Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-09-04
FROM WASHINGTON.
,rrosrondence Of the Alexandria Gasstte.l

He slept profoundly all night and an
nounced this morning that he felt equal
to big days sightseeing. His cooks
had started the fire In the banquet
room range at the Arlington before 4
o'clock and they were chopping and
slicing and cooking away long before
Washingtonians awoke. They were
going to seize the opportunity afforded
by the comprehensive culinary facili-
ties provided for them not only to pre-
pare elaborate meals for the Viceroy
during his stay here but will prepare
as much as possible to last him across
the country until they reach the gal
lev of the trans-Pacifc steamer. After
breakfast the Viceroy announced that
he did not feel like hanging around his
superb apartments all morning receiv-
ing officials as had been mapped out in
the programme, but would like to see
the Capitol if he had time before keeping
his appointment at the Chinese Lega-
ton. So the carriages were ordered
and promptly at nine o'clock the party
rode away from the hotel. Ii Hung
Chang, Gen. Ruger. John w. Foster
and DR.. Mark, who acted as interpreter
for the morning, were in the first car
riage which was followed by carriage
containing the chair and four hotel
porters and bearers. Other carriages
came behind with Lord Lii and Capt.
Mills and Mr.. Drew and dozen men,
bers of the suite. The drive was
past the Patent Office and Pension
Office which were pointed out
in passing, TO the East front of the Capt.
tol, which was viewed and the party
alighted at the Senate steps. The Vice
roy took his chair, which was carried up
the steps through the bronze doors,
Mr.. Foster and DR.. Mark explaining
things as they went. The entire Capt..
tol was undergoing its summer renoya-
ton, and the new floors and ventilation
system were being put down in the Sen
ate chamber a1d visit would have
been more impressive at another sea-
son, but The Viceroy took deep inter
est in everything. His first question
was asked in the Presidents room,
which was unusually bare of furniture.
He wanted to know whether the Presi,
dent was there every day and was
much astonished when told that the
President used it but once for few
hours annually. He was carried to the
rotunda where he left his chair and
went around examining the historical
paintings infinitely. He is very fond
OF paintings and the scenes in each had
to be explained thoroughly. He be-
came deeply interested in the story of
Pocahontas which had to be related in
full. The first military subject he hap
pened to strike was the Surrender of
Burgoyne, which led him to ask if Grant
was in it, and when told he was not, ne
wanted to know where Grant was at
the time. In the Library he viewed the
stacks of books with evident interest
and when introduced to Librarian Spot
ford he took great fancy to him. He
asked how old he was. Seventy" re-
piled Mr.. Spofford. "You must have
many books in your head" declared
Ii. "But many more out of it," the
Librarian responded. "But you must be
a very wise man." persisted Ii. mo,
I know comparatively little" and at
this Ii laughed and directed that Lo
Fling Luh, his confidential secretary, be
specially presented to Mr.. Spoford
Mr.. Spofford asked Lo if he were a
bookman and when Ii learned of this,
he said: mo, not the bookman, the
book worm" Lo told Mr.. Spotford he
was reading Emerson and translating
passages from the American philoso-
pher for the Viceroy, who was much
pleased with him. Then the chair was
moved out on the Capitol portico
where the magnificent panorama
of Washington was spread out.
The atmosphere was exceptional
ly clear, Fort Myer and Arlington over
on the Virginia hills being as wildly
visible ss if Int mile away. The
V,c.>roy wag charmed with the scene.
Presently he began asking about the
Washington MONUMENT, what 1t cost
how did it compare Nth other hign
structures, and ended by declaring ne
should 90 up to the top tomorrow a."
see for himself ifall that was told him
was true. After he had smoke the
party was led through Ststuary hall
where the statues of distinguished
Americans did not interest the Viceroy
after he found Grant was not there.
He wondered why there was no statue
of Grant anywhere in Washington, but
when told there was fine painting of
him at the White House he said he
would not 60 away without seeing 1T.
In the House of Representatives the
gorgeous gallery over the Speakers |
desk attracted his attention and when |
told it was reserved for the press he |
laughingly noted that it was finer than |
those of the President and diplomatic |
corps. He was asked if he wanted to go |
over to the Library, which was probably |
the finest building in the country, but |
when he found that it was unfinished |
and had only six hundred Chinese books
in it he said he was too old to learn to |
read English and thought he'd better
20 to the Legation where he was due.
The Viceroy was driven directly across
town to the Legation on the hill at the
head of 14th street. The Viceroy in
spected all the details of the Legation
building. It lasted until one o'clock |
when the Ambassador returned to the
hotel and rested preparatory to receiy
ing callers this afternoon.
Secretary of the Interior Francis
looked trihe fatigued at noon to day, |
the result of shaking the hands of
about every employee in the depart
ment. All morning a steady stream
from the building fled 10 his Office,
So ,rhfoh nlarka and other en-