The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-09-18
washington News and Gossip.
From our Special Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, d. G., Sept. 18, 'SG
Mr. EDITOR: Since the departure oi
the President and Mrs. Cleveland upor
their Adirondack trip the White Hous,
has been thoroughly renovated, and th,
exterior of the building treated to q
fresh coat of paint. The decorations ir
the East Room have been completed, and
everything is in readiness for putting
down the carpets and arranging the
furniture. The private apartment,
throughout the mansion have been re-
carpeted, and in many instances return.
ished. Everything about the premise.
has been frightened up, and the building
will soon be ready for occupancy.
The recent earthquakes in South Caro-.
lima continue to afford the principal topic
OF discussion, and the evidence of SYM
pathy felt by the good people of the
National Capital for their afflicted neigh
bors in Charleston has been shown in a
far more substantial manner than in an
idle exchange of words. Not only has
the rule prohibiting the collection of sub.
scriptions in the several Government
Departments been set aside and declared
imperative in this case, but the Chief:
Of Divisions and others in charge oil
bureaus and rooms have provided them
selves with subscription papers for cir
culation among the employees under
their immediate charge. Clerks through
out the departments have responded
most literally to these Invitations &c
subscribe, and very handsome sum OF
money has been forwarded to the relief
committee in Charleston.
The Corcoran Art Gallery which ha,
been closed to the public during the
summer has been reopened, and is more
attractive than ever. a marked improve
ment has been made in the hall of sculp.
ture by the removal of the drapery which
formally shrouded the walls, and the
substitution of rich maroon tint OF
paint. Several pictures are being nego.
tiated for by the trustees, and the proba.
bilities are that the gallery will be en-
riched by the addition of some very
valuable paintings during the winter.
Work in the departments is progress
ing in an entirely satisfactory manner,
notwithstanding the fact that many of
the chiefs are absent. Claims appropri-
sted for during the past session of Con
gress are being rapidly disposed of, and
the Alabama claims have nearly all been
adjusted, and the warrants for the entire
5000 claims have been signed, and a
force of clerks in the Treasury is work
ing night and day upon the drafts which
will soon be issued.
The shooting of Col. Ellsworth by
Capt. James jackson on the 24th day
of May, 1861, while in the act of remov-
ing the Confederate flag from the Mar
shall House in Alexandria. will be re-
membered as one of the events which
attracted so much attention at the open
ing of the war. This incident has been
recalled by the recent appointment of
Miss Amelia Jackson, the daughter of
Capt. Jackson, to position in the Patent
Office. Lieut.. Brownell, of Col. Ellis
worth's command, and who so promptly
avenged his death, has for several years
past been a special examiner in the
Pension Office.
Since the stairway in the Washington
Monument has been repaired there has
been continual rush of people to the
office for permits to climb to the top.
On Friday last more than seven hundred
applications for passes were received.
1t is an awful climb, but many ladies
undertake it. Two or three of the latter
have tainted and had to be carried
down. Among the number who assembled
the stairway on Friday was an old
gentleman eighty-three years of age.
He was told that he would be exhausted.
but stated that IL was his birthday and
he wanted to celebrate it by patriotic
climb. He made the ascent, but became
exhausted when one third of the way
back, and had to be carried down.