The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-09-01
PRICE THREE CENTS.
Letter From Washington.
The Ciiy-An AnecdOte OF LIncoln-POli-
tics-COnsressnhan seed-Ths National
Museum-The Soldiers, Home.
Especial Corr. Of the Pressl


Washington is not only city of magnificent
distances but of elegant homes. The abzn-
dance of foliage along the streets aud the fire.
quency OF its parks give the city suburban ap-
pearancs and afford shady breathing places
when the heats of summer prevail. The visit
or in the Washington of to-day would hardly
suspect that only twenty years ago what are
now acres Of wide streets and beautiful real.
dences we're then the camps Of soIdiSry Int "A
is true, and to-day there ia no fairer CITY In AL
the land. The summer here has been vary
comfortable 50 far, with only one really hot
day, last Thursday, when the mercury touched
lO7', but the average for few days past has
been only 800, and that is very:com Portable.
The asphalt pavements and here everything
is asphalt, except the sidewalks, respond
to the rays of the sun, and waves sf
heat are continually rising In ones
face; but with refreshing brOezs the heat Is
not SO noticeable.
The summer is a season Of rest with Wash
ington people. Only the Estate, Treasury and
Interior Departments are busy, and there IL
very little outing on the streets. Most Of the
faces one sees are dark, and there ia an utNss
lack OF the hustle and activity about the hotsln
that comes with the approach Of Congress.
Washington is tho Mecca OF many newly mar
ried couples, and however much the happy
tourists may try to disguise the newnesa OF their
estate they are sure to be speedily found cat.
One OK the colored walters at the Ebbitt tSla
me he could tell them every time-"Overds 10,
sahl" One should not fail to take a carriage
drive about the city, especially II hers for the
V'h6ra ia 10 h.,
the places of interest are so widely apart, that
carriage becomes necessity. In driyizS
about the city one can hardly get out Of sisAl
OF the Washington monument, which Is nearly
completed. Georgetown still preserves nush
OF its ante-war flavor, and through It We HaG
our way over the Potomac to ArlinKbsa
Heights, and not far away is to be seen the
old Chain Bridge, suggesting an anecdsts Of
Lincoln which may be new to many of your
readers:
Cameron was Secretary of War Tho Sad
Vermont had Just arrived at Washington, and
went into quarters at the bridge. In the Reg
iment was young fellow Of about ninetssn,
who had in some way incurred the ill-will Il
his company officers The youngstsr was Klysa
the most arduous duty, and one day after b,
ing relieved from his guard, was Immediately
placed on picket on the Virginia side, whore,
wearied with exposure, he was found asleep 81
his post and placed under arrest He wu
court martialed and ordered to be shot. UpsA
his arrest he had written to his sister at hona,
maid of seventeen, who came 10 see the
President in his behalf. Arriving in wash.
ington on the morning that her brother was 10
be executed she went to the White House,
where Mr.. Lincoln was holding audience, ana
travelled stained and dusty as she was she en-
deavored to pass the officials who guarded the
entrance, but was constantly put of on one e.
cuse or another. At last Mr.. Lincoln disesv.
cred her.
"Who is that young woman, and what dsu
she want2" was his inquiry. She vent fos-
ward and told her story, begging that her broth.
er's life might be spared. After listening -
her tale Mr.. Lincoln replied: you're q good
girl, you don't wear hoops I'll save your
brother for you-''and Immediately peDcillsA
order was written, and going personally to the
War Department he had three messengers
despatched to stay the execution. The mos-
sengers sped away on their errand, and The
boy was saved But so great was Mr.. LincolA'S
anxiety, fearing miscarriage of his orders,
that he ordered his carriage and followed the
messengers himself. An interview between
the boy and the President took place, and 10
consideration Of his youth and the exposuN
incident to prolonged duty, Mr.. Lincsln o.
fered him release and an honorable discharge.
The boy accepted his release on condition that
he should be allowed to re-enlist. His requsst
was granted, and transferred to another COM
pany in his regiment, he shortly after Wont
into the battle OF Williamsburg, where he was
mortslly wounded. His last words wers,
"Tell the President that when died the last
words on my lips were, God bless Abrahan
Lincoln"
Politically, Washington is very quiet.
There seems to be no doubt of Mr.. BlAins's
election. He is spoken of very highly
among all classes and especially among the
Solored people. The question that 1 was most
often asked was, care you going to elect Tea
Reed again2 He is one of the strongest men
in Congress-Maine should be proud Of h9
Congressional delegation" As I came swAy
the chief clerk of one of the Departments said,
"Tell your people to send Mr. Reed back what
ever else they do-he is too valuable man fer
the Republican party to keep at home"
Maine is in high prestige here. Her seHa-
tors are both favortes, and with her Congress
men make a combination of ability equSlleG
by no other State. And when James q.
Blaine is inaugurated next March her citizens
can we'll say Maine is the Dirigo State
There has lately been completed here ths
National Museum, an exhibition that only
government could possess. Close by the
Cr,i -
Natural History and the rudsr arts Of ne
world. Days can he spent here with pleasure
and profit among the relics that it has taksa
so many years to gather.
The horse cars run everywhere, and for ave
cents one can go over to the Soldiers Home, a
beautiful building OF Maryland granite, sur
rounded by hundreds of acres of field and
wood through which winds miles of fine drive
ways, up and down, over ripping streams,
with here and there pond. AS we mount the
rise on ono of the roads our driver stops, in the
midst Of the wood with the remark, Lock 70
your right, sab" and away off in the sunshine
four miles away looms up the dome of the
Capitol. We look at it through a long vista
OF foliage whose arched roof makes Gothic
gateway to the charming view beyond Here
are the disabled veterans OF the regular army
and inst to the right OF the Presidents cottage
are acres of low tombstones in even ranks,
each Of which bears the number, name and
State of the soldier whose bones, like those Of
John Brown, are "mouldering in tie grave"
Everywhere about this great city is proof OF
the memory in which the governments de-
tenders are held. All honor to them-alive or
deadl SYLVESTER.
The National Soldiers Home.
The Kennebec Journal says the congression-
al committee of investigation comnleted thein