Evening journal., 1888-07-31

I went to Washington auction the other
day. 1t was Of the goods Of the foreign
ministers. found line OF carriages before
the door as long as that at one OF Mrs. Whit
ney's receptions, and the house was crowded
with people Of all classes and colors. Inever
saw such a collection Of shoddy offered for
sale. The chromos on the walls were about
equal to those you will find in country
barber shop, and / picked up plaster cast
of statuebte and found the price mark
ninety-nine cents on its bottom. Everything
was Of a cheap character and of American
make except few dishes of Sevres china
and about three paintings. The bidders
seemed crazy and they paid bigger prices for
the articles than they cost originally. They
wanted tho articles because they belonged to
this South American Poo Bah These sales of
foreign legations have become quite WASH
ington feature. The auetioneer or the diplo-
mat brings in a lot Of cheap stuff and palms
10 of as his own and the really valuable arti-
cles are shipped away or sold at private sales.
Washington is a city of auctions. Its popu-
lation changes 80 often that sales are fire.
uuent and there are some women who go
from auction to auction and buy goods to
sell again. Bargains are often gotten, rs in
the case of the sale of ex-Secretary Robeson's
furniture some time ago. A piano which
cost 1900 went for $3.50, and other things
IN proportion -
Speaking of Secretary Robson, his house
was also sold at this time, and everything
was given up 30 his creditors The Robson
house Is one of the finest in Washington. It
Is great pressed brick mansion situated on
Sixteenth street, near Scott circle, and in
the most fashionable part OF the city. 1t
may be also called the most fatal part Of
Washington Every house about this neigh
borhood seems to have brought its owner
misfortune. Robeson's has ruined him. Just
across the veg Is the big red brick Of Sena-
tor Window, which was photographed when
Window wanted a reelection to the senate,
and copies Of 10 scattered about his district
The result was that his constituents thought
he hed been making too much money in
Washington and they refused TO return him.
Window built this house, and he has lately
sold it for $4,000 to some Chicago woman
who will probably DO an addition to Wash
ington's rapidly increasing list Of extrava-
giant entertainers. It was ia this Window
house that Blaine wrote great part Of his
| book.
Just below the Robson mansion is George
| Pendleton's house, which he occupied for
years, but which he had to leave whom Payne
was elected as his successor to the senate.
! He was given the ministry TO Berlin to soften
| his woes, and it is Secretary Endicott, in
stead Of Senator Pendleton, who now oc
cupies it, Just below it is Don Camerons
big house, which was hardly finished before
his political troubles in Pennsylvania began
and he had to fight for continuance Of the
reign Of the Camerons He sold it year Of
so ago to the rich banker Morgan, Of New
York, and Morgan had not owned it a year
before death left it to his widow.
Big houses are not a good thing for bun
combe loving statesmen, and all along thii
part Of the city l can show you homes o.
statesmen, who built houses, banking on theii
fufbare political success to enable them TO en-
Joy them, and who have failed to be re
elected. Robson himself did this. He ex
pected to get to the senate and failed. h
then tried the house, and got left there also
Look at Van Wyck's big house. 1t IS wortl
So, 900, and its owner is living in Nebraska
while Paddock has his place in the senate
Senator Conger, Of Michigan, has hous
here which he would, doubt not, trade 70
ono in Michigan, and Senator Stewart woul'
be glad to sell his S125, 900 house on Dupon
circle. THOMAS j. Todd.