Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-08-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Aug. oath, 1885.

WASHINGTON, Aug. oath, 1885.
The week has passed without any
event Of political Importance at the
Capital. There has been sensation
al rumors regarding the health Of
the President, but these have been
quieted by intelligence, direct from
his camp in the mountains, that he
lis unusually well. He is not ex-
pected with his string of fish until
the latter part Of September.
The Cabinet is scattered here and
there, Secretary Lamar and Attorney
General Garland being the only ones
who remain permanently in the city.
The various Departments of Govern
ment are conducted without hitch,
and with very little friction, by the
subordinates trained and skilled by
long experience.
Secretary BayaId has gone to his
country residence in Delaware and
the Department of State is in charge
Of the Assistant Secretary, Elk. Gov.
Porter of Tennessee.
Secretary of the Treasury Man
ming is making short stay at
Watch Hill, Rhode Island, while As
sistant Secretaries Fairchild and
Coon are experimenting the machin-
cry of the Treasury Department..
Postmaster General Villas is in
the woods OF Lake Superior, and
Secretary of War Endicott is in the
traditional home of witches, Salem,
Mass.
The only two Cabinet members
who remain in Washington are those
from the extreme south Mr.. Lamar
from Mississippi and Mr.. Garland
from Arkansas who, seasoned by the
sultry heat of the cotton-belt find no
terror in the summer climate of the
Capital.
There was never a greater scarcity
of Senators and members in Wash.
ington than at present. Senator
and Mrs. Logan who had spent
the greater part Of the heated term
in the city have gone to the Thous-
and Islands where they will remain
for two weeks. They were quite
busy last week moving into their
new $4,000 home. The fine old
house has been furnished in PLAN
but comfortable fashion and will be
an addition to the many noted and
attractive homes of the Capital.
Mr.. Blaine 1 learn is living very
quietly at Bar Harbor where only
year ago he had the eyes of the
whole country upon him, and where
he was assailed by such mob of
wellmeaning but tiresome intruders
that his relatives had to establish a
guard about him. Then he had an
immense amount of political work to
direct, now he enjoys complete rest,
and is scarcely noticed except by
the tourist who is startled as if by
an apparition when he sees for the
first time the originl face of thous-
and portraits and caricatures.
In a month or six weeks all the
celebrities will be back in Washing
ton, for, no matter how far they
wander in the summer, the winter
brings them here again. Here many
of them have palatial homes, and
here all enjoy social opportunities
such as can not be found elsewhere
on this side of the sea.
Great improvements have been
made during the summer, but they
have been made, here and there,
over an immense area, and are not
directly apparent to casual observ-
er. In drive which 1 took yester.
day / counted over two hundred
buildings either i'll the. course of
erection or finished during the sea-
son. The improvements at the Cap
ital for which nearly a million Of
dollars were appropriated last year
will add greatly to the symetry and
to the convenience of the huge pile.
Improvements of streets and parks
are constantly going on, and if they
are continued for ten years longer
the progress of the city will be 20
less remarkable than that of the
past decade.
The Washington papers are dis.
cussing the style of monument to be
erected to the memory of General
Grant in Washington. Prevailing
opinion seems to favor an arch SINH
lar to the Arc de Iriomphe in Paris.
One artist, who has an eye to the
useful as well as the commemorative
in art, has proposed a stupendous
stone bridge with a single arch span.
ming the Potomac from Observatory