The Washington times., 1895-06-30
Summer housekeeping
In Hiqh Official Places
How the White House and Capitol Are Being Reno
vated in the Absence of OfficiaIs--Closed
Homes of Prominent People.

Years ago Brumidi, foreign artist,
, drew designs which he frescoed along the
| top of tie lower edge of the rotuuda until
he came TO finish the figures of the three
Indians, " hich are now almost above the
door opening on the east front Just then
he died, and CosuGiua finished the work
by the designs of Brumidi until tue plans
gave out. leaving I space Of bout five yards
still unfinished. And the sCaffolGing has
been left all these years at the incomplete
spot. The widow of Brumidi is living
. here in the city, but is married again.
Tons of trash are being moved out Of the
Capitol and u short time ago there Were
about twenty wagon loads Sent away and
sold To some junk dealer for about $40.
The old pens and broken jnGstands are
thrown i'll the rubbish and carted away,
while the good ones are kept and used again
The telegraph office IS still open, but the
little apple woman has fed, and the desc
late halls and corridors resoUnd mainly to
the feet of some hashful bridal couple. who
are drinking in the beauties of the Capitol,
and the sweets of newly-wetldei bliss at
the same time
To visitor at the Capitol the point most
noticed is that many of the statues would be
improved by a bath: in fact, to look at
the dust and sand that have accumulated
on them, it would be supposed they were
OF the great uuwashed'' fraternity, and
the Indians and Roman gIddiatOrs look like
trampS from Goxey's army. If Miss Co
lumbIa VIII turn a hose fUn Of suCis on some
OF her statues she viii do the public a
service, and greatly increase her reputation
as good housewife
In the departments there viii be no extra
cleaning, only the usual work done by the
scrub-wOnen all during the year. in
the Library, which is full OF books, aIgd only
waiting for the completion of the immense
new edIfice, which Is 10 BE q future home.
there VIII be no efforts made except TO
keep tue oyeTCrowded place as free as pos
sible-a very difficult task il the face OF
the large attendance and the want space.
AWAY UNTIL COOL WEATHER.
At the white House a general cleaning
aud repairing will be in progress during
the abseuce Of the family of the President
The horses OF AIC. Cleveland have been sent
to farm in Maryland for the summer and
the coaeiIman, Willis, given a long holi-
day. The Mansion is now occupied by only
few officials aud Il few servants, among
them being the houSekeCper
The chandeliers in the halls and and
famous east room are Swatheu Up iG cotton
the sofas r0bed in cloth. the bed rooms
are packed up and IN nearly every chamber
a carpenter is busy making some repair
Bat no Que is allowed. TO see aug OF the
work, and a workman, did he give the least
| information, would be Instantly discharged.
/ The whole of the White House is usder the
care Of Col. John l. Wiis0H who is very
particular that 40 information is given out
about the work of which he has the care
and, like ali. West Pointers he is a very
strict discipIiuarian on this score, though
uniformly courteous to the members OF
the press.
For some weeks earpenters have been at
work on The conservatory and a general
air of Improvement is noticeable about
that locality. In a few days tie yearly re
port of Col Wilson on the subject OF the
improvements at the White House Will be
made public.
The homes of all OF the prominent peo
pie have been closed for some weeks as
the dweiIers have fled TO mountain and
seashore. The British Embassy is shut
up and the folks qUartered at Newport
while Sir Julian PaUDcefote and his fam
lily are in Europe. The Russian Ambassador
aud his daughter are abroad aud the Ie
CATION on l street quiet as the home Of
the proverbial church mouse; CAmeron's
house is closed, so is Quay's ard the brice
mansion, the Harriet, Lane JOhEstons
home Is desoEatc. the Lamont home de
serted, the lioke Smith residence shut up;
Mttr1hy's house silent, and every home
of a person well known in official or
social circles is now the property of the
servants till the cool weather sets IL
for the autumn
TONS OF TRASH
Now that the summer heated term has
set in with decided effort to keep up with
its previous records. the city is in a social