The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-06
WAsHrNaroN LnTTKR.
/ From Our Regular Correspondent. ]

ID tnC udy iAoiC SCHcIdly oUSoIfcu tAdn III
Washington. The official receptions and
the appearance of diplomatic and army and
navy officers in court dress aud uniforms
lend added charms and special attractions
to the social greetings customary here as
elsewhere. The New Years reception at
the White house is always looked forward
to by residents of the Capital and the many
strangers within its gates. as the social
event of the season. Ii was never ushereo
in with greater expectations than this year
and the festivities never opened more
gaily, only to be brought to a sudden and
sad termination by the advent of death
1t is the old sad story of human life:
Sunny skies and happy hearts in the morn
ing; the fullness of busy, social interchange
at midday, death in the afternoon, and
clouds at night-the year in day-the
world in our own busy Washington,
the gamut of human heartstrings,
up and down. Just as thousands
of people gathered about the White House
to walk in and extend friendly greeting
10 their chief magistrate, foreign minister
MIR. Allen of the Hawaiian kingdom
drops dead in the hallway. and the gates
are closed. Thus the truth is again illus
there death is also.
Everybody in Washington was anxious
to attend the Presidents reception on Mon
day, not only to greet the President him
SELF but to see the new interior decorations
of the mansion, of which much has been
written, but which few have as yet seen.
1t was said that the free American citizen
who entered .the White House to pay
his respects would have reason to feel
prouder of it than ever before. Several of
the rooms have undergone a complete
transformation, aud the beauty and har-
mony of furniture and surroundings is now
most complete The great east room has
been greatly changed and improved, but
the greatest transformation is in the blue
room. The eolored man, Smith, who
formerly rode on the box when Albert
held the ribbon in President Grants time,
says with q regretful sigh and goodbye
expression on his face, Sits NO longer the
old blue room" in a way that is farewell
to old associations with the old familiar
blue and gilt that have done service
for fourteen years The ceiling is a dec
Grafton not easily described, and therefore
will always be beautiful and interesting
and study for the artistic void. But
the American citizen win not grasp it, nor
comprehend il, beyond the impression
given by the silvery sheen Of stars in the
frieze, and the greater simmer of silver
and gold lustres over his head. He will
be impressed more by the glass screen that
separates the corridor from the vestibule
than by any other change given to the
mansion. Thirty years ago a wooden
partition marked the corridor where guests
promenade and toilets are seen to auvant-
age. This gave place to the iron frame
work. set with ground glass panels, pref
tily engraved. This in turn is replaced by
the stained glass screen recently put up by
Mr. Taffany, and that is the most effective
of the entire Improvements. The gorge
BUSINESS of color that reflects the jeweled
brillianeg of the opAa. the. .rnby, the tour
maline, the topaz. and the rich hues of
amber, give a touch of royal splendor; and
were it not for the presence of the eagle in
the great central doors the American citi
zen might fancy himself in foreign
palace, rather than in the old White
house that has sheltered republican rulers
ever since its occupancy by his first presi-
dent. But here the emblematic design |
viii set him right, and the beautiful, |
spreading wings of the bird, spark |
ing and studded with gems, will be |
and will be to him a |
glory and delight.
General Sherman is mentioned by q |
number OF newspapers as the republican
candidate for the Presidency in 1884 |
General Sherman does not want the nomi-
nation. Possibly he is the only man in
he United States who does not care to
DO president, and who would not permit i
Ills name TO be used. He is very fond of /
,ocial enjoyment He has had his fills of
lame and is thoroughly weary of public |
affairs. The slight routine work at the /
var department is very irksome to him,
10 that he looks forward to his retirement |
With pleasure. He would not exchange
he comfort and honor of his assured posi-
ion for any rough and tumble struggle /
With set of politicians first, and then if
,ueeessfaf tie .exac8ions and opportunities
would make the White House t'helI' to
gentleman of q temperament so nerv Gus
md irascrible a. General SHERMAN. / see
hat New Yokk paper prints paragraph
laying that General Sherman recently
oined Nhe Catholic church. This General I
Sherman denounces lie. IA prominent
,fficer in the army says that number of
7ears ago, when General Sherman was in
private life, hewas baptized as a member
IF the Catholic church. This has been
heard from General Hherman's own lips. He
vas never an active member of the church,
md gradually dropped all pretense of any
connection with any church. He is very |
liberal in his views, and should be proper
Y classed as q free-thinker Mrs Sherman
. devout Catholic. DoM PEDRO
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