The National tribune., 1886-04-08
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOings at the Ma
tiOnal Capital.
PREPARING To GO TO CALIFORNIA.

Gotonac, G.A.E., was held AT the ONCE OF NOHi-
rade Raum, 1926 f street \. w, the evening
of March %, 1856. Comrade Raum called the
meeting to order and on motion Department
Commander Burke was elected Chairman and
Comrade Dan 4. GroSyenor Secretary and
Treasurer. The object of the meeting was
stated by COmradc Raum and others TO be to
make arrangements for series Of lectures and
entertainments, under the auspices of the
GAR, for the benefit of the delegation to
California who attend the 20th annual session
of the National Encampment, GAR, on Aug.
3, 1856. 1t was unanimously agreed that the
object was worthy and meritOriouS one, and
0mmander-in-C Chief Burdett gave expression
that il was Just the right thing 10 do, and eX-
pressed hope that all the comrades and friends
of this Department would give their earnest
and generous support TO the enterprise.
Committee of Arrangements was appointed,
consisting of all the representatives from this
Department entitled to seats in the next Ma
tional Encampment at San Francisco. An Ex-
ecutive Committee of six comrades was selected
by the Chairman. as follows: Comrades Dan A.
Grosvenor (Chairman(, Emet Urell, HauSe II.
Smith, George L. CorsOn, {. II. Ingram, Frank
A. Butts
1t was then agreed that the Executive Com
mittee should make ali necessary arrangements
for two lectures TO be delivered by Gen. John
b. Turchin, on the battles OF Chickamauga and
Missionary Ridge, during the month of April,
the precise dates to be fixed by the Executive
Committee after consultation with COmrade
Turchin. Comrade Raum was appointed a
committee to invite prominent comrades to at
tend the lectures as guests. On motion of Com
rade Ingram, the price Of tickets was fixed at
so cents each.
THE GROWTH OF WASHINGTON.
Few cities in this country have had a more
rapid and substantial growth during the past
few years than Washington. The reign of
/" Boss" Shepherd was expensive, but it made
the city worthy to he the Capital of q great
Nation. 1t is fast becoming literary and
fashionable as well rs political center. Many
persons of wealth and elegant leisure are being
drawn hither by its attractions as place of
residence. Washington is one of the cleanest
OF cities Its 20 miles of smooth asphalt pave
ment are swept-the principal thoroughfares
every night and the other streets and avenues
at frequent intervals. There is no manufac-
turing here. The people consume but do not
make. No odor Of oil refneries and kindred
establishments ofends the nostrils. No clouds
of coal smoke and dust fill the air and darken the
sunlight, as is the case with most Of the towns
and cities of Pennsylvania New Jersey or
Massachusetts. The tidy housewife may open
her windows without fear that shower of SCOT
viii spoil and blackcn everything within. A
man may put cn clean shirt and if he chooses
to wear it a week it will then present a better
appearance than after q single day s wear in
Pittsburg or Cleveland. OF course DO woman
can be truly happy without going through the
periodical chaos of "house-cieaning," but the
process is little more than matter of form in
Washington, when compared with the frequent
washing and scrubbing and busting that, in
many places, are so necessary to neatness and
comfort. This is one reason why women like
to iYe In Washington.
Real-estate agents and dealers and brokers
are very numerous here. When a man cannot
find anything else to do he opens real-estate
ut iFaa fol tn
OF. Some Of the well-established firms do
large business Many have made fortunes and
retired, and others are following in their foot
steps Unusual activity in rea-estate is re-
ported at this time. There is much inquiry
for eligible dwelling sites. Building permits
are being issued more numerously than at any
time in the last 10 years. The brick manRfac-
turerS are overwhelmed with orders. Just at
present building calculations are somewhat dis
arranged by the emphatic demand of mechanics
and l1abarers of eli classes in Washington for
eight hours day of work. This movement is
so general, and gives such promise Of success,
that 1t has become an important factor in ali
business matters. 1t is most annoying TO those
who have contracted to DO work on the basis of
getting 10 hours a day from their employees.
Brick is almost the only material used here for
building. Beyond the great Government piles
there are hardly two dozen stone buildings in
Washington, with perhaps as many more hav
ing stone fronts. Viewed from one of the hills
that surround it, or from the Monument or
the dome Of the Capitol, the city presents
uniformity of red brick that is as wearying to
the eye as the never-varying white shutters
and marble steps Of Philadelphia.
IN NEGRO CEMETERY.
While ont for a walk last Sunday, n little
way outside the city limits, the writer noticed
a couple of carriages, filled with colOred people,
entering cemetery. 4 stalwart negro took a
frnu ona nf N I'D
with the ceremony Of short, simple prayer it
was deposited IN the earth. Six or eight friends
OF the dead babe stood with fearful eyes during
the feH minutes occupied in filling the little
grave Then they re-entered the carriages and
drove away. Just before leaving a woman
evidently the mother OF the child. placed upon
the grave two or three infants toys. Looking
about among the large number of graves Of
children, it WAS observed that this practice was
very general. There were scores of nursing
bottles, rattle-boxes, tin horses and wagons
k"Noahs arks," sets of dishes, china cups and
saucers, States, picture-books-in fact, play
things Of every conceivable variety. Many Of
them had lain there for years, those of a perish
able nature having been almost destroyed by
storm and sun. There were very few graves
which did not have something of this kind
upon them. Many Of the larger graves had
pretty vases, statuets, and other articles ap-
propriate TO more adult years.
Upon inquiry the visitor was told that this
custom Of placing such articles upon the graves
particularly OF infants and children is almost
universal among the colored people in the
South. The sentiment that prompts it readily
suggests itself, but it is not quite SO easy to
understand another singular feature. Lying
upon fully half of the little graves or standing.
upright, partly buried in the earth were Iaedi-
cine bottles Of every size and shape. Some
were nearly full and all contained more or
less of the draughts which had, lie doubt, been
used in the effort to ward OFF the visit of the
angel Of death. The usual number of these on
each grave was from one 10 three, but on one
there were eight. The placing of these bottles
is singular notion, and would seem to border
on superstition. Just why they do it is not
clear Impelled by curiosity, the visitor in
quired of two or three negroes about it. but
they were seemingly as ignorant of the reason
for it as the questioner. One old woman, who
was lettering about the cemetery, said in re-
sponse to the question:
/ KANT tell ye why, Mister, but dey allus
does it. When l was a chile ] libed down in
ole Nirginny, an it wuz jest de same dar /
d'no, but mebbe dey thinks de med'cin II do
'em good arter dey's berried but don't see no
good in it, no how"
THE TARIFF ELL.
The House Ways and Means Committee has
completed I tariff bill which will soon be re-
ported. 1t is a compound measure, containing
however, very little of the Morrison bill. 1t
provides for reduction of certain taxes modi-
fes existing laws relative TO duties on imports
and fba pgiiecfian Of ha nd I'D