The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-05-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.

opening of the Jamestown Exposition last
week took Washingtonians in large num-
bers out of the city, and the streets had
the deserted appearance they have in
August, but this week they are filled, not
only with the usual number of fashion
able folk but with veterans of the Civil
and Spanish war, with soldiers of other
countries and the Foreign Army and
Naval officers who were sent here to par
ticipate in the Exposition ceremonies.
Nearly all of these have also attended the
unwilling of the statue to General McClel-
Ian and this event was one of the most
impressive affairs of the kind that has
occurred at the Capital. The President
made one of his characteristics speeches
and representatives of the Army and
Navy were prominent in the exercises
The Society of the Army of the Potomac
and other organizations of veterans were
here and have been entertained at recep-
tions, army drills, balls, etc. The foreign
officers are of course receiving distin-
guished attention. They were given
dinner by the President, ball by the dip
lomats and they have been invited to
more dinners and luncheons and break
fasts than they could have eaten in
week. After their disappointing time at
Jamestown, where they were neglected
and left to forage for themselves, they
have been made to feel that perhaps the
United States is not the barbaric land
that they were led by their experience
there to think it might be. The Capital
is at its best at this season and though
the Spring is the coolest and most back
ward in thirty years the trees are putting
out in leaf and flowers are struggling into
bloom in the many parks which beautify
the city. While onr Capital is far from
being the most beautiful in the world it is
an attractive sight in the spring, and the
foreigners must be favorably impressed
by it when they visit it at this season. It
is difficult for foreigners to take our his
tory seriously, and there is always an air
of suppressed boredom when they are
compelled to take the somewhat fatigu-
ing trip to Mount Vernon or are lined up
to look at the Declaration of Independ-
ence in the State Department. The
luncheons and the dinners, though, quite
reach their intelligence, and there is no
lack of enthusiasm in their interest in our
fine houses and the lavishness of the
entertainments. The President never
fails to enthuse them either, and the
functions at the White House have been
particularly brilliant this week.
Xxx
The unwilling of the Mcclellan statue
was picturesque and brilliant spectacle
and fine, sunshiny day added to its
impressiveIesss and permitted an I'M
mense crowd to view it in the proper
spirit of appreciation. The statue is by
MacMinnies, the celebrated sculptor and
is supposed to be a fine work of art.
There are many though to whom it is far
from satisfying, and even those without
any critical artistic taste are questioning
the Judgment of placing another eques-
trian statue in this city, which already
contains more of that sort than any other
city on the globe. General Mcclellan in
bronze now sits his horse on the top of a
high pedestal at the summit of a high
hill. To see it one must throw his head
back between his shoulders and it is pos.
sible that he may then get the impression
that the General is either going to fly,
Pegasus-like, or that if his horse should
make a move forward he will probably
take a series of somersaults to the foot
of the hill. There is nothing either
active or composed about it. The horse
is ready to plunge forward and the tips of
the Generals boots resting lightly in the
stirrups and his knees loosely touching
the horses sides suggest that in such an
event he might not go in the same direc-
ton. The likeness is said to be good and
even if it is not the height of the statue
makes it unlikely that many will unjoint
their necks to critically examine it,
~
The attitude of the French Government
in declining to accept as sufficient for
import purposes the tag of the Agricul.
tural Department affixed to fresh meats
has convinced the State Department that
an effort must be made at once to reach
general agreement with France to gov
ern the trade relations between the two
governments. Conferences are being
held between Secretary Root and the
French Ambassador looking to this end,
and it is suggested that Tariff commis-
sion .similar to that which was sent to
Germany to avert trade war with that