The Washington critic., 1886-07-24

to that city this week. have greatly
increased my own self respect by the
acquaintance | have made with some
of Albauy's chief points of interest at
this time, aud when there en- route to
Lake George two weeks ago. for now
Albany people can no longer look upon
me with the contempt for my igno-
rance that some ! have met from
THAT ANCIENT TOWN
have displayed heretofore when have
been forced to admit that had never
been inside their State Capitol or seen
the New York State Legislature in ses
sion. 1t went for nothing with thcm
that was quito familiar with the Uni.
ted States Capitol at Washington and
had often seen Congress in sessi ON.
the big State of New York was much
larger and more important than the
other thirty seven States of this Union
all put together, if, indeed, they were
at all aware that there are thirty seven
other provinces (as they would term
them assuming to be States, in addi-
tion to New York, in the Union.
| suppose II Is because the criminals con-
lnement for term Of years are sent to the
Albany Penitentlary that the Albany peo-
pie argue that as they have penitentlary
and we have none, though we can furnish
the criminals to work in II, all their in
sttutions and public buildings must sur
pass beyond comparison those located In
the city Of Washington, even though ours
be United States Government buildings and
theirs those OF a single State.
THE STATE CAPITOL.
Igreatly enjoyed viewing the interior of
the Capitol at Albany, but was not much
impressed by its exterior, though, as have
said this building is the boast and pride OF
all patriotic Albanians. Even the Jobs
which have made the still unfinished
structure cost sixteen millions Of dollars
are always mentioned in connection with
the distinction which is claimed for this
building over all others In the world.
IL seems to me nonsense for Albany peo-
pie to boast that their Capitol is larger, as
well as handsomer, than ours. To me 1t
does not look SO large at present Otis still
unfnished) as the War, State and Navy
Department ediilce In Its present unfinished
state. The style of architecture of the ex-
terror of the Albany Capitol much resem-
bles that of the last-named structure.
There Is no fresco painting on the walls Of
the halls and corridors as there is in the
Capitol at Washington, but tho legislative
halls are more elaborately decorated aud
there are stone carvings and many ornate
designs. Instead Of the bronze and marble
stairways, which we see In Washington,
there are massive ones of stone with land
ings, on which rest monolithic columns
with richly carved bases and caps The
open gothic archways are faultless and this
portion of the building is the most striking.
We have nothing in the way of "opales-
cent" or "iridescent'' decoration In our
Capitol, ! believe, as the guide book terms
that at Albany, but that style Of ornamenta
tion would not be appropriate for the place
OF holding the sessions OF an august body,
like the Congress of the United States. 1T
Will be an August body If 1t remains in SEES
sion ten days ionger.) But joking apart,
the Albany Bi-Centennial was fine affair."
and | only wish ] had the time and talent to
describe its salient features as they deserve
wAsuINGToNIANs AT SARATOGA.
In going to Albany passed part OF day
in Saratoga and saw the Washington colony
at the United States HOTEL Mr.. and Mrs.
Titan j. Coffey, Mrs. John Chew, General
and Mrs. Beale, and Mr.. and Mrs. Wash
ington Mclean are all there, and Miss
Willard of Washington has lately been at
the same hotel. Mr.. Mclean was alarm
| ingly Ill one night this week, but was bet
| ter the day | saw his wife, and Mrs. Hazen,
both of whom are looking well. G. O..
| Mott, jr., q son Of Judge Mott of Washing
| ton, was also at Saratoga this month.
Her numerous friends In Washington
| will greatly regret to hear, am sure, that
| Mrs. l.. Moot is dangerously Ill at Sara
toga. Her husband has had DR.. Taylor of
| New York summoned there to attend her.
loot 80 \ 4
| Union Hotel, and is doing fine business,
but both he and his son are very soiciteus
about Mrs. Moot.
| Miss Van Nechten, who was with Miss
| Lindsay in Washington last winter, is at
the Grand Union Hotel. saw her for q
few momens. She seems TO be greatly ell
| joying herself.
Mrs. A. A. Hayes, jr., Of Washington and
| Mrs. Elisha Riggs, formerly of Washing
ton, last week went to visit Mrs. James
| Mackin, at her cottage at Cranston's Hotel,
| West Point, and she gave q lunch in their
honor on the 10th.
| MIR. GARFIELD's BED-cHAMBER AT THE
WHITE HOUSE
saw copied in THE CRITIC lately from q
| Boston paper q statement that the bed
| chamber at the White House in which Presi-
dent Garfield lay i'll so long after his cruel
| wound, was never opened, and that 1t was
| almost precisely as it was the day when
| Garfield was taken from 1t to die at Ell
beron. That is an error. 1t was thoroughly
renovated in the autumn of 1881, after
| President Garield's death when so many re-
| pairs were made in the building upstairs
| and down stairs. | was in 1t more than
once that autumn and was told that the in
| jury done the walls and other parts of the
chamber by medicines, lotions, ETC., used
L.. A. 1T