stamp of
fashion and the mould OF FORM" In preference to
any eastern city.
| COL. PIATTs NEW HOME.
Since last wrote to THE STAR have paused
| long enough in my wanderings to see Col and
| Mrs. Dom Piatt in their elegant new house
which was completed only in June, and which
whenever at home they have full OF visitors.
| They built it much larger than needed ior them
Selves just so as to be able to have their friends
| visit them. This house, built by Col. and Mrs.
Dom Piatt on the place he has owned so long
! "Mac-o.chee near West Liberty, Ohio, and
eight miles from Bellefontaine, is, except In style
OF architecture more like city than country
| residence. IL looks. set on green lawn against
Of OF v m On Using ground IKE
| 1t Is absolutely home production--the stone OF
which it is built and all the wood, except the
| pine, used in its construction having been found
| on the estate. Black walnut, oak and cherry are
| the woods most used. The walnut was cut on the
| place twenty years ago, seasoned ana Kept ready
| FOR use, but the other woods were seasoned by q
new and rapid process which is thought even
more ef1ectual In preserving the wood and render.
Ing it fit for building material than the old mode
sf letting time do the work gradually. The white
stone OF Which the house Is built is 'rock-faced,
as the arcnltects express It, giving rugged and
1t has two fronts, each OF which is approached
by broad stone terrace. on which the windows
door OF solid oak, nearly SIX inches thick, opens
IRON stone portico, whose walls and ceiling are
adorned with landscapes painted by skilled ar
story is told that when Col. Platt was buying for
them the heavy bronze hinges each OF which
weighs six pounds, and mentioned the thickness
of the doors, the dealer asked gravely, "Are YOU
building Jatl?" The ceilings are all painted In
handsome style, and the walls also save In the
different kinds OF wood. The floors down stairs
are all OF polished wood In beautiful patterns
On the 1rst floor are parlor, library, sitting
| room and din1ng-room, besides pantrieS, kitchen
| and bathrooms.
On the freseoed ceiling OF the library are painted
the heads OF Col. Patt's first wife, who was bril-
liant writer of Mr. and Mrs. Jno JAS Piattt poet
couple and OF Bret Harte. each in a corner of the
ceiling. The mantels are of oak, carved by a pro-
| Iesslonal wood carver, and the tiles around the
| nreplaces were painted by Cincinnati artist.
The walls of the library are wholly of wood, while
on the second and top stories are the bedrooms
SO In the fresco on the ceiling at the head OF the
wide staircase OF carved oak is painted just at the
entrance to the hall leading to the bedrooms
| pheasant Dreams"
COL. PIATT'S PRIVATE CHAPEL.
Adjoining Mrs Piatt's own bed-chamber and
| opening from 1t Is private chapel finished en-.
t1reiy In white paint with gilt panels. 1t is the
| only white paint about the house. There is a
| high altar on which cross OF flowers is always
Kept and confessional and praying stool In the
chapel. as well as pictures. There are handsome
gas fixtures throughout the house, which is thor
| oughly lighted by gasoline, an unexpected con-
Vemence IN country residence distant from any
large town. Col Piatt has also built a reservoir
on hill In his grounds, which is supplied by
water from copious spring, and has stationary
WaShStahuS IN every room in the house.
SPEAKER KEIFER's COURSE.
talked with Col. Piatt- about Speaker Keifer
| and the opposition that existed for time In his
district to his denomination. Col Piatt laughed
at the idea OF any one supposing he was opposed
because OF any thing he had done as to the organ
ization OF the House, or any of his rulings while
Speaker. He said that Gen. Keifers constituents
knew little and cared less about the organization
OF the House, or its rules, and opposed his renOmi-
nation solely because they did not like the man he
field his home. Thirty candidates for the Success
sion to that place were {says Col Piatt) the huS
est In working for the nomination OF Gen. Ken
neuy as Gen. kelferS successor, but ON the return
OF the latter from Washington, lust before the
convention met, these aspirants for the post ofice
We're induced to take a different view of their
prospects, and the result was the nomination or
the sitting member.
General Kennedy, who was made collector Of
eHo uiouilCt ny TTeSiuent hayes, apparently hopes
10 retain that place failing the nomination for
congress, and Is now, says Col. Piatt, vigor-
OuSly stumpng the state for his late rival who it
is Delleved, Will be elected by the usual ma orlty
Ex-Governor {and ex-min1ster to France) Moves
was also stumping that district last week.
PERSONAL MENTION.
Ex-senator and Mrs. Mcdonald are expected
this week at Macochee to visit Col and Mrs
Ptatt.
General Force, lifelong friend Of ex-President
Hayes and a son of the late Peter Force, OF Wash.
1ngton, has been making a visit with his wife and
children to the ex-President and Mrs Hayes at
Fremont
Many in Washington remember Col PIatt,s
nephew, Gen. Runkle He and his wife are now
living In New England. He has studied for and
been ordained in the Episcopal ministry and now
mas parish In New England. His daughter Miss
Maud, Is soon to be married.
Representative and Mrs. Carlisle are at their
nome IN Covington, where they are delightfully."-
situated In the same house with their friend, Mrs
Henderson, the daughter OF the late ex-senator
Jesse d. Bright, OF Indiana, whose dwelling is one
OF the handsOmest in the city.
MISS GRuNDY
Sporting Matters.
THE BASE BALL LKAGUK
The executive committee of the national league
professional base hall plo voctor1ov q.