The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-01-07
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


Mansion TO see the President on holi-
days, and even Sundays, the same as
other days. This is of such common
occurrence that it has led to the display
ing of placard with the word "closed"
printed in big black letters, so that now
when the house is not open to callers the
card is found dangling by the door knob,
where even the blind can see it. This is
the only way in which the President can
get one days rest from the personal i'm.
portunities of his fifty million country
men.
Washington, now known rs the City
of Magnificent Distances, will soon
acquire the additional title of the Statu-
ary City. Hardly year passes that at
least one more statue is not added to the
already long list. Twoif not three more
may be looked for within the near future.
a statue to commemorate the public
services of the late Vce-President Hen
bricks, the first Democratic Vice-Presi-
dent in Il quarter Of a century, will be
erected here. Another will be the statue
of General Grant by the Grand Army of
the Republic, and third will be the
statue of Maj. L'Enfant, the engineer
who laid out the National Capital. This
French engineer made this city his home
after discharging the trust imposed upon
him by Congress, and died here in 1925
in poverty. His remains were inferred
just outside of the District limits on the
homestead of an old friend with whom
he lived the last few years of his life.
Nothing has ever been done to mark his
resting place, and now that the complete
ness and beauty of his plans are being
brought to view by the erection ofstately
residences on the broad streets and wide
avenues, and of statues in the many
circles formed by the ingeniously planned
intersection cf streets and avenues, the
wonder is that something was not done
before to do honor to the genius of such
an engineer.
The excitement in the General Post
Office Department over the appointment
to clerkship of the colored man Morton,
from Arkansas, is subsiding. 1t is strict
.ly civil service appointment; but it
was not known at the Department that
he was colored man till he appeared
with b is notice of appointment in hand
for assignment 10 duty. There is scarce
ly Department, with the exception of
the Post Office, which, heretofore, has
been an exception, that has not one or
more colored clerks in it. In the Treas.
ury Department colored man fills one
of the most responsible desks, the work
of which demands complex and accurate
calculations, and he has recently. been
promoted in salary. These men attend
to their duties faithfully, are respectful
in their demeanor and do not seek social
intercourse with the other clerks en-
ployed, and consequently their presence
is not distasteful to either the employees
or people having business with the De-
partments.
The last minutes of the old year found
very few people in bed, and the new year
was ushered in amid the ringing of fire
bells and church chimes and the boom.
ing of guns, and the prayers of the de-
yout people of the District. Most all of
the churches held midnight services, and
at half past twelve q. m. more people
were to be found on the streets than at
any time at night since a year ago.
The people of Washington fast the
last day of the old year, and feast from
the first hour of the new until midnight
Of the next day, and suffer with dyspep.
sia all the rest OF the year.
The temperance cause appears 10 be
growing in Washington as we'll as in
other parts of the South. 1t is seldom
that wine is to be found on any table
New Years day in round Of calls. A
few years ago it was offered in every
house, and now it is not countenanced
at all in the best society. Coffee and
chocolate and like beverages have taken
its place, and as consequence no man
disgraces himself or shames the friends
on whom he calls.
The bright sky aud mild temperature
had the effect of making everybody feel
like calling" and from noon till 10
o'clock at night the we'll swept concreted
streets were thronged with carriages
carrying merry parties around the circle
of their acquaintances to give express
ions of their best wishes for happy
and prosperous new year.
There wss perfect jam at the White
House when tho hour for civilians to
pay their respects arrived. Before that
time the Members of the Cabinet and
Diplomatic Corps, the Justices of the
u. S. Supreme Court, Senators and
Representatives, and officers. of the
Army and Navy paid their respects in
the order named, and entered and left in
digni6ed order, but after that the rush
came, and Notwithstanding the most per-
feet arrangements for the preservation of
order, if man got away with a whole
coat or unrumpled shirt he was fortunate.
The President was assisted by Miss
Cleveland and the wives of the Cabinet
Officers, and the reception equa!led in
spendor any ever before held.
After the Presidents reception the
ladies of the Cabinet Officers repaired to
their homes and there received for the
rest of the day. At these public recep.
tions everybody is free to call and many
persons avail themselves of the privilege
to "see" and be "seen." 1t is the custom
fnr the clerks in the Departments to call