The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-07-14
LANDMARKS
DISAPPEAR
National Capital Is Losing
Much of Interest in
undermining.

One by one historic old buildings
IN the national capital are going
down before the irresistible sweep OF
modernity. 1t is seldom, though, that
they pass out in blocks of six, as was
the case this week when an old row
of imposing dwellings, the homes of
foreign diplomats more than a half
century ago, was the subject Of a
transfer that will result in their being
remodeled and refurnished. The
walls that once resOunded to the dig
nified chatter of many tongues are
to be given over to the cause OF
higher education, and vandal carpen-
tiers and masons are already at work
bringing about Transformation.
Once the change is effected, the
nix houses are to be utilized by the
George Washington University for
some of its departments that have
outgrown the present quarters. Two
of the houses will be occupied by the
college of engineering; the depart
ment of education and the department
of architecture will occupy two more
while the women's college will take
up the remainder. The buildings are
especially well adapted for class
rooms, for the ceilings are high and
the windows generous.
But to return to the historic side
of the matter. The row, once the
most imposing block of houses in
Washington, was erected in the sos
by w. W. Corcoran, who dedicated
to the government the national gal
lery of art bearing his name. Mr..
Corcoran discovered that the repre-
sentatives of foreign governments
were unable to find suitable living
quarters in Washington, and with
characteristic patriotism he set about
remedying this fault, for he consid-
cred it a blot on the good name OF
the United States in general, and
| Washington. particularly, that such
condition should exist. The build
! ings, most elaborate for that era,
were the result.
One of the houses was the scene of
tragic occurrence some years be-
! fore the war The Russian envoy, one
| ic set, and his wife were the most
! lionized couple in society. The en-
VOWS wine cellar was a poem in old
and rare vintages, and he has brought
most of it's stock from his estate in
| the cars realm. With him also
came an old butler, a Russian who
had been for years in his employ,
and a hundred-odd bottles of claret
that was worth its weight in gold
In the height OF the social season
the envoy found his wine disappear
ing. The thief devoted his attention
to the priceless claret, and about
twice a week empty bottles were
| found in the cobwebbed bin that con-
tanned them. The butler kept close
vigil, but to no avail. The bottles
continued to disappear.
Finally, in desperation, the envoy
carefully opened a bottle, treated the
contents with a powerful poison and
replaced it in the bin, where the hand
of the thief would most naturally fall
upon it. me next morning he sought
| his wine cellar. There he found, ly-
| ing stark upon the floor, the hands
clenched and the dead eyes holding in
their depth a look of frozen horror.
the body of his old servitor, the but
! Ter. So far as the records show, moth
| ing was done in the case. The Uni
| ted States could not act, for in
Diplomatic sense, the crime was COM
mitted on Russian soil.
| It is not unlikely that the houses
ultimately will be restored. Their &C.
cupancy by the George Washington
University is only temporary, for the
! institution is making ready to erect 2
notable group of buildings of its own.
It's ambition to become the great
| American University gives promise Of
| fuIfiIlment, and subscriptions to the
endowment fund continue to come in
I