The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-11-05
washington letter.
ttrom II regular correspondent
" 1coa

There arc no sensations here this week.
The. Congressional districts have monopo-
lized them for a time. Washington is
about the only city in the United States
which does not resound just now with bat
tie yells and wild huzzahs. The noise Of
the fray does not reach it. The streets are
silent aud one can sally forth on business
or pleasure without being over-run by a
frantic mob. The people are mostly sober
t~oo-intoxicated neither with Spirituous
liquor nor with excitement. They do not
have landfnls of elcctionecring documents
stuck under their doors every hour during
the day, and their morning papers are not
entirely filled up with denunciations, vindi-
cations, flagellations, imprecations, adula-
lions, and defamations.
Tomorrow, however. the political COM
plexion of the Fiftieth Congress will be de-
termined and public interest and public
Washington. In every direction there is
busy preparation here for Congress and the
coming season. There is a smell Of new
paint in the corridors Of the Capitol, the
postoiiice of the House of Representatives
is filed with %scalfolding, and the desks OF
the n embers are packed in a heap i'll the
Speakers room. Order will soon come out
of this chaos, but there will be no special
difference in the appearance of tie Capitol
when Congress conyenes. Everything
will be fresh and clean as usual, but no up
preparation was made except for the ANIMAL
renovation and repair. and there eau be 10
extensive changes.
The Department clerks seem to take less
interest in the Congressional elections this
year than ever before, and the number who
have gone home to vote can easily be
counted. Indeed, none of those who live
at any great distance went home for the
purpose. In every Department, except
on, employees who had leave due them
had permission to 90 at this time. The ex-
ception was the Post Office Department.
The Postmaster General requires that
there shall always be on duty so per cent
VI titC GOAhIi5 VIZ NotA tiNo NiAA VI
vision of his Department.
Washington is growing now with mar
vellous rapidity. Hundreds Of handsome
residences have been built since last spring.
and improvements on every side. Since
the long drouth and devastation of the
trees by caterpillars, residents think that
the streets never looked 50 untidy and i'll
kept as row., but visitors insist hat it is
the c~leanest and most beautiful city in
the country.
One of the largest projected Improve
ments is the building to be erected by the
Mexican government for its representa-
tives in this country. Thinking men Of the
community haYe long predicted that foreign
nations would recognize the advantage to
be derived from the possession of Il legation
building in Washington. The British gov
was the first to take the step, and
her substantial structure on Connect
cut avenue has been 4 source of pride to
her ministers, and also To visiting English
men.
The estimated cost of the Mexican build
ing is $40, 900. 1t will be locatcd on |
Waite, and in architecture it is 10 be
French renaissance. 1t will embrace the
residence ofihc Minister and the business
Offices of the legation. Since 4 lead has
been taken in this direction, it is probable
that other foreign legations. Russia, China
and Japan, will soon be provided with
handsome buildings owned by their re-
s|pectisc Governments.
The city las been tull Of new people dur
ing the week, The autumn races attracted
many ii spite the Weather, and then there
are alAays scores of bridal tourists here at
this season. They come in greater num-
bers every fall. At this moment there are
Just wcnty one ofthese interesting couples
stopping at the Ebbitt House alone. They
always 20 over to the White House 10 see
the President and the suite of handsome
parlors. and they are always anxious, of
course. to see Mrs. Cleveland. Few of
them catch a glimpse Of her these days ex-
cept by accident. She has held no recep-
ions since about the middle of July, and is
much absorbed now in the work Of plan
ming and experimenting improvements at
the country house.
On Saturday afternoon, promenaders ON
Pennsylvania ave. observed the Presidents
coupe, drawn by the seal browns, dashing
towards the Capital. Within sat Mrs.
Cleveland and her poodle, Hector, his fore
paws resting OH the front of the carriage and
a bow Of yellow ribbon around his neck.
Everybody turned to look at the Presi-
wife, and the ladies thought she was
very beeomingly dressed in her tight fit
ting suit Of grey cloth and hat to match.
WESTON.