Year: 1862

!


There are few of the old faces that were


once marked in the Houses of Congress and


streets, to be seen in these days. 1 have


not before observed Washington 50 crowd


ed with people, but the old stock seems to


have perished. The majority of those who


have possession Of the Capital were hereto


fore strangers to it. The article Of chival-


ry is especially "played out" Beau
Hickman, however, is still here, bearing q
faint resemblance to other days, and is
suggestive Of the "high-toned" indiVidu-
ais from whom he was accustomed to sponge
his liquor at Browns Hotel, until seces-
sion carried them of, and left him lamenta-
BILE.


Positively there are indications that the
dome of the Capitol, and the Capitol itself,
will be finished, after time. At this time
the dome, seen at a distance, ornamented
with long crane and derrick, resembles
an enormous rat-trap.


A painting by Leutze, in the south wing
Of the Capitol building, is one Of the new
features. 1t is really a painting, not a
daub The subject is Westward the
Course Of Empire take its Way" and the
scene is q pass in the Rocky Mountains,
through which an emigrant train is max
ing its way 10 the golden shore Of the
peaceful sea. The Pacific slope opens out
before the emigrants. The beauty of the
thing is the emigrants seen are not stage
heroes, but real people. You can tell, 1
imagine, by looking closely at them, what
State they were born in. One fellow with
long yellow beard and rusty black wool
hat, rim turned up in front, am sure is a
native of Posey county, Indiana. 1t is
refreshing to find that we have an artist
who can paint fact.


The President and his wife visited the
Capitol on Saturday to look at the new
paintings. The Presidents face in repose
has a care worn expression that seems to
appeal for sympathy. He may find good
many things yet that remind him Of stories
he heard in Illinois, and the stories may
not be remarkably sober or neat but no
one can look in his face and believe he is
insensible to the responsibilities pressing
upon him. 1 know he always had dole
full sort Of physiognomy, but his features
had not, two years ago, the pale and pinch
ed appearance that they now wear. Those
who see him often say that his hair is turn
ing grey rapidly. He was dressed in a
K6uAEEl DluCh sui Ou DAluIuhNs his Adl
was new and covered with crape-mourn-
ing for his son who died last winter. His
hands were encased in black kids. As
it is customary with large class to rid
eule him and look upon him as a monster
it may surprise them TO say that he looked
like a gentleman. The Southern gentle
men" will of course be surprised to learn
that he walked across the rotunda without
giving an exhibition of gymnastics. Mrs.
Lincoln is evidently a lady Of vivacity.
Her manners are slightly youthful. Her
dress was black The only objection that
could reasonably be made TO it, was that she
dragged rather too much of it upon the
floor.


General Schenck, of Ohio, was on the
street on Saturday, taking his first out
door walk since be was wounded in the
second battle Of Bull Run. The General
has suffered intensely and will never re-
cover the use of his right hand. He mar
rowly escaped the necessity of amputation,
and carries his arm in a sling. He is
m uch emsciated, and it will be some time
before he will be able TO resume his duties
in the field.


On Saturday visited the Navy Depart
ment, and while there big man, in big
boots, with heavy side whiskers and mus
tache, and firmly pleasant smile, stalked
in. It seemed to me that that solid chin
and jaw, and rough beard, and the figure
generally, had familiar look, and was
puzzled to recollect with what prominent
parsonage they identified. In a moment
the tall man removed his hat, and there
was no mistaking the lofty bald head Of
Major General Burnside, Commander of
the Army of the Potomac. The official
gentleman with whom l was engaged in
conversation, addressed the General hasti-
ly, and as he had not before met him since
he took command of the great army, re-
marked, " l congratulate you, General, on
your promotion" The General said quick
", almost sharply, at is no matter of
congratulation, sir" The General had
just been engaged in long consultation
with the President Gen. Halleck, and the
Secretary of War.