The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-01


10eh anniversary OF the occupation o.
Washington as the Federal Capital prom
ises TO be one OF the noteworthy ilcl-
dents OF the year. An interesting occa-
sion in itsef. it viii also serve to re-
awaken Interest in the era and the events
which Il is to commemorate.
Imagine the lahorious transfer Of tic
present reat of Government 20 some lin'
in the Middle West this in contrast 20 tn
removal CT the capital from Philad Up IL
to the banks OF the Potomac. and fa-i
idea will be gained Of the vide gulf S p
aratiEg the Republic of today fiom that
OF hundred years ago. DC ober, 1900 he
time CT the transfer TO be ce-eb- ated IL
December, fell In 8 day OF modest thi- gs
ard q single packet sloop was amply slfii-
Gent for the Office furniture of the d.
psrtnecss besides seven large toNeS aAd
Ave snail ores, containing the archives OF
the Gc,errrert." The officials ccncerne
in the removal numbered ftty-fsur, inc I'D
Ing President Adams, the head. OF dep-rt-
ment.. and the various clerks.
Though work on and about the new sea.
of Government had been in progress lof
the better part OF = decade what the
newcomers found on their arrival IN the
District Of Columbia was struggling
settlement In the woods almost wholly
devoid of streets, with thirty or forty res
iaencss-;hese, for the most part. small
and uncoAsort sble,-and an unhnished
Capitol and Presidents House Contrast
ed with the pleasant quarters left oenlnd
in Philadelphia, the crude discomfort Oh
waskinSton bred feeling of surprise and
disgust Il do not perceive" Secretary
wolcott wrste TO III. wife. how the
mexabS-s OF Congress can possibly secure
loarinrs, unless they will consent 10 live
like scholars IN a college, or mnaks in
a Eonaxtery, crowded ten or twenty in
ons house, and utterly secluded from So
ciety. Tn. only resource for such as wish
to live comfortably will. l think, be
found in Georgetown, three miles distant.
l have made every eIertion 10 secure
good Lodgings near the Office, but shal
be compelled to take them at distance
OF more than half mile. There are in
fact. but few hocssS in any one place.
and nest OF them small. miserable huts.
which present an awful contrast to the
pubic buildings The people are poor.
and. as far as l can judge, they live like
fishes, by eating each other.
President Adams with his family
reached washington in November. Il ar
rived here on Saturday last. runs letter
from Mrs Adams to her daughter. che OF
the first ever written il the White House,
and without meeting any accident worth
noticing. except losing ourselves when We
left Baltimore. and going eight OF nine
miles on the Frederick road. by which
means we we're obliged to go the other
eight through the woods. where We wan
dered Tor two hours. without finding a
guide or the path. Fortunately. a stras-
Cling black came up with US. and We en-
gagged him as a guide to extricate us out
CT our difficulty; but woods are all you
see from Baltimore Until you reach the
city. which is only so in name. Here and
there is a small cot, without a glass win
dow. interspersed among the forests,
through which you travel niles without
seeing any human being. In the city
there are buildings enough. il they were
compact and finished. to accommodate
Congress. and those attached to il, but as
they are and scattered as they are, l see
no great comfort in them
How meagre was the degree Of comfort
which they afforded is, perhaps, bast il
Illustrated by an entry il the diary OF john
Cotton Smith. member c; the House rom
Connecticut Our little party" he $ Us.
took lodging with MI. Peacock. in one
OF the houses Oh tie New jersey Avenue.
Speaker Sedswick was allowed a
room to himself: the rest Of us in pairs"
The President and his family farsd little
better.
ITO assist US In this great castle" write;
Mrs. Adams in the letter already gu d.
"and render less attendarce he esssry be IS
are wholly wanting. rot one single ore he
ing hung through the whole house. ard
promises are all you can obtain II they
will put me- up some bells and let NE h2
wood enough TO keep Ares. design to b
pleased. But, surrounded 18th
forests, can you believe that wood IS not II
be had. because people cannot he found Q
cut and cart it? The house is made ha5i,a-
bic. but there is not a SINCE apr m TT
finished. We have rot tAe least fercs.
yard. or other convenience without. and tie
great unfinished audience room fnow
known as the East Rooml ! make 7drsi
room Of to harg up the CO hes in. The
principal stains are not up. and VIII rot be
this winter
So difficult was It to secure lodgings near
the Capitol that many Of the members of
Congress took refuge in Georgetown,
reached only after an arduous journey over
execrable roads. but where as partial COM
pensation for the social poverty and mate
rial discomfort of the infant city, there was
a society which called Itself eminently po-
lite. Indeed society centred for years in
Georgetown; and thence. at the price OF
many hardships on the way, came most Of
the guests who attended the Presidents
levces and state dinners. Abigail Adams
was easily the most conspicuous woman Of
her day, whether by position or by char
acter; in person distinguished and NOBLE
rather than beautiful. and the social rites
AT Nf-fta pera conduct tod with
great formality during her brief period of
residence there. CerenoniogS intercourse
was demanded. and the rules OF precedence
were vigorously obeyed.
The President and Mrs. Adams gave
their first public reception on New Year
Day. 1901, receiving their guests in the
second story which Is cow the library of
the Executive Mansion. The rules estab-
1ished by Mrs. Washington had been con-
tinued by her successor, and the roster of
her guests included only persons Of Official
station and established reputation. or who
came with suitable introduction. Full
dress was e1acted from all. ard at this
New Year reception President Adams. his
round, rudy face framed by a powdered
wig. wore q black velvet suit, white vest.
knee breeches. yellow gloves, silk stock
inSs. and silver knee and shoe buckles.
The guests formed in circle. when the
President went around and coaYersed with
each one. after which they came up, bowed,
and retired
Few unoMcial personsses frequented
Mrs. A6ans' drawing rooms. The most
considerable OF these were Thomas Law.
an EnElismman, and Samuel Harrison
Smith. editor Of the newlyborn National
Inteiligencer." LAW. younger brother
OF Lord Ellenborough. had formerly held
high office in British India. and had come
TO the United States so the story ran. 10
avoid being called as a witness against