Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-12-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.


The President has recovered from
his rheumatism and has apparently
recovered his old-time vigor. The
usual public receptions were held at
the White House during the week.
The production of "Rienzi" at AL
baugh's Opera House by Lawrence
Barrett and his company, during the
past week, was grand dramatic as
well as social success. The play was
splendidly mounted, and the leading
members of the company acquitted
themselves with credit. Seldom has
there assembled at a single gathering
a more distinguished audience than
that which greeted Mr.. Barrett upon
the rising of the curtain on Wednes-
day evening. One of the lower box
es was occupied by the President and
Mrs. Cleveland, accompanied by Mrs.
Postmaster General Villas, Miss Villas,
and Col, and Mrs. Lamont The box
directly opposite was occupied by
Chief Justice Waite and several of
his associates, while the faces of GEN.
eral Sherman, General Sheridan, and
several of the prominent Cabinet Of
ficers, Senators, and members of the
foreign Legations were conspicuous in
the audience. More than two thous-
and persons were present, and the
audience was made up of the leading
social lights of the National Capital,
many of the ladies being in full even
ing dress.
Mr.. ingalls, on Tuesday last made
a very spirited attack upon the rail-
road companies, which for so long a
time have occupied the streets OF
Washington to the great disadyan-
tage of private property interests.
Mr.. Ingalls, introduced bill forbid
ding the use of streets by any corpo-
ration without first obtaining per-
mission from Congress. 1t is hoped
that this action by Congress will re-
suit in compelling the railroad COM
panies to build a union depot upon
the outskirts of the city. Mr.. ingalls,
is looked upon by the citizens OF
Washington as the best friend they
have in Congress. lie has always
taken an active interest in District
matters. OF the several measures in
which the Senate is particularly in
terested, and which he proposes TO
urge during the present session OF
Congress, one relates to the cOnstruc-
ton of memorial bridge across the
Potomac, and another to the building
of new Postofiice.
The annual sale of the articles
which have accumulated in the Dead
Letter Office has been in progress
during the past week, and has been
we'll attended. The fact that the
packages are not opened adds an in
terest to the sale, as it is something
of lottery. Few of the purchasers
have the courage to open their pack
ages before leaving the sale, but await
an opportunity to retire to some pri
vate corner in order to discover what
Dame Fortune has brought to them
The bidding seldom exceeds dollar
upon package. A more misCellane
GUS and varied collection of thing
could hardly be gotten together.
The work Of demolishing the
buildings occupying the site of the
new Congressional Libraryiis rapidly
progressing. During the past week
in tearing down the walls of the Car
roll buildings, which occupy por'
ton of the site and are among the
oldest in the city, the wall collapsed
carrying with it six of the workmen
all of whom were seriously injured
The Carroll buildings are fraugh
with "reminiscences of we olden times
After the battle of Bladensburg, dur.
ing the war with England in 1872
they were used by the British as q
hospital. In the course of the late
Civil War they were part Of the
noted Capital prison, and in taking
down the walls there are found many
souvenirs of their former occupants
among whom are many notorious
characters. Ii.