The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-04-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our REGULAR Correspondent.l

OF magnlhcent distances, but city
of abrupt contrasts. This is especial.
ly true of the northwestern part of
town, where elegant residences some.
times stand opposite or side by side
with tumble.down shanties. There is
no shading. 1t is black and white in
startling proximity. One square
built up with valuable mansions, in.
habited by people certainly of wealth,
presumably of good blood, carriages
rolling from one well.kept door to an
other, the whole presenting a perfect
picture of an aristocratc neighbor.
hood. Just as likely as not the very
next square will not have a tolerable
house and hardly white inhabitant.
The remark has been made, but it
is worth repeating, that Washington
affords more opportunities for pictur.
esque architecture than any other
city. An architect who takes any
pleasure in his profession must de.
light in the oddly-shaped and irregu.
lar lots that abound here. The ar.
rangement of avenues crossing the
streets in a sort of irregular regulari.
ty creates any quantity Of triangles,
which offer tempting building sites to
the architect who wants to be original
and striking. These architectural op.
portunities seem to be well improved
so far. The vista down some of the
streets and avenues that have been
built up lately is certainly varied and
picturesque. 1t is a good deal the
fashion to sneer at modern architects
and to speak contemptuously Of "gin.
gerbread work" People who affect
such refinement of taste that the pre-.
tensions of modern building CRATE up.
on their sensitive nerves, may find
soothing and congenial surroundings
in Philadelphia, for instance. Some
Washingtonians delight in the widest
flights of fancy in brick and stone,
but there will always be plenty of
conservative spirits who can furnish
the solid and handsome style which
tones down the architectural eccen-
tricity or more daring spirits, and the
general effect of the whole is interest.
ing and admiring.
General Blacks assertion the other
day, when interregated in regard to
the refusal of Miss Sweet, the pen.
sion agent, to forward her resignation,
that "the Lord made women" contin.
ues to puzzle not only the women
themselves, but men, too. What did
he mean? is a question that has been
answered in various ways. Shakes
peare defines a woman as ga child of
grandmother Eve, female; or, for
thy more sweet understanding, a wom-
an" l suspect General Blacks sweet
understanding has been of one sweet
woman, so recently that he was led to
exclaim, "the Lord made women" by
way of throwing the terrible reponsi-
bility on Providence. l heard Cab
met officer say once: "When women
are in the office they give no trouble.
But it's when they are out and trying
to get in that they are more than a
match for MS. We can't turn our
backs on a woman and freeze her out
of the room as we can a man. She
will just begin to cry, and then a man
feels like brute, you know"
But it seems Miss Sweet didn't even
resort to tears-a woman's most for.
midable weapon. If there were any
tears at all they we're probably shed
by Secretary Lamar who, learn, was
positively distressed by General
Blacks action. | was told that the
President and the whole Cabinet we're
quite stirred up over the affair. Gen.
Black went to the White House to
explain, and altogether he had any.
thing but a sweet experience of it.
The upshot Of it all is that Miss
Sweet will probably serve out the bal
ance Of her time.
The president will take up his sum
mer residence at Soldiers Home early
next month, occupying the cottage
which has been set apart for a num-
Der of years for that use. By resid.
ing there he will have much more
time to himself and will he able IN