Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-07-18
Washin gtnn Notes.

CORRESPONDENCE of the ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE. ]
WASHINGTON, July 1S.-The great draw
back to Washington and, one acknowledged
by all to be it's bette noir, is the negro. Since
his emancipation and endowment with all
the political rights OF freeman, Washing
ton has become to him Mecca, and hither
has the race flocked from all quarters until
no part OF the city is free from his presence.
Placed 10 official positions and petted by the
Government, his head has been completely
turned and his impudence is only excelied
by his apishness. Now he NAV be seen in
truding his presence in the hotel Hobbies and
sitting rooms, and, with gilt-headed stick,
beaver, Prince Albert and cigar, ne swag-
gers about pratiDg of politics as glibly as
the most astute, always speaking OF the
leading men most Familiarity, aud calling
them by their eur. names. 10 the depart.
ments they Swarm with pens stuck behind
their ears, expansive shirt fronts ornamented
with brilliant studs, and with huge seal
rings adjoining their fogers, they stalk
about masters of the situation" to the dis
gust of all who have to be brought 10 con.
tact with them.
Electricity Ia to take the place of gas in
Illuminating the city, but unless some other
system is adopted than exists at present, it
would be better to adhere to gas, for the cleo
tricity fckers 30 that 1t renders the illumi-
nation very imperfect and unsatisfactory.
The cost of illumination by electricity is
about the same as that ofgas. but the incan-
descent lights are very beautiful and brill ant
without dazzling the eye.
Washington is abundantly supplied with
churches of all denominations, vieing with
each other in beauty of architecture and In
terror decoration. Several clergymen of
note are located here and draw" well, e..
pecially when handling topics of the day."
The presidents church" or the one he at
tends when not out yachting, is a beautiful
edifice with tower, the highest In the city,
and is always crowded when His Excellency
Is present. When he ls not there the con-
gregation Is small, showing that Mammon
ia more worshipped than the Lord.
Ia proportion to its population 1t is doubt.
full if there Is another city that can boast
more of the legal frateruity-many of them
from Virginia. The bar, as whole, how
ever, is not brilliant one, and in the Su-
preme Court the sblest talent is generally
imported from abroad.
Where Washington's chief attraction lies
is 10 the northwest section, where palatial
residences rise in such rapid succession as to
bewilder the bsholder and cause amszsment
at the Vast expenditure requisite to erect
such magnificent msnsions-truly palaces.
Foreigners and persons who have been
abroad do not hesitate to pronounce the
WEST end" as beautiful as any of the far
famed European cities. equal in many re.
spects to London. Paris, Vienna and Berlin,
and for surpassing many of those places
made famous Ia prsse and poetry in eastern
climes.
The street car system here is by no means
perfect. The tracks are rough and the cars
roll as boat on the pillows of the sea. The
coaches are mostly box and very disagree
able 10 summer; there is always room for
one more, though standing space can SCARCE
" be obtained. and only those who do not
object to squeeze can enjoy the rids and
yet the passenger has no redress, as the COR
porations have no souls.