The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-02-26
THE CHAUTAUQUANS.
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF WASH
INGTON, ID. @.
A Paper Read Before the Montpelier Chau-
tsuqua Glass on st. Valentines Day by
Mrs. q. N. Gillette OF Washington.

We often hear of progress without i'm.
provement," but, as nearly as one could
Judge OF such things in few weeks time,
those two virtues are rIarching hand in
hand and are making ci Washington, d. c.,
the most desirable residence city OF our
Union.
First, let us glance at the new Congress
sional Library, now so nearly completed
that the unsightly fence, which for at least
Ave years has surrounded the whole block,
is removed, and from the east steps of the
Capital makes another beautiful and colos-
sal picture for the eye to gaze upon. Espe-
cially when the sun shines upon its dome OF
gold it is dazzling.
Our new POst-office, on the corner Of
Eleventh street and Pennsylvania Avenue,
gives promise Of great beauty, though yet
Ia an unflnished state.
The new Corcoran Art Gallery, on Seven
tesnth street, for which the cornerstone
was laid May 10, 1894, presents fine exte-
rior-the Milford granite. pink in color, OF
the basement, contrasting admirably with
the white marble Of which the remainder OF
the structure is built. Although it will not
be ready for occupancy before the last OF
August, it now bears its motto, Dedicated
to Art"
Change had been busy, too, observed, at
Convention Hall, where the Moody meet
ings, whose choir alone numbered 1900 per-
sons, were held, and where Patti, on her
last visit to Washington sang. On the
evening OF January e this vast hall was
opened to the public as an Ice Palace. 1t
presents q skating surface OF natural ice,
produced by artificial means, larger than
that contained in any inclosed structure in
the world-216 feet long by 100 feet wide.
find, in making ice palaces subject OF
research, that there are but five others OF
this style-two in Paris and one each in
New York, Baltimore and Pittsburg. At
the sides OF this long hall, back of ratings,
are six rows of raised seats for the accom-
mediation OF chaperons and the added num-
Der OF spectators who come in the evening
to witness the fancy skating, which is one
OF the attractive features. The roof forms
one immense arch, and dotted all over 1t at
equal distances from each other are red,
white and blue electric lights. At the end
of the hall 10 hfty-foot stage, fitted up to
represent Iceland, with the sun u large
electric Light dimly visible among the ioe-
bergs. The effect, / can assure you, is
charming. The temperature on the ice sur
face 10 kept at forty degrees, while all parts
of the building used by spectators will be
held at seventy degrees. The hall has
handsomely decorated and furnished recep-
ton rooms. A cafe is another good feature
and is located in the rear Of the balcony,
where the finest view can be had Of the
skaters. An orchestra OF eighteen Of the
best musicians obtainable make music that
"hath charms" and If you are NO longer
agile enough to skate you'll ardently wish
you were.
Next let us notice The Hotel Raleigh,
corner Of Twelfth street and Pennsylvania
Avenue. 1t seemed to me Of mushroom
growth, as, little more than year ago, it
was the Palsis Royal Uisner's large shop
ping place. and few years farther back all
but the lower story was the Pension Office.
/ we'll remember with what qualification we
received tickets of invitation to look from
those windows at the parade on the first
Inauguration Of President Cleveland. 1 an
tai cd for moi O. d00 hod
been paid to decorate the exterior of that
ono building alone, and that this people of
Washington must be expecting something
OF an exhibition from the party OF the first
part" But the realization Of bunting, ban
ners, music, cannonading, and the multi
my fancy had painted" Since then 1
have become accustomed to it, as history
has twiCe repeated itself, "-or rather re-
peated all but one feature of the day, and
that was the prancing of Fitz Hugh Lees
thoroughbred, as he rode, with military bear
ing, along the avenue, a little back Of the
presidents carriage. All present seemed to
realize that the loudest and longest cheers
were for Lee, and it was then conjectured
that the demonstration would eventually,
az it probably did, make him governor Of
Old Virginia.
Another noticeable change is the renova.
ton Of the Old Taylor Mansion. 1 was told
it had been rented as an annex to one Of the
very fashionable West End club-houses
1t is on Eighteenth street N. W., and
for years has been given up to ghostly in
habitants. Although it contains some of
the finest wood and stone carvings in the
city. vandsls have not Clipped them for
souvenirs, probably fearing they may see
others do not hear" The legend of what
caused the desertion of this fine old man
sion I cannot give correctly. There are
several Of those haunted houses in the city,
and as colored servant once said, 1t do
give me the shithers to think Of them" /,
quite echoing her sentiment have but one
idea that comes out clearly in regard to
them all, and that is that in one OF them,
which has been closed for years, it is said,
il you listen near it at any time of day or
night, you will hear a sound az Of meat fry
ing l understand it was investigated years
ago, but no solution of the mystery was
ever arrived at. AS Hallow Eve is the only
time one should give their thoughts entirely
TO the weird, let us pass to other themes
Doubtless you have observed with what
pleasurable emotions on the morning after
your return from protracted absence, you
listen for the familiar sounds of the city you
call home. So did the first morning after
my recent arrival in Washington. At the
time OF my departure 1 could Judge quite
accurately OF the hour by the sounds on the
street. When heard the beating on back
gates, accompanied by the remark, "'Deed
chile, yo'd bettah opin up de gate, de old
garbage mans gwins away now" knew it
was not far from seven o'clock. He still
comes and "gwies about that time, but
the event is now heralded by few mellow
notes from a bugle. The hucksters who
usually, little later in the morning, called
three times in the length of block, Sweet
petaties, Irish petaties, turnips," etc, lis
tened for and heard them not, but / did
hear the occasional slow tread of horse
and frequently the word that in the South
both starts and stops them "Yayl Yayl"]
and, looking out, found it as had conjec.
tured-the hucksters shorn of the privilege
OF crying their wares on the streets. Still
another herald OF the morning missed
much more endurable than the other
sounds, but, 1 am told, no longer allow.
able-and that was the call OF Morning
ps-persl by the little newsboys. AS the
day advances II you catch the sound, even
very distant, of a steady tramp, tramp, you
at once seem to realize that in some one o.
the city homes there is a vacant chair
From twelve until half past, IL you note the
sounds of hurrrying feet, and read them cor