The Dickinson press., 1897-12-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.
New Homes Of Cabinet lrsub,rs-sou,a
New Social stars at the Capital.
A Desk With History.
Especial corresnondsncs.,


gather during the winter. Many new
faces will be seen in Washington, and
several magnificent residences will pre-.
sent q changed appearance after having
been remodeled for their new occupanta
Most Of the cabinet officers have set.
tied or are about to settle in their
homes. OF course Secretary Sherman
has lived for several years in his beau.
tiful white carved stone residence on Z
street. so his home is not new, but the
other officers have not the advantage Of
. former residence.
Secretary Of War Alger has rented
the big brick house ON the corner Of z
and Sixteenth streets, the house recent.
" vacated by General (now Embassa-
dor) Draper Of Massachusetts,. Here II
was that the Diapers, who were social
leaders, lived in great luxury and were
the most conspicuous Of the rich con.
gressional people. The house is tall, Of
red brick, not attractive on the exterior,
but very pretty inside. There is one Pc
ouliar feature, which is q small ball
room tinted entirely in yellow, the
walls being Of that lemon tint in satin,
the floor stained the same color and
highly polished, while the furnishings
blend in the same golden toning till
the mellow light seems to food the
whole chamber.
Gary and His Palace.
The residence taken by Postmaster
General Gary is the finest in which any
member Of the cabinet will live. It is q
magnificent building Of brownstone,
palatial in appearance and costly in ita
appointments It was built in 1883 by
Senator Sawyer. whose daughter, Mra
Howard White, now dead, presided over
the household. Then it was occupied
for few months by Secretary Francis
Of the Cleveland cabinet. The mansion
stands at the intersection Of several
streets and has a large yard in front,
though the entrance is at one side.
Just behind it can be seen the square,
jutting porch Of the imperial Spanish
embassy, it being the first house Of the
row on the left.
This residence is richly furnished, the
polished floors being covered with hand
some rugs, the walls full of costly pic
lures and the cabinets Of unique curioa
In the dining room is the famous and
beautiful frieze, which extends around
the wall Of the chamber and shows a
bewitching scene in garden, where
Cupids and gay peacocks are sporting
amid luxuriant roses. As the postmas-
tet general has large family Of daugh-
ters his object in securing this imposing
residence was that Of giving great
many entertainments.
Where the Attorney General Idvss.
The home Of Attorney General Nc
Kenna is up high on the hills that over
look the city on California avenue. The
home is pretty one and is daintily but
not luxuriously furnished. It speaks Of
neat housekeeping and is full Of pretty
pictures and cozy hooks that make II
delightful There are two young ladies
in the family, Miss Isabel and Miss
Marie, the latter to be one Of the de-
butantes Of the coming season, while
the youngest child, Hildegarde, is pu-
pill at the Visitation convent in George
town.
The girls are all pretty and highly
educated, and are expert "bikers" and
fond Of sporta Mrs. McKenna is a hand
some matron, thoroughly domestic in
her tastes and q most devoted mother.
Secretary Cages new residence is the
white carved stone house owned and un-
til recently occupied by Mr.. saks. The
place is situated on the north side oa
Massachusetts avenue, between Seven.
teenth and Eighteenth streets, almost
opposite to the home Of Mrs Francis
Hodgson Burnett.
The house is not q large one, but az
there are but two in the family, the sec.
retary and Mrs. Gage, there Is no need
9or an imposing mansion.
Tho Wilson Home.
Secretary Of Agriculture Wilson will
shortly move into q lovely home on the
corner Of g street and Connecticut ave.
nue-S101 8 street. The house, which
ds double one, is Of white brick, and
one end juts out like q castle Of old.
There is only one girl in the family.
MIR. Wilson is widower, as was hil
predecessor. There are several boys,
most Of them remaining west. One ol
the secretary's sons, Jasper, will act az
private secretary to his father, and al
he is q young man Of about 26 will be
an addition to the beaus at the capital.
Secretary Of the Interior Bliss has 60
lected beautiful home ON the south.
west corner Of Sixteenth and x streets.
Secretary Long and family will remain,
as before, at the Portland, where they
occupy fats
A Historical Desk.
Charles Loefler, the veteran door.
keeper to the presidents room, has q
new desk. The old one had served him
over 20 years II was an old desk when
1t was first turned over to LoeAaer. II
had been an intimate acquaintance ol
President Lincoln and in stirring time,
would have absorbed many things hai
It been human.
At the old desk Thousands Of promi
nent men have sat to write cards to sent
In to the president. Cabinet member
have sat at the desk and written thei,
names for autograph seekera Grea
men have oongregated around It ant
talked over matters Of the highest i'm
portanoe.
It is an old fat top desk, with sin
gle row Of pigeonholes, the lower par
containing drawers It is probable tina
the desk will be preserved. Loehae
would like to keen it for himSolf as
companion which has served him faith
fully 30 many years.
CARL SoHoFR1p,
| ~ o ~ --~s'r
To Hix the Encanapmsnt Date.
HARRISBURG, Pa, Dec. :a-Com
mander.in.Chief Goblin Of the g. A. r
has called . meeting Of the executiv
committee Of the national council to
held In Cincinnati Dec. Is, to fix th
] date Of the next national encampment