Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-05-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE MONITOR. ]
WASHINGTON, Mdy 81.

Washington, May 81.
The past week was lively, interesting |
one in Washington. The city was full |
of strangers, brought here through differ |
ent interests. The spring races brought |
sporting men, large excursion parties
from different cities helped to crowd the
hotels, and the veterans of the Army Oft the
Potomac came with their wives and chill
dren to hold their annual reunion. Blue
skies and bright sunshine, exquisitely
tempered by soft breezes lent their assist
ance to the out door events transporting,
and made the conditions Of successful
sport, parade and excursion, faultless.
The broad, smooth, hard streets of the
city are well suited for pageantry, and
Wednesday was the day on which the old
soldiers, accompanied by the local mill
tary, formed procession and tramped to
the old martial strains. 1t was a real
gala day. Many hotels, public buildings,
and private residences were decorated for
the occasion: flags fOated on the breeze,
anu pGOplC CIOMucu Gllc SluC-"dlh W SCC
the parade. The procession passed in
review before the President, and the vet
| rams were given a reception at the White
| House afterward, but they were slightly
| offended by the failure of President Ar
thur to attend their proceedings at the
| National Theatre Wednesday evening.
after having been waited on by a commit
tee Of invitation and having signified his
intention to be present The exercises
were delayed by waiting for his appear
ance, but all that time he was far away,
moonlight excursion.
While wealthy and cultivated people
are daily attracted to make homes in
Washington by the advantages which il
possesses over any other city in the
world, her own people are too apt to pass
them unregarded by. The visitor from
the bleak streets Of Boston or Chicago
the dirty ones of New York or st. Louis
the narrow ones of Philadelphia or Gin
cinnati, is surprised and delighted Whel
he strolls through these broad avenue
lined with living green, rests his eye OF
the parks and circles, and observes th
: high culture and artistic arrangement O
the parks and gardens. The park sout
of the Avenue is larger, more varied
better cultivated and more beautiful an
interesting than any park in the country
There are the Propagating, Agricultural
3. and Botanical gardens, with a wonderft
variety of trees and plants to attract th
d eye and interest the mind. Besides thes
e are the Lafayette, Lincoln and Frankli
e squares, the numerous circles, cultivate
|, and kept with care and taste absolutel
d unknown outside of Washington. In tt
J. propagating garden are 1885, 900 be
t plants, which are now ready to be tran
It planted to the parks, circles, squares, al
2 reservations. Coleus in endless varie
lie of varigated foliage, innumerable gerar
j. ums, vincas, lantanas, fuchias, steira
e, by the thousand, are awaiting their tin
K to bloom in the open air, but the displi
h of tulips, crocus, hyacinths, and the eal
lie Ter and harder plants has been beautif
in beyond description.
It, In few weeks the gigantic palms al
il the great sage plants, pandanas and OF
ur ther exotics which during the winter ha
ir sometimes graced the parlors of t
n Presidents house, will CRAFTY the eye
er the poorest in the parks and circles.
de The treasury department has it's o,
nd conseryatories in which are nursed t
he rare plants which beautify the spae
no around it. The front of the State depa
re ment is charming spot in summer VIII
re the roses are in bloom. The Presiden
grounds are dotted with beds of beau