Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1883-01-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Or Regular Correspondent. ]

maps, IS inc uay inOIe SSneIdly oDssiN
ed than than III Washington. The officia
receptions and the appearance of dip
lomatic and army and navy officers il
court dress and uniforms lend added
4 charms and special attractions to the
: social greetings customary here a:
elsewhere. The New Years reception
at the White House Is always looked
forward to by residents of the Capital
and ths many strangers within its gates
as the social event of the season. l,
was never ushered in with greater ex.
pectations than this year and the fes.
tivities never opened more gaily, only
to be brought to a sudden and sad
termination by the advent of Jeath. II
is the old sad story If human life.
r Sunny skies and happy hearts in the
morning; the fullDess of busy, social in-
terchange at midday, death in the af-
ternoon, and clouds at night-the year
In day-the world in our own busy
Washington. the samut of human
heartstrings, up and down. Just as
thousands of people gathered about the
White House to walk in and extend a
holiday greeting to their chief magis-
trate, 4 foreign minister-Mr. Allen, of
the Hiawaian Kindom-drops dead in
the hallway and the gates are closed.
Thus the truth is again illustrated that
where life and happinessis, there death
is also.
Everybody in Washington was anx-
lous to attend the Presidents reception
on Monday, not only to greet the Presi-
dent himself, but to see the new interior
decorations of the mansion, of which
much has been written, but which few
have as yet seen. It was said that the
free American citizen who entered the
White House to pay his respects would
have reason to feel prouder of the old
mansion than ever before. Several of
the rooms have undergone complete
transformation and the beauty and
harmony of furniture and surroundings
IS now most complete. The great
East room has been greatly changed
and improved, but the greatest trans
formation is In the blue room. The
colored man Smith who formerly
rode on the box when ALBERT held |
the ribbons in President Grants time,
SAYS, with regretful sigh, and a good
bye expression upon his face, at is no
longer the old blue room." In a way
that is farewell to old association.
with the familiar blue and gilt that have
done service for fourteen years. The
ceiling is decoration not easily de-
scribed, and therefore will always be
beautiful and interesting and study
TOR the artistic world. But the Ameri-
can citizen will not grasp it. nor COM
prehend it. beyond the impression CIV
en- by the silvery sheen of stars in the
frleze, and the greater simmer ofsilver
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 wooden partition marked the
corrlj' 'r where guests promenade and
toilets are seen to advantage. This
gave place to the iron frame work, set
with ground glass panels, prettily en-
graved. This in turn is replaced by
the stained glass screens put up by
Mr.. Tiffany, and that is the most ef-
fective of the entire improvements.
The gorgeousness of color that reflects
the jeweled brilliancy of the opal, the
ruby, the tourmaline, 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 CEN
tral doors the American citizen 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 President.
But here the emblematlc design will set
him right and the beautiful spreading
wings Of the bird, sparkling and studded
with gems, will be understood, and
will be to him glory and delight.
General Sherman is mentioned by a
number of newspapers as the Repubh-
can candidate for the Presidency in
1854. General Sherman does not want
hc nomination. Possibly he is the
only man in the United States who
Goes not care to b. President, and !
Who would not permit his name to bel f
lsed. He is very fond of social enjoy
nent. He has had his fill of flame and
S thoroughly weary of public affairs. .
The slight routine work at the War De- 4
,artment Is very mksome to him, so t
hat he looks forward to his retirement 6
With pleasure. He would not exchange :,
he comfort and honor of his assured
position for any rough and tumble
struggle with set Of politicians first,
md then, if successful, the exactions @
md opportunities would make the
White House ''hell" to a gentleman
If temperament SO nervous and iras- e
:ible as General Sherman. see that p
New York paper prints paragraph C
aying that General Sherman recently S