Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-12-23
Correspondence of the Beacon
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 1886.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 1886.
Messrs. Editors The President
has recovered from his rheumatism
and has apparently recovered his old
time vigor. The usual public recep-
tions were held at the White House
during the week.
The production of "Rienzi" at
Albaugh's Opera House by Lawrence
Barrett and his company, during the
past week, was grand dramatic as
we'll as social success. The play was
splendidly mounted, and the leading
members of the company acquitted
themselves with credit. Seldom has
there assembled at 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 boxes
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 General
Sherman, General Sheridan, and sew.
eral of the prominent Cabinet officers,
Senators, and members Of the foreign
legations were conspicuous in the au.
dienoe. More than two thousand per-
sons were present, and the audience
was made up of the leading social
lights Of the National Capital, many
of the ladies being in full evening
dress.
Mr.. Ingalls, on Tuesday last made
very spirited attack upon the railroad
companies, which for so long time
have occupied the streets of Washing
ton to the great disadvantage of pri-
vate property interests. Mr. Ingalls,
introduced bill forbidding the use
of streets by any corporation without
first obtaining permission from Con-
gress. 1t is hoped that this action by
Congress will result in compelling the
railroad companies 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. He
has always taken an active interest
in District matters. OF the several
measures in which the Senate is par
tioularly interested, and which he
proposes to urge during the present
session Of Congress, one relates
to the construction of memorial
bridge across the Potomac, and an
other to the building of a new Post
Office.
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 interest to the sale, as
it is something of lottery. Few of
the purchasers have the courage to
open their packages before leaving the
sale, but await an opportunity to re-
tire to some quiet corner in order to
discover what Dame Fortune has
brought to them. The bidding sell
dom exceeds dollar upon package.
A more miscellaneous and varied
collection of articles could hardly be
gotten together.
The work of demolishing the build
ings occupying the site Of the the new
Congressional Library is rapidly pro-
crossing. During the past week, in
tearing down the walls OF the Carroll
buildings, which occupy portion of
the site and ere 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 fraught with reminis-
cences of ye olden times. After the
battle of Bladensburg, during the war
with England in 1912, they were used