Year: 1873

aid, wonderful instrument, calculated by
its ever new and intricate designs to drive
to despair the most expert of counterfeit
ers. These gentry, in fact, have contribu-
ted not little to scientific discovery, as the
necessity OF baking their initiative skill
requires constant study and ever fresh ex-
pedients.


We were admitted to the vaults. and
stood surrounded by wealth equal to the
treasures of Monte Christie. One member
of our party was permitted to hold for
moment package containing four millions
Of United States bonds, and rejOiced that
they W ere not hers. ''it would be such a task
to spend the income they would yield In
the engraving department we were invited
to inspect closely the delicate and beautiful
designs which have heretofore passed so
carelessly under our eyes as simply the
bordering on bonds. or the ornamental por.
ton Of notes. Here we were also shown an
exquisite piece of work which. though a
simple yignette head, was the labor of three
weeks. The effect OF witnessing this deli.
cate work, all Of which is performed touch
by touch with the aid of powerful Lenses.
in . carefully subdued light, made green.
backs. which we had got to regard from
their plentiness in the other rooms as very
common things. appear in a different light.
They seemed now to have q more than
moneyed value. and to represent time, and
skill. and labor. and the love which the
true artist always puts into his work,
whether it be copy of the human face
divine Or the fairylike arabesques that Dor.
der a bond.


But OF all tho interesting things to be
observed in the treasury. nothing is more
SO than the perfect system with which its
multifarious duties are performed and its
Numerous employees held TO a strict account
ability for the money which passes through
their hands. These employees number goo.
300 Of whom are women, come delicate and
refined ladies Of the best blood in the land,
intrusted with very responsible duties,
some working girls engaged in the coarse
manual labor of the printing department.
The latter are paid according to the amount
Of work done; the former receive salaries
ranging from $500 to $1,000 annually, with
a vacation of thirty days.


In the way Of amusements Washington
10 very destitute at this season, a eircum.
stance taken advantage of by the inde-
fatigable Barnum to promote the popular
ity of his mammoth. combination circus. 1t
is good circus, undoubtedly, but it is not
by its merit alone :hat the immense crowds
visiting it are attracted. This is done by
the proprietor's extensive and intelligent
system Of advertising. He knows well that
the old adage, "Good vine needs no bush."
is not applicable in these days, and that no
business requiring the patronage of the
public can be carried on without being kept
prominently and constantly before the at
tention of the public. His success is a proof
of the s9undness of his doctrine.


To turn from the mimic strife of the
circus to the sadder struggle of the political
arena. your readers will be glad to learn
that the Louisiana difficulty, which threat
ened to give so much trouble to the next
reduced to q very simple question. The
few quandam, contemporaries Of the Fusion
movement are heartily ashamed of the
humiliating position into which their quasi
relations 10 the conspirators has placed
them, and twill proceed no farther in the
matter" The idea Of the proposed consti-
tutional convention, held under Fusion aus
pices, is laughed at.


Senator West and General Sypher, both
here at present, propose very shortly to re.
turn to New Orleans and seek among their
constituents fresh inspiration for their legis.
lative labors in the approaching Congress.