New-York tribune., 1897-01-31
GOSSIP OF THE CAPITAL.
THE VISIT OF HARRY FURNISS AND
QUEEN LILIUOKALANI


THE LATTER ATTRACTING MUCH ATTENTION.
PRESIDENT GARFIEIDs TAcr-ISD-
IANs AT WASHINGTON.
Washington, Jan. sc-Harry Furniss Of Punch"
and the ex-Queen Of Hawaii have divided public at
tenion this week, although. 1t must be confessed.
the presence Of Queen Lii has quite thrown the
English artist into shadow. Mr.. Furniss. who
has been in constant evidence in the gal
leres and Hobbies OF Congress and on the streets.
has spent his mornings at the Capitol. where he has
devoted his time to making sketches Of the best
known statesmen on both ends of the Capitol.
which will ultimately adorn the pages Of PUNCH"
trated talks rather for his entertainments are not
lectures In the accepted sense-at the Columbia
Theatre TO apprecatve II not large audiences. His
evenings have not been long enough 10 accept half
even Of the many invitations he has received for
social affairs. for 1t has been discovered that Mr..
Furniss Is a genial and responsive companion, and
he has naturally been in great demand.
1t Is needless TO say that Her Dusky Highness
Queen Liliuokalani has not met with cordial
reception at the hands OF the people of the capital
as was given her on her visit here eight years ago.
when she travelling with the wife OF "A reign
ing monarch. for local sympathy is entirely with
the present Hawaiian Government but there has
been the greatest amount Of curiosity concerning
her. and since the day Of her arrival the hotel at
which she il stopping has been constantly besieged
with people anxious to catch a glimpse OF the de-
throned Highness
gentleman resident In Washington who has
lived some time In Hawaii and knows the character
Of the ex-Queen thoroughly discredits the state
ment that pleasure and recreation alone are
Sat only WITH life viii she give up
for her restora ion. and that she will leave no stone
untuTned TO prevent annexation to the United
states to which. being English in her sympa thies
she is bitterly opposed The evidence seems TO bear
out this opinion.
As soon possible after full pardon had been
extended to her for her completely In the insurrec
ton OF January. 1885, Liliuokalani left Honolulu
with the ostensible purpose OF taking pleasure
trip and visiting her friends and relatives In this
country. but with the Interior motive. 1t seems
probable, OF seeing her great and good friend and
enlistng his sympathies. Among the ex-Queen's
visitors was Treasurer Morgan, who. besides guard
ing the coin OF the realm. devotes himself TO Mason
ry and autograph collecting. His call said to
be inspired by the desire 10 pay his respects the
widow OF brother Mason who had reached the
thirty-thrd degree. but he thrifty enough to
XIII two birds with one stone. and induced the ex-
lied Queen 10 nscribe her royal signature in his
prominent people.
Mr.. Morse. Of Massachusetts, recently introduced
bill in the House providing for the erection OF
monument to Pierre Charles l. Enfant Major OF En-
gineers in the Revolutionary War. who planned and
laid out the city Of Washington for which, during
his lifetime he received neither pay credit This
eccentric Frenchman held such peculiar views that
could he know of the effort being made to do him
honor. he would. doubtless. consider II adequate
payment for his work. his unpaid claim and the
long neglect Of him, for he put small value on
money. and was careful. even In his poor and
lected old age. TO do nothing which he consid "a
Inconsistent with his dignity and with the high
position he had occupied.
Major l. Enfant Is one Of the most picturesque
characters associated with the founding OF the
He few sti
membered by the "oldest inha bants'' as a seedy
rather stylish old man. who wore a long surtout
OF blue or green cloth and bell-crowned hat with
half dozen hunting dogs always at his heels. An
officer in the provincial forces OF France like so
many of his countrymen he inspired to come
to this country in the early days OF the Revolution
Soon after his arrival he secured a commission as
officer Of engineers. for which position he
eminently fitted by education. and served through
the entire war with bravery and distinction. being
wounded at The siege OF Savannah and taken pris-
when he exchanged for Lieutenant
de Heyden OF the Anspach Jagers.
At the close OF the war. when the French con-
tingent sailed for home Major LEnfant elected TO
remain here. and was. until his death loyal and
devoted TO his adopted country. although a victim
Of unjust treatment at her hands
When the site OF the Ca p,tol was decided
upon Major l. Enfant selected to lay out the
city and was summoned TO Mount Vernon by Gen.
eral Washington after his return from that cele-
bratcd trip OF 90; miles through the South In his
cream -colored chariot to confer with him. He had
a warm and cordial reception his arrival at
the manor house and during the week he remained
there the plan for the Federal City" CON-
plctey matured.
1t was the verdict then. and history has indorsed
It, that the plan adopted can admirable one:
but In carrying OF his works Major l. Enfant in
constant friction with the commissioners for whose
opinion on technical subjects he had doubtless little
respect and they understanding Of or sympathy
for his genius. For months the quarrel went on.
and when the irascible engineer caused Duddington
the great house that Daniel Carroll had erected In
me middle of what Is now New-Jersey-ave and
which he would not pull down. insisting thnt the
avenue must alter Its course and 20 around his
domiclle-to be razed TO the ground, they came 10
an open rupture. and Major L'Enfant was dis
charged 'it having been found imprac ble." In
the language OF Jefferson. TO employ Major L. En-
fant In that degree OF subordination which was law
ful and proper"
But the Government was quite at
about the way he had been treated. and. although
there Is no evidence that his work WAS entirely
paid for a commission at West Point was offered
him in part restitution, lie ndorsed IL mot re-
fused or not accepted" and was appointed by
President Monroe TO build Fort Washington. but,
dissatisfied with certain conditions. which he felt
handicapped him In his work. he quarrelled with
every one here. and was finally mustered out OF the
Army.
From this lime until his death Major L'Enfant
the guest Of the Diggs family then one OF u
most influential families In the South. During the
lifetime OF his friend. Thomas Digs. he lived al
Warburton Manor. In the vicinity OF Fort washing
tom at his death he accepted the hospitality OF
Mr.. D.ggs's nephew, Dudley Dggs. who lived AZ
Green Hill to the north OF Washington, whicn IN
noS the property OF Frank Riggs, the banker
Here the Quarreisoms and disappointed genius
died. hera ~ n buried rude marks