Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1883-11-17
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9th, 1883.
The seat of Government will soon
again be the center Of political interest,
to which every citizen, worthy of his
perilous enfranchisemeDt will turn his
anxious hopeful eyes. 1t will soon
again be the center Of commercial and
manufacturing interests for here will
be discussed those great economic ques-
tions, which it is not too much to say
will he felt by spindles in the factory,
by mining drills under the earth, and
by ships on the sea. 1t will soon again
be the radiating center of journalistic
interest, for here correspondents of all
papers will hold the mirror up to poll
tics, to society, to life, and the times,
rejecting the immense triviality and
the trivial immensely of things thought,
and said, and done, in Washington.
The capital was virtually abandoned
during the sleepy summer season. The
White House was deserted by the Ex-
ecutive branch of the Government, and
every member of the Cabinet was out
of town seeking health, rest, and amuse-
ment, while the several departments
we're in charge of assistants" Society
was always somewhere and every
where repairing the ravages of last
winters arduous social dissipation and
collecting a physical fund to be held
in reserve against the inevitable ex.
actions of next season. AT the De.
partment Of Justice the Scales were
handled by one of the innumerable AS.
sistant Attorney Generals. The Gov.
ernment clerks male and female were
picnicing and yet, inspite of all this
laxity, the ship OF State glided steadily
along in the narrow channel of routine,
wither with or without propellment nc
one seemed much to know or care, but
the pay roll was not curtailed by the
neglect of a single Government EN-
ploye to draw his monthly stipend.
The Government has existed, has
even fourished, without Statesmen
politics, officials, or heads of any kind
1 am almost tempted to think it coulC
as we'll flourish forever under the super
vision Of a trained interchangeable
veteran clerks who have taught thei
routine duties to successive President
p and Cabinets. -vaUfrtJ 2 /
This peculiar city was never NOR
beautiful than during the past summer
Its one hundred and thirty-two mile
of shade trees were in densest foliage 0
richest green. Its well kept park
were gorgeous with brilliant flowers, a
the stage of their perfection. Th
closely mown lawns, with flower bed
of intricate methodical design appeare
4 so soft and smooth when viewed fror
a distance, as to give the impression c
a rich velvet carpet.
Numerous triangular spaces, forme
at the intersections of the diagonal ave
nues and rectangular streets, have bee
enclosed by iron ratings, filled wit
trees, flowers and fountains, and thu
transformed into pretty miniature park
j One of Washington's chief glories is j
systems of parks. More beauty an
variety of landscape gardening couI
not well have been displayed in II
same space than may be seen
Franklin Square, said by persons of e,
tended travel, to be the most beautifj
park Of its size in the world.
While everybody was away durir
the summer architects and workmen
every kind we're busy improving an
identifying the city, Many handson
substantial dwellings have been con
pleted for winter occupancy. Stree
have been opened, extended, grade'
and repaired. The government bull
ings have been improved in variou
ways.
Hotels are freshly painted, and tt