Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-10
WAsHINGToN,s PALACES.
Interesting Sketches of the Houses
Identified with Prominent Politicians.

Interesting Sketches of the Houses
Identified with Prominent Politicians.
Washington Correspondence Ne,o York Sun.
Mr.. Blaine got rid of his white elephant
of house by leasing it to Mr.. Letter, OF
Chicago, for five years, the latter t. pay
taxes and insurance and a rent of Sll. .OOC
per annum. This house. with its eduip-
ment, is one Of the most costly IN Wash.
ington, and it was designed Tor ente rtain.
ment on large scale. The prospect of a
Democratic administration in 1885 did NOT
quite agree with Mr.. Blaine's plans for
housekeeping. Hence he concluded, and
perhaps wisely, to give up the grand resi-
dence which he had acquired by a turn in
the wheel of fortune, and to live less Os-
tentatiously.
Mr.. Letter, the lessee. is reputed to be
very wealthy. Thirty years ago he was a
clerk in country store in Maryland, at
very small pay. At 10 years of age he
went to Chicago, where by industry and
by uprightness he became millionaire.
lie will receive at the capital in princely
style some of the friends of his boyhOOd's
days, who never dreamed of this change
in their respective conditions.
Mr. Blaine sold the house which he had
occupied for many years, and the furni-
ture, to Mr.. w. r. Travers, of New York,
before moving into the new mansion,
which is now one of the fashionable land
marks of the transformed capital. 1t is
said he Will take the lease of the house
belonging to the widow of William l..
Marcy, which Mr.. Letter held last winter,
and for which he still has the refusal of a
renewal.
When Don Cameron went to Europe he
announced his intention not to resume
his seat in the Senate at the approaching
session of Congress, and probably not be-
fore the expiration of his term in the
Senate. lie was in very bad frame of
mind, and was especially disgusted with
the conduct of the administration toward
him, for which he held President Arthur
mainly responsible.
In this temper he offered to sell his house
to the Russian legation for 500, 900, but the
ofler was not accepted. Don did not for
get business in his i'll humOr, for he asked
just $32, 900 profit on his investment. He
rented the house subsequently, for two
years at Sc, 1000 year.
Mr.. WindOm's fine house on the oppO-
site corner, north of Cameron's castle.
cost him a seat in the Senate. Like many
other enterprising Republicans, he came
to Washington poor. When forced out of
politics he was rich, from the savings of
salary of $4,000 a year, and from re-
Treasury. When the people of Mime
sofa saw photograph of his palace, they
concluded it would be wiser to elect a
Senator who had already made his for
tune than to return the smiling and sue
cessful Window to the seat he had made
profitable.
SecOr Robeson's house, completed "A year
ago, stands in this same cluster, and is
noted for its stylish pretensions. He will
,l,r,. f,f(T T,..,
gress, or in any other official capacity.
His race is run, and he will be glad to get
a tenant for the mansion.
Mr.. PendletOn is next door nelghbOr to
SecOr RObeSOn. He lives in rather pre-
tentiOus Queen Anne house, which he
will probably have to give up at the close
of his present term in the Senate. AS a
hOusekeeper MIR. PendletOn is a decided
success. He has this house in Washing
ton, house in Cincinnati, house in
Newport, and, it is said, cottage in the
White Mountains.
Honest John Sherman is the most pros
porous of all the Republican patriots who
rank as milliOnaires. He is one of the
greatest property holders in Washington,
and his wealth in bonds and in stocks is
estimated to yield a revenue of vast pro-
portions. Chairman of the Finance Com
mittee of the Senate, and intimately iden-
control of the government issues, John
Sherman may be said to have managed
and shaped the legislation by which Cooke
became all-powerful for time. The First
National Bank at Washington obtained
many millions on deposit ofpublic money
which was used as capital in business.
Cooke controlled the Treasury in the in
terest of his banking firm, and Sherman
was his great backer in Congress.
John Sherman did not rush into the new
quarter with Blaine, Cameron, Window,
Robson, Pendleton and others. Though
childless, he built an expensive house
two years ago in pleasant part of the
city.and near his former good residence,
which stands insignificant by contrast
with the present luxurious abode. AL
though selfish, close, and mOney-lOying
by nature and by taste, John Sherman
has lOosened the rein OF the misers' grip,
and, like "the rest of them," as Cakes
Ames said of the Credit MObilier cOrrup-
tionists, he apes the fashion of the times.
But there is no danger that he will ever
eXpeud a fourth of his income. Honest
John is an economist of the most rigid
stamp in his own affairs. The Treasury
paid for much of the labor and the deco
ration of his fine new residence.