Year: 1876

4
thermometer stood at 0G deg. in my
room, that brought upon me II resolve
not to stay at home, when came from
dinner on the 3d of July, but to join the
wandering breezes, take a stroll upon the
avenue, and then seek the airy height OF
Capitol Hill. 1t was good resolve, tor
otherwise | should have missed such II
sunset, as we might have asked for on
that last day of our first century, were
sunsets among the things made TO order.
Anything more magnificent was never
seen.


Against the western sky, all rcspend-
cnt with golden light, rose the bowery
trees of the White House grounds, their
rich green hues transmitted by the ra
dient splendor into molten bronze. Be.
hind anil above these enchanted isles OF
glowing yerdure, rose the dcrricks of the
new State Department bulding,the slen-
der harps from whose invisible strings
angels might even then be wakeuing ce
lestial harmnnies;- or the towering
masts at rest above the shining waters Of
some strange heaven other than that Of
which it is written "there shall be no
more sea-"


Leading to this glory, down the mar
rowing vista OF the avenue, ranges OF
windows OH either side shot forth flames
cf crimson and gold, and the Treasur,
building usually SO solemn and stately in
its gray solidity was changed by the
magic and mystery of color into palace
Of enchantment The very pavement
seemed fit Tor the streets of tho celestial
city.


Nor was all this magnifcence of mo.
mentary duration. From the prosy
street.car, watched it down the whole
length OF the avenue to the foot of Cap
itol Hill. From behind the glass dome
OF the Botanic Garden, the glow and
iervor seemed to increase, while lances of
glitteriug light shot through the trees,
and as we rounded the hill and began
the ascent, the intensity of light and col
or was almost too much for mortal vision.
The upper heaven was of indescribsble
blue filed with floating cloudlets Of am
ber and pearl. As we reached the top of
the hill, the whole city lay before US in a
shimmering sea of purple and gold from
which rose glOritied spires and towers !;
and then as W, advanced, the grand old
Capitol came into the foreground of the
picture, its dome glowing as with on in.
ward illumination. Could anything be
more beautiful and appropriate than for
Mother Nature thus to lavish upon our
favored land her very choicest display of
color and light, on this happy eve Of a
new century! Well accept it as good
omen, and believe the prosperity of our
country is assured--that its sun will
shine in spite of the spots that appear
upon its broad disc.


Long before the bright colors faded,
the full moon rose, and when went back
an hour or 80 later, a silver radience had
succeeded to the polnp of gold and pur-
pie. should have been glad TO remain
UP to see the new century ushercd 10.
but heat and fatigue sent me to bed.
When awoke it was nearly one o'clock.
The bells had rung out their joyous peal,
the chimes were silent, and the last guns
were booming from Judiciary Square.
The new century had begun.


But I am before my story. Coming
down the Hill, a middle aged gentleman
in panama hat stepped into the car and
sat down in the only vacant seat, which
happened to be by my side. AS he en-
tered something distingue or peculiar in
his appearance attracted my attention,
and recognized him almost Immediately,
although l had never before seen him in
the flesh, as Gen. Butler. He had just
left his new granite houses-houses
which in their grand architectural beauty
and repose are sufficient in themselves to
carry his name with honor down to pos
teri'y. ifhe never have done any other
worthy work for the world, which I
would be far from asserting.


AS we came upon the Avenue we found
innumersble flags of every size draped
from windows aud balconies; arranged