The National tribune., 1884-09-04
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weekly Collection About the Ma
tiOnal Capital
scAxr CHURCH ROOM.

covered that II is the greatest church-going
city in the country. In every other city the
standing complaint is that ii is impossible TO
fet people 10 church. From one-half to three
quarters Of the pews are unoccupied the year
around except when there is fashionable
wedding. and during the Summer months they
are as deserted and lonesome as the store of the
man who does not advertise But in Washing
ton the churches are always well attended and
in many of the leading ones it is impossible
most of the time to get seat unless one IS q
pew-owner. This is especially true of the st.
Johns Church, where the President worships.
Even the seats in the gallery are taken up, and
st ordinary services there is scarcely standing
room to be had Pew-lettngs are real con-
tests, and desirable seats in any of the leading
churches bring prices that would make plain,
old-fashioned people open their eyes The ex-
PLANTATION is very simple: Society rules the
world In Washington, and it is very . good
form " TO be seen at church and TO be active IN
church work. An illustration Of the influences
which stimulate church-going is the specula-
tion as to what church win be benefited by the
coming change Of Administration. 1t VIII be
remembered that President Hayess selection
of the Foundry Church as his place of wor-
ship at once lifted that respectable Methodist
tabernacle TO the giittering pinnacle of social
popularity. Garfield would have done like
service for a rather obscure Disciple Church had
he lived longer Arthur's attendance on st.
1T enjoyed under the Democratic Administra-
tons III is already settled that if Blaine is
elected he viii attend the Church Of the Cove
nant 10 which he has already subscribed s., 500.
He has also pew in the New York Avenue
Presbyterian which was Abraham Lincoln's
church, and which viii be Cleyeland's If he
should be elected.
NATIONAL EXHIBITS
Seventy-six boxes of exhibits were shipped
49, vNsnrf
sifion on the 9th ult,. being a portion Of the
exhibit Of the Interior Department. The space
reserved at the exposition for this Department
is 900 square feet. The Smithsonian Insti-
tute also shipped number of exhibits for Gin
cinnati on the same day. The articles shown
at Louisville and Cincinnati viii be re-shipped
70 New Orleans with extensive additions The
exhibits Of the Smithsonian at New Orleans
VIII be very elaborate and VIII consist of as
complete and exhaustive collections as can be
obtained Of mammals, birds, building stone,
textiles. animal products fishes, shell, and gems
and minerals The gems TO be exhibited are
valued at about $4,000, and consist of speci-
mems from ali over the world, every species
and every variety. both rough and polished.
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
Though the interest Of about everybody In
the Alabama Claims evapOrated long ago and
the matter has almost passed out of the mem
ory of the present generation, there is still q
very lively interest felt in them by several
hundred people who anticipate getting share
of the So.O90000 which still remains unpaid
At the term Of the Court which ended in July
about 100000 were allowed, which is now
being paid but with an inordinate amount of
red tape and formality. If so much as single
letter of a claimants name requires change
back the whole thing goes 10 the Judges and
as these are now in various parts Of the coun-
try, il takes an interminable time TO reach
them. About $5.000.000 wiz remain after the
present awards are paid, and for this sum there
are over 600 claims. The Courts life VIII
expire in December Of next year.
PRECIOUS STONES IN THE TREASURY.
It is, perhaps, not generally known that In
addition 10 the vast amount OF treasure IN coin
contained in the Treasury there is in the bond
vault a number Of jewels the value of which
a. estimated at from $4,000 10 100000 Most
OF these gems have been in the custody Of the
Treasury officials for more than 40 years
They are the gifts OF foreign princes and poteH-
tates TO American officials. who, BY reason of a
prOhibitory clause in the Constitution, cannot
take them IS personal property. Some Of them
were sent to President Van Buren as present
by the Inman Of Muscat IN 1888 and the Presi-
dent. not being able to accept them himself
sent them 10 the Treasury. What viii event
nally be done with these jewels nobody knows,
although the matter has been repeatedly called
&c the attention of Congress.
A DOAkADE RETCkNED.
Old soldiers welcome back to this country
Col Emil Frey. the Minister from the glorious
little Republic Of Switzerland He has already
served bis country in that capacity and desired
20 resign, but his resignation was not accepted
and he was ordered back 70 Washington, where
he arrived this week and was warmly received.
not only by his countrymen, but by many old
friends. Col. Frey served through our war in
the Eleventh Corps and was in prison awhile.
Ills soldierly record is very good and there
was, therefore, peculiar fitness in appointing
him 70 represent Switzerland at Washington.
THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT
The Washington Monument was begun in
1saS by the Washington National Monument
Society, who collected and expended some
S272GG0 in carrying it up to l52 feet, since
which time the shaft has been carried on to
completion by appropriations made by Con-
gress. The original association still exists, its
directors hold occasional meetings, and the
legal title to the site Of the monument and the
shaft remains vet in that association, undes
the trusts for which IL was established @
the 27th ult an inspection Of the four sides oi
the monument was made by man who wa:
lowered IN sling from the extreme top 10 the
ground on every side.
TIE PRESIDENTS MOVEMENTS
The President attended the review Of the
North Atlantic Squadron at Providence on the
9th, and on the 2oth he passed the DAY at the
torpedo station and witnessed series Of bril-
liant exercises and experiments. Gen. Hawley
RIG other prominent Den were with him on
the Despatch when the whole party came very
near being blown up by torpedo On the FOL.
lowing day he dined with Dir. Bennett Of the
New York Herald. Gen. Arthur seems TO be
fhOroly enjoying his vacation, and passing il
IN round OF social pleasures. There is nc
talk yet Of his return 10 Washington
NEw cHIEF OF TIE BUREAU OF EQUIPMENT
Commodore Earl English, Chief Of the Bu
Tesu Of Equipment and Recruiting and ACTING
Secretary OF the Navy, viii relinquish botl
Offices Oh Sept 5. when he viii be succeeded a,
Chief Of the Bureau by Commander w. S
6chiey, commanding the GFeely relief vessels
and as Acting Secretary OF the Navy probabIy
by Commodore J. @. Walker, Chief Of the Bu
Teau Of Navigation. Commodore English vii
join the Lancaster at southampton about Sept
Is by which time be Will have been promoted
70 the grade of Rear Admiral and viii ther
assume command Of the European station.
INTERNATIONAL POSTAL coSGREss AT LISBON
The Postmaster-GeneraI has appointed Judge
w. i. Otto and j. s. Crawford, Superintendent
Foreign Mails, TO represent the United states
1t the Quinqmennial International Postal Con
Rress at Lisbon, Portugal. Oct. J. The object
of the Congress is the modification and amend
Tnent Of the Paris Postal Convention Of 1873 *
far as necessary. The Union includes ever,
civilized country except Bolivia, the Amster
dam Colonies Nav Zealand and the EngffEt