Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-10-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsUINeToX. D,C. Semi. n y

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To THE SOUTH KENTUoKIAN:
The President arrived home on
Wednesday evening, looking well
and hearty after his sojoulm in the
woods. With characteristic bashful-
ness the Chief Magistrate avoided
meeting an anticipated crowd by
having his private carriage driven to
the lear of the depot, so that he es-
capped without passing through the
depot building. Postmaster General
and'Mrs. Villas received his Excellency
and wife at the White House, and
fora time all was animation, brilliancy
and hustle, During the day the
Mansion was closed to the public and
given thorough cleaning-inside
with the broom and outside with the
hose. The next morning the Presi-
dent was early at his desk, as before
his vacation, and during the day dis
pensed with the Cabinet meeting and
received the many visitors that called.
Mrs. Cleveland and her mother spent
a good portion of the day in shopping,
and her presence in front of the stores,
seated In the open carriage, attracted
considerable attention while her
mother was inside making purchases,
Before the hour for receiving callers
the President, wife and mother-in-law
took adrive to the new country home
to see the progress of Improvements
here. The home is almost completed,
and when it is the Presidential
family will take up its quarters there
for a while.
Extensive preparations have been
made by the Masons of the District
for the entertainment of the members
of the Triennial Convocation Of the
General Grand Chapter, TO be held
here Sept. IS, 80, 30 and Oct. |. A
parade will he held on Tuesday, in
which the General Grand Chapter
will be escorted by the Grand Chap
ter and all the Communicates of
knights Templar of the District, to
the Temple, where the General
Grand body will sit in solemn convo-
cation to dispose ofits important bus
mess. The next evening banquet
will he rendered at the Masonic
Temple. The following day, Sept. &c,
there will be an excursion down the
Potomac and visit to the tomb of
Washington and Mt. Vernon, where
a collation. will be served on the lawn
in front of the old mansion. For the
fourth day, Oct. l, carriages have been
provided, so as TO afford the visitors
an opportunity to see the magnificent
residences, parks and statuary Of the
city. The drive will extend through
the beautiful grounds of the Soldiers
Home, just outside the city limits,
and on the way back a stop will be
made at the Scheutzen Park to par
take of collation.. A large sum OF
money has been contributed for the
entertainment of the guests, and
nothing will be left undOne 10 make
their sOjourn memorable one.
The roofing Of the west wing of the
State, War and Navy building is pro-
crossing towards completion, and
when it is finished the whole eXteri-
or will have been finished, except
possibly the steps and esplanades of
the west front. In point of massive
proportions and architectural beauty
the building has few equals in the
world. 1t stands directly west of the
White House and occupies two whole
squares. 1t was begun in 1871, and
has cost $l2,000,000. 1t was designed
by Mr.. A. B. Mullett, then superyis-
ing architect of the Treasury, and is
constructed in the style of the Italian
renaissance, the material being Maine
and Virginia granite. Over sub
basement and basement are four
stories, surmounted by Mansard
roof of artistic design. From north
to south, including the projections,
the building is $50 feet long. From
east TO west 1t is 343 feet. Greatest
height, Us feet. There are grand es-
planades on the north and south sides,
and entrance on all sides is had
through lofty pavilions, reached by
broad flights Of stone steps. Huge
blocks of granite, each over 20 tons
in weight, form the platforms 10 the
entrances. The greatest possible care
has been taken in the construction,
and the building is entirely fire-proof.
All the parts are IN harmony, and
the result is an almost perfect speci-
men of architecture. The interior OF
the building has been constructed in
very magnificent manner. There
are wide staircases of granite with
bronze balusters, long, spacious, cor
ridors, and innumerable apartments
richly frescoed and adorned, and fur
nished with every convenience that
could be suggested for the transacting
of public business and personal COM
fort. The War Department occupies
the whole of the northern and western
portions, the. Navy Department the
eastern and the State Department
the southern. 1t will be several years
before the building is completed.
Ii.