Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-11-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Nov. oath. 1872.


thing, but it has daily occurred dur
ing the last week or more, rather to
the dissatisfaction of those who hap
pened to be the ones refused admis-
sion. The occasion for it was found
in the Garfield Fair preparations,
visitors interfering with the work
men and rendering necessary guard
over the many articles of value lying
about waiting to be placed in posi-
ton. All is now about completed,
but for two weeks heaps of lumber
and piles of chips and shavings have
encountered the marble floors of the
rotunda and statuary hall. Squads
of workmen have been saving and
hammering under the dome, their
blows reyerberating with weird
acoustic effects from the conyerglng
walls. The maroon drapery that is
to form background for the exhibit
of paintings covers the entire circle
of the rotunda to a height of twenty
feet, and hides the large historical
paintings upon the walls A plat
form four feet high has been built
against the latter, and many valua-
BILE pictures lent for the occasion
have been resting on this with their
backs turned to the spectator. This
is the appearance The Capitol has
presented during these days OF hustle
and fixing. This win be the fourth
time that the national house OF leg
islation has been utilized for social
purposes. The Centennial Tea Par
ty, in December, 1874, under the
auspices Of ladies interested in the
great exposition at Philadelphia q
year and half later, was the first
occasion. In November of 1870 the
Society of the Army Of the Cumber-
land, whose tent had blown down
during their annual reunion, were
permitted to hold their ball, with
which it closed, in the rotunda, on
oneof the coolest and windiest nights
I ever saw. The Garfield Hospital
managers held a fair there in May
last, and now comes this exhibit, on
a larger scale than any of the pre-
ceding.
The President still resides at the
Soldiers Home and will remain there
until after the assembling Of Con-
gress as the changes in the White
House will not be completed until
the early part Of December The
fresco artists have possession ut pres
ent. The ceiling of the central cor
ridor and the ceiling and walls of
the state dining room, red parl0r,and
blue parlor ae being covered with
very rich designs iii color. phep eo-
pies gold is being '.d on these areas
by the square foot-beaten gold, Of
course. In the main corridor both
gold and silver are used with daz-
cling effect that is, the effect will
be dazzling when the chandeliers are
lighted. The state diningroomis GO
ing to be so handsomethat when You
are asked to state dinner. and find
yourself unable to carry on % CONVEX
sation with the guests around you,
you can feast your eyes on The cell
ing and not regret the absence Of
your appetite or the opportunity to
talk. OF course there will be brill
liant entertainments after the house
is again ready for use. Somebody
has recently said that this is "a gilt
edged Administration, because the
palings Of tie fence around the
White House grounds are tipped
with gold leaf, When the new $780,
600 addition to the mansion is erect
ed we shall have a capacious and
presentable Presidential residence.
congressman and Senators are
turning up by every incoming train,
and getting their houses in order for
the winters work. Some Of them
have houses and some haven't.
Those who take lodgings find that
prices have "riz" since last year.
For several weeks the Washington
landlady has been abroad in the
streets, hunting secondhand furni-
ture stores and renovating old car
pets, to make ready for the influx