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51 chapters
CHAPTER I. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
CHAPTER I. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
The Young Surveyor’s Dream—Humboldt’s View of Washington—A Vision of the Future Capital—The United States Government on Wheels—Ambitious Offers—The Rival Rivers—Potomac Wins—Battles in Congress—Patriotic Offers of Territory—Temporary Lodgings for Eleven Years—Old-Fashioned Simplicity—He Couldn’t Afford Furniture—A Great Man’s Modesty—Conflicting Claims—Smith Backs Baltimore—A Convincing Fact—The Dreadful Quakers—A Condescending Party—A Slight Amendment—An Old Bill Brought to Light Again—The Indi
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CHAPTER II.CROSS PURPOSES AND QUEER SPECULATIONS.
CHAPTER II.CROSS PURPOSES AND QUEER SPECULATIONS.
Born of Much Bother—Long Debates and Pamphlets—Undefined Apprehensions—Debates on the Coming City—Old World Examples—Sir James Expresses an Opinion—A Dream of the Distant West—An Old-time Want—A Curious Statement of Fact—“Going West”—Where is the Centre of Population—An Important Proclamation—Original Land Owners—Well-worn Patents—Getting on with Pugnacious Planters—Obstinate David Burns—A “Widow’s Mite” of Some Magnitude—How the Scotchman was Subjugated—“If You Hadn’t Married the Widow Custis”—
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CHAPTER III.THE WORK BEGUN IN EARNEST.
CHAPTER III.THE WORK BEGUN IN EARNEST.
Washington’s Faith in the Future—Mr. Sparks is “inclined to think”—A Slight Miscalculation—Theoretical Spartans—Clinging to Old World Glories—Jefferson Acts the Critic—He Communicates Some Ideas—Models of Antiquity—Babylon Revived—Difficulty in Satisfying a Frenchman’s Soul—The Man who Planned the Capital—Who was L’Enfant?—His Troubles—His Dismissal—His Personal Appearance, Old Age, Death and Burial-Place—His Successor—The French Genius “Proceeded”—The New City of Washington—A Magnificent Plan—A
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CHAPTER IV.OLD WASHINGTON.
CHAPTER IV.OLD WASHINGTON.
How the City was Built—“A Matter of Moonshine”—Calls for Paper—Besieging Congressmen—How they Raised the Money—The Government Requires Sponsors—Birth of the Nation’s Capital—Seventy Years Ago in Washington—Graphic Picture of Early Times—A Much-Marrying City—Unwashed Virginian Belles—Stuck in the Mud—Extraordinary Religious Services. Nothing in the architecture of the city of Washington calls forth more comment from strangers than the distance between the Capitol and the Executive Departments. Jo
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CHAPTER V.THE CAPITAL OF THE NATION.
CHAPTER V.THE CAPITAL OF THE NATION.
A Ward of Congress—Expectations Disappointed—Funds Low and People Few—Slow Progress of the City—First Idea of a National University—A Question of Importance Discussed—Generous Proposition of George Washington—Faith Under Difficulties—Transplanting an Entire College—An Old Proposition in a New Shape—What Washington “Society” Lacks—The Lombardy Poplars Refuse to Grow—Perils of the Way—A Long Plain of Mud—“The Forlornest City in Christendom”—Egyptian Dreariness—Incomplete and Desolate State of Affa
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CHAPTER VI.THE WASHINGTON OF THE PRESENT DAY.
CHAPTER VI.THE WASHINGTON OF THE PRESENT DAY.
Hopes Realized—A Truly National City—Washington in 1873—Major L’Enfant’s Dream—Old and New—“Modern Improvements”—A City of Palaces—The Capital in All Its Glory—Traces of the War—Flowers on the Ramparts—Under the Oaks of Arlington—Ten Years Ago—The Birth of a Century—The Reign of Peace—The Capital of the Future. And now! The citizen of the year of our Lord 1881 sees the dawn of that perfect day of which the founders of the Capital so fondly and fruitlessly dreamed. The old provincial Southern cit
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CHAPTER VII.WHAT MADE NEW WASHINGTON.
CHAPTER VII.WHAT MADE NEW WASHINGTON.
Municipal Changes—Necessity of Reform—Committee of One Hundred Constituted—Mr. M. G. Emery Appointed Mayor—The “Organic Act” Passed—Contest for the Governorship of Columbia District—Mr. Henry D. Cooke Appointed—Board of Public Works Constituted—Great Improvements Made—Opposition—The Board and its Work—Sketch of Alexander R. Shepherd—His Efforts During the War—Patriotic Example. A sketch of the territorial government which now rules the District of Columbia, will account for new Washington and th
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CHAPTER VIII.BUILDING THE CAPITOL.
CHAPTER VIII.BUILDING THE CAPITOL.
George Washington’s Anxiety about it—His View of it Politically—Various Plans for the Building—Jefferson Writes to the Commissioners—His Letter to Mr. Carroll—“Poor Hallet” and His Plan—Wanton Destruction by the British, A. D. 1814—Foundation of the Main Building Laid—The Site Chosen by Washington Himself—Imposing Ceremonies at the Foundation—Dedicatory Inscription on the Silver Plate—Interesting Festivities—The Birth of a Nation’s Capital—Extension of the Building—Daniel Webster’s Inscription—H
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CHAPTER IX.INSIDE THE CAPITOL.
CHAPTER IX.INSIDE THE CAPITOL.
A Visit to the Capitol—The Lower Hall—Its Cool Tranquillity—Artistic Treasures—The President’s and Vice-President’s Rooms—The Marble Room—The Senate Chamber—“Men I have Known”—Hamlin—Foote—Foster—Wade—Colfax—Wilson—The Rotunda—Great Historical Paintings—The Old Hall of Representatives—The New Hall—The Speaker’s Room—Native Art—“The Star of Empire”—A National Picture. Come with me. This is your Capitol. It is like passing from one world into another, to leave behind the bright June day for the co
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CHAPTER X.OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL.
CHAPTER X.OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL.
The Famous Bronze Doors—The Capitol Grounds—Statue of Washington Criticised—Peculiar Position for “the Father of his Country”—Horace Greenough’s Defence of the Statue—Picturesque Scenery Around the Capitol—The City and Suburbs—The Public Reservation—The Smithsonian Institution—The Potomac and the Hights of Arlington. We come back to the grand vestibule of the southern wing, to the flowering magnolias, tobacco and corn-leaves of the marble capitals, and pass out to the great portico. This is one
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CHAPTER XI.ART TREASURES OF THE CAPITOL.
CHAPTER XI.ART TREASURES OF THE CAPITOL.
Arrival of a Solitary Lady—“The Pantheon of America”—Il Penserosa—Milton’s Ideal—Dirty Condition of the House of Representatives—The Goddess of Melancholy—Vinnie Ream’s Statue of Lincoln—Its Grand Defects—Necessary Qualifications for a Sculptor—The Bust of Lincoln by Mrs. Ames—General Greene and Roger Williams—Barbarous Garments of Modern Times—Statues of Jonathan Trumbull and Roger Sherman—Bust of Kosciusko Kosciusko —Pulling His Nose—Alexander Hamilton—Fate of Senator Burr—Statue of Baker—His
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CHAPTER XII.WOMEN WITH CLAIMS.
CHAPTER XII.WOMEN WITH CLAIMS.
The Senate Reception Room—The People Who Haunt It—Republican “Ladies in Waiting”—“Women with Claims”—Their Heroic Persistency—A Widow and Children in Distress—Claim Agents—The Committee of Claims—A Kind-hearted Senator’s Troubles—Buttonholing a Senator—A Lady of Energy—Resolved to Win—An “Office Brokeress”—A Dragon of a Woman—A Lady who is Feared if not Respected—Her Unfortunate Victims—Carrying “Her Measure”—The Beautiful Petitioner—The Cloudy Side of her Character—Her Subtle Dealings—Her Succe
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CHAPTER XIII.THE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY.
CHAPTER XIII.THE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY.
Inside the Library—The Librarian—Sketch of Mr. Spofford—How Congressional Speeches are Manufactured—“Spofford” in Congress—The Library Building—Diagram—Dimensions of the Hall—The Iron Book Cases—The Law Library—Five Miles of Book Shelves—Silent Study—“Abstracting” Books—Amusing Adventure—A Senator in a Quandary—Making Love under Difficulties—Library Regulations—Privileged Persons—Novels and their Readers—Books of Reference—Cataloguing the Library—The New Classification—Compared with the British
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CHAPTER XIV.A VISIT TO THE NEW LAW LIBRARY.
CHAPTER XIV.A VISIT TO THE NEW LAW LIBRARY.
How a Library was Offered to Congress—Mr. King’s Proposal—An Eye to Theology—The Smithsonian Library Transferred—The Good Deeds of Peter Force—National Documents—“American Archives”—Congress Makes a Wise Purchase—Eliot’s Indian Bible—Literary Treasures—The Lawyers Want a Library for Themselves—Their “Little Bill” Fails to Pass—They are Finally Successful—The Finest Law Library in the World—First Edition of Blackstone—Report of the Trial of Cagliostro, Rohan and La Motte—Marie Antoinette’s Diamon
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CHAPTER XV. THE HEAVEN OF LEGAL AMBITION—THE SUPREME COURT ROOM.
CHAPTER XV. THE HEAVEN OF LEGAL AMBITION—THE SUPREME COURT ROOM.
Memories of Clay, Webster and Calhoun—Legal Giants of the Past—Stately Serenity of the Modern Court—“Wise Judgment and Wine-Dinners”—The Supreme Court in Session—Soporific Influences—A Glimpse of the Veritable “Bench”—The Ladies’ Gallery—The Chief Justices of the Past—Taney Left Out in the Cold—His Apotheosis—Chief Justice Chase—Black Robed Dignitaries—An Undignified Procession—The “Crier” in Court—Antique Proclamation—The Consultation Room—Every Man in his Proper Place—Gowns of Office—Reminisce
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CHAPTER XVI. THE “MECCA OF THE AMERICAN.”
CHAPTER XVI. THE “MECCA OF THE AMERICAN.”
The Caaba of Liberty—The Centre of a Nation’s Hopes—Stirring Reminiscences of the Capitol—History Written in Stone—Patriotic Expression of Charles Sumner—Ruskin’s Views of Ornament—Building “for all Time”—“This our Fathers Did for Us”—The Parthenon and the Capitol Compared—The Interest of Humanity—A Secret Charm for a Thoughtful Mind—An Idea of Equality—The Destiny of the Stars and Stripes—A Mother’s Ambition—Recollections of the War—The Dying Soldier—“The Republic will not Perish.” The Capitol
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CHAPTER XVII.THE CAPITOL—MORNING SIGHTS AND SCENES.
CHAPTER XVII.THE CAPITOL—MORNING SIGHTS AND SCENES.
The Capitol in Spring—A Magic Change—“More Beautiful than Ancient Rome”—Arrival of Visitors—A New Race—“Billing and Cooing”—Lovers at the Capitol—A Dream of Perpetual Spring—Spending the Honeymoon in Washington—Charmingly “Vernal” People—New Edition of David Copperfield and Dora—“Very Young”—Divided Affections: the New Bride—Jonathan and Jane—Memories of a Wedding Dress—An Interview With a Bride—“Two Happy Idiots”—A Walk in the City—Utilitarian Projects—President Grant—The Foreign Ambassadors—“B
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CHAPTER XVIII.FAIR WASHINGTON—A RAMBLE IN EARLY SPRING.
CHAPTER XVIII.FAIR WASHINGTON—A RAMBLE IN EARLY SPRING.
Washington Weather—Sky Scenery—Professor Tyndall Expresses an Opinion—A Picture of Beauty—“A City of Enchantment”—“My Own Washington”—Prejudiced Views—Birds of Rock Creek—The Parsonage—A Scene of Tranquil Beauty—A Washington May—Charms of the Season—Mowers at Work—The Public Parks—Frolics of the Little Ones—Strawberry Festivals—“Flower Gathering.” The climate of Washington has a villainous reputation, and at certain times and seasons it deserves it Yet it tantalizes us with days which prelude Pa
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CHAPTER XIX.INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE—SHADOWS OF THE PAST.
CHAPTER XIX.INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE—SHADOWS OF THE PAST.
Haunted Houses—Shadows of the Past—Touching Memories—The Little Angels Born There—Building of the Presidential Mansion—A State of Perpetual Dampness—Dingy Aspect of a Monarch’s Palace—Outside the White House—A Peep Inside the Mansion—The Emperor of Japan Supersedes the Punch-Bowl—The Unfinished “Banqueting Hall”—Glories of a Levée —Magnificent Hospitalities—A Comfortable Dining-Room—Interesting Labors of Martha Patterson—A Lady of Taste—An American “Baronial Hall”—The Furniture of Another Genera
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CHAPTER XX.LADIES OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
CHAPTER XX.LADIES OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
A Morning Dream—Wives and Daughters of the Presidents—Memories of Martha Washington—An Average Matron of the 18th Century—Educational Disadvantages—Comparisons—A Well-Regulated Lady—A Useful Wife—Warm Words of Abigail Adams—Advantages of Having a Distinguished Husband—A Modern Lucretia—Washington’s Inauguration Suit—An Awkward Position for a Lady—A Primitive Levée -Festivities in Franklin Square!—Decorous Ideas of the Father of His Country—The Government on Its Travels—Transporting the Household
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CHAPTER XXI.WIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS—LIFE AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
CHAPTER XXI.WIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS—LIFE AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
A Social Queen—“The Most Popular Person in the United States”—“Dolly Madison’s” Reign—The Slow Days of Old—A Young Lady Rides Five Hundred Miles on Horseback—Travelling Under Difficulties—Political Pugnacity—A Peaceful Policy—Formality versus Hospitality—Big Dishes Laughed at—A Foreign Minister Criticises—Advantages of a Good Memory—Funny Adventure of a Rustic Youth—A Strange Pocketful—Putting Him at his Ease—Doleful Visage of a New President—Getting Rid of a Burden—A Brave Lady—She Writes to He
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CHAPTER XXII.NOTED WOMEN OF WASHINGTON—A CHAPTER OF GOSSIP.
CHAPTER XXII.NOTED WOMEN OF WASHINGTON—A CHAPTER OF GOSSIP.
Quaint Habiliments—Portrait of a President’s Wife—A Travelling Lady—Life in Russia—A Model American Minister—A Long and Lonely Journey—When Napoleon Returned from Elba—The Court of St. James—“Mrs. Adams’ Ball”—Mr. John Agg’s Agg’s Little “Poem”—Verses which Our Fathers Endured—Peculiar Waists—Costume of an Ancient Belle —Fearful and Wonderful Attire of a Beau —“A Suit of Steel”—“Smiling for the Presidency”—Attending Two Balls the Same Evening—An Ascendant Star—A Man who Hid his Feelings—The Cand
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CHAPTER XXIII. SCENES AT THE WHITE HOUSE—MEN AND WOMEN OF NOTE.
CHAPTER XXIII. SCENES AT THE WHITE HOUSE—MEN AND WOMEN OF NOTE.
Widows “at par”—Four Sonless Presidents—Supported by Flattery—A Delicate Constitution—Living to a Respectable Age—Teaching Her Grandsons How to Fight—Inheriting Religion—“Another Sensitive, Saintly Soul”—A Pathetic Reminiscence—A Perfect Gentlewoman—A Stately Black-eyed Matron—A Lady of the Old School—Obeying St. Paul—A Woman Who “Kept Silence”—“Sarah Knows Where It Is”—Commanding “Superlative Respect”—An English Lady “Impressed”—Three Queens in the Background—A Very Handsome Woman—Retiring from
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CHAPTER XXIV.THE WHITE HOUSE DURING THE WAR.
CHAPTER XXIV.THE WHITE HOUSE DURING THE WAR.
Under a Cloud—“A Woman Among a Thousand”—Revival of By-gone Days—Another Lady of the White House—A “Golden Blonde”—Instinct Alike with Power and Grace—A Fun-Loving Romp—Harriet with her Wheelbarrow of Wood—A Deed of Kindness—The Wheel Turns Round—An Impression Made on Queen Victoria—In Paris and on the Continent—An American Lady at Oxford—Gay Doings at the Capital—Rival Claims for a Lady’s Hand—Reigning at the White House—Doing Double Duty—Visit of the Prince of Wales—Marriage of Harriet Lane—As
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CHAPTER XXV.THE WHITE HOUSE NOW.
CHAPTER XXV.THE WHITE HOUSE NOW.
After the War—The Home of President Johnson—Shut Up in the Mountains—Two Years of Exile—A Contrast—Suffering for their Country—Secretly Burying the Dead—A Wife of Seventeen Years—Midnight Studies—Broken Down—A Party of Grandchildren—“My Dears, I am an Invalid”—“God’s Best Gift to Man”—The Woman Who Taught the President—A “Lady of Benign Countenance”—Doing the Honors at the White House—“We are Plain People”—The East Room Filled with Vermin—Traces of the Soldiers—A State of Dirt and Ruin—Mrs. Patt
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CHAPTER XXVI.RECEPTION DAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE—GLIMPSES OF LIFE.
CHAPTER XXVI.RECEPTION DAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE—GLIMPSES OF LIFE.
Mrs. Grant at Home—A Reception—Feeling Good-Natured—Looking After One’s Friends—Ready to Forgive—Mr. Grant’s “Likeable Side”—The East Room on a Reception Day—“The Nation’s Parlor”—Rags and Tatters Departed—The Work of Relic-hunters—Internal Arrangements—Eight Presidents, All In a Row—“As Large as Life”—Shadows of the Departed—A Present from the Sultan of Turkey—A List of Finery—A Scene Not Easily Forgotten—How They Wept for Their Martyr—Tales which a Room Might Tell—David, Jonathan and Sir Phili
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CHAPTER XXVII.INAUGURATION DAY AT WASHINGTON.
CHAPTER XXVII.INAUGURATION DAY AT WASHINGTON.
My Own Private Opinion—Sublime Humanity in the Lump—The Climate Disagrees—The Little “Sons of War” Feeling Bad—“Think of the Babies”—Brutal Mothers—The “Boys in Blue”—“Broke their Backs and Skinned their Noses”—Our Heroes—Later Festivities—“Devoted to Art”—Scene in “the Avenue”—A Lively Time—The Mighty Drum-Major—West Point Warriors Criticised—Faultlessly Ridiculous—Pitilessly Dressed—“Taken for a Nigger”—Magnificent Display—The Oldest Regiment in the States—The President—The Senators—Invitation
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CHAPTER XXVIII.A PEEP AT AN INAUGURATION BALL.
CHAPTER XXVIII.A PEEP AT AN INAUGURATION BALL.
How Sixty Thousand Dollars were Spent—Something wrong: “’Twas ever Thus”—Recollection of another Festival—How “the dust” was Raised—A Fine Opportunity for a Few Naughty Words—Lost Jewels—The Colored Folks in a Fix—Overpowered by Numbers—Six Thousand People Clamoring for their Clothes!—“Promiscuous” Property—A Magnificent “Grab”—Weeping on Window-ledges—Left Desolate—Walking under Difficulties—The Exploits of Two Old Gentlemen—Horace Greeley Loses his Old White Hat—He says Naughty Words of Washin
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CHAPTER XXIX.THE UNITED STATES TREASURY—ITS HISTORY.
CHAPTER XXIX.THE UNITED STATES TREASURY—ITS HISTORY.
The Responsibilities and Duties of the Secretary of the Treasury—“The Most Remarkable Man of His Time”—Three Extraordinary Men—Hamilton Makes an Honest Proposal—How to Pay the National Debt—The New Secretary at Work—Laying the Foundation of Financial Operations—The Mint at Philadelphia—A Little Personal Abuse—The Secretary Borrows Twenty Dollars—Modern Greediness—The Genius Becomes a Lawyer—Burning of Records—Hunting for Blunders and Frauds—The Treasury Building—Treasury Notes go off Nicely—Mr.
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CHAPTER XXX.INSIDE THE TREASURY—THE HISTORY OF A DOLLAR.
CHAPTER XXX.INSIDE THE TREASURY—THE HISTORY OF A DOLLAR.
A Washington Tradition—“Old Hickory” Erects his Cane—“Put the Building Right Here”—Treasury Corner-Stone Laid—Robert Mills’ Discolored Colonnade—Where “Privileged Mortals” Work—A Very Costly Building—Rapid Extension of Business—Splendid Situation of the Building—The Workers Within—The Government Takes a Holiday—The Business of Three Thousand People—The Mysteries of the Treasury—Inside the Rooms—Mary Harris’s Revenge—The “Drones” in the Hive—Making Love in Office Hours—Flirtations in Public—A Vas
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CHAPTER XXXI. THE WORKERS IN THE TREASURY—HOW THE MONEY IS MADE.
CHAPTER XXXI. THE WORKERS IN THE TREASURY—HOW THE MONEY IS MADE.
The Dollar with the Counters—In the Tubs—Getting a Wetting—Servants of Necessity—That Scorching Roof—Brown Paper Bonnets—Earning their Daily Dollar—The Work Progressing—In the Press—A State of Dampness—Squaring Accounts—Calling for a Thousand Sheets—Accounting for Them—Superintending the Work—The Face-printing Division—The United States “Sealer”—One Hundred and Thirty-five Presses at Work—Printing Cigar-Stamps and Gold-Notes of Many Colors—Presses “Flying”—Quick with Dangerous Motion—With a Begr
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CHAPTER XXXII.THE LAST DAYS OF A DOLLAR.
CHAPTER XXXII.THE LAST DAYS OF A DOLLAR.
The Division of Issues—Ready for the World—Starting Right—Forty Busy Maids and Matrons—Counting Out the Money—Human Machines—A Lady Counting for a Dozen Years—Fifty Thousand Notes in a Day—Counting Four Thousand Notes in Twenty Minutes—Travelling on Behalf of Uncle Sam—In Need of a Looking-Over—“Detailed” for the Work—What has Passed Through Some Fingers—Big Figures—Packing Away the Dollars—The Cash Division—The Marble Cash-Room—The Great Iron Vault—Where Uncle Sam Keeps His Money—Some Nice Litt
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CHAPTER XXXIII. THE GREAT CASH-ROOM—THE WATCH-DOG OF THE TREASURY.
CHAPTER XXXIII. THE GREAT CASH-ROOM—THE WATCH-DOG OF THE TREASURY.
No Need for Dirty Money—The Flowers of July—Money Affairs—The Great Cash-Room—Its Marble Glories—A Glance Inside—The Beautiful Walls—A Good Deal of Very Bad Taste—Only Made of Plaster—The Clerks of the Cash-Room—New Money for Old—The National Treasury—“The Watch-Dog” of the Treasury—The Custodian of the Cash—A Broken-nosed Pitcher—Ink for the Autographs—His Ancient Chair—“The General”—“Crooked, Crotchety and Great-hearted”—“Principles” and Pantaloons—Below the Surface—An Unpaintable Face—An Obje
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CHAPTER XXXIV. WOMAN’S WORK IN THE DEPARTMENTS—WHAT THEY DO AND HOW THEY DO IT.
CHAPTER XXXIV. WOMAN’S WORK IN THE DEPARTMENTS—WHAT THEY DO AND HOW THEY DO IT.
Women Experts in the Treasury—General Spinner’s Opinion—A Woman’s Logic—The Gifts of Women—Their Superiority to Men—Money Burnt in the Chicago Fire—Cases of Valuable Rubbish—Identifying Burnt Greenbacks—The Treasure Saved—The Ashes of the Boston Fire—From the Bottom of the Mississippi—Mrs. Patterson Saves a “Pile” of Money—Money in the Toes of Stockings—In the Stomachs of Men and Beasts—From the Bodies of the Murdered and Drowned—Not Fairly Paid—One Hundred and Eighty Women at Work—“The Broom Br
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CHAPTER XXXV. WOMEN’S WORK IN THE TREASURY—HOW APPOINTMENTS ARE MADE.
CHAPTER XXXV. WOMEN’S WORK IN THE TREASURY—HOW APPOINTMENTS ARE MADE.
The Scales of Justitia—Where They Hang and Where They Do Not Hang—The Difference Between Men and Women—Reform a “Sham!”—The First Women-Clerks—A Shameful and Disgraceful Fraud—What Two Women Did—Cutting Down the Salaries of Women—The First Woman-Clerk in the Treasury—Taking Her Husband’s Place—Working “ in Her Brother’s Name ”—A Matter of Expediency—The Feminine Tea-Pot—The Secretary Growls at the Tea-Pots—The Hegira of the Tea-Pots—Thackeray’s Opinion of Nature’s Intentions—Blind on One Side—In
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CHAPTER XXXVI. GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL LIFE—HOW PLACE AND POWER ARE WON.
CHAPTER XXXVI. GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL LIFE—HOW PLACE AND POWER ARE WON.
Government Official Life—Its Effects on Human Nature—Keeping his Eye Open—The Sweet and Winning Ways of Mr. Parasite—In Office—The Fault of “the People” and “my Friends”—Shrinking from Responsibilities—Pulling the Wool over the Eyes of the Innocent—Writing Letters in a Big Way—The “Dark Ways” of Wicked Mr. P——— —A Suspicious Yearning for Private Life—The Sweets of Office—A Little Change of Opinion—A Man Afflicted with Too Many Friends—Forgetting Things that Were—John Jones is not Encouraged—Post
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CHAPTER XXXVII.THE DEAD LETTER OFFICE—ITS MARVELS AND MYSTERIES.
CHAPTER XXXVII.THE DEAD LETTER OFFICE—ITS MARVELS AND MYSTERIES.
The Post-Office—Its Architecture—The Monolithic Corinthian Columns—The Postal Service in Early Times—The Act of Queen Anne’s Reign—“Her Majesty’s Colonies”—After the Revolution—The First Postmaster-General—The Present Chief—A Cabinet Minister—The Subordinate Officers—Their Positions and Duties—The Ocean Mail Postal Service—The Contract Office—The Finance Office—The Inspection Office—Complaints and Misdoings—Benjamin Franklin’s Appointment—He Goes into Debt—One Hundred and Twenty Years Ago—Frankl
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CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR—UNCLE SAM’S DOMESTIC ARRANGEMENTS.
CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR—UNCLE SAM’S DOMESTIC ARRANGEMENTS.
Inadequate Accommodation in Heaven—Defects of our Great Public Buildings—The Public Archives—Valuable Documents in Jeopardy—Talk of Moving the Capital—A Dissension of a Hundred Years—Concerning Certain Idiots—A Day in the Patent Office—The Inventive Genius of the Country—Aggressions of the Home Department—A Comprehensive Act of Congress—Seven Divisions of the Department of the Interior—The Disbursing Division—Division of Indian Affairs—Lands and Railroads—Pensions and Patents—Public Documents—Di
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CHAPTER XXXIX. THE PENSION BUREAU—HOW GOVERNMENT PAYS ITS SERVANTS.
CHAPTER XXXIX. THE PENSION BUREAU—HOW GOVERNMENT PAYS ITS SERVANTS.
The Generosity of Congress to Itself—How Four Hundred Acts of Congress were Passed—How Pensions have Increased and Multiplied—Sneering at Red-Tape—The Division of Labor—Scrutinizing Petitions—A Heavy Paper Jacket—The Judicial Division—Invalids, Widows, and Minors—The Examiner of Pensions—The Difficulties of his Position—Unsatisfactory Work—How Claims are Entertained and Tested—What is Recorded in the Thirty Enormous Volumes—How many Genuine Cases are Refused—One of the Inconveniences of Ignoranc
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CHAPTER XL. TREASURES AND CURIOSITIES OF THE PATENT OFFICE—THE MODEL ROOM—ITS RELICS AND INVENTIONS.
CHAPTER XL. TREASURES AND CURIOSITIES OF THE PATENT OFFICE—THE MODEL ROOM—ITS RELICS AND INVENTIONS.
The Patent Office Building—Grace and Beauty of its Architecture—Four “Sublime” Porticoes—A Pretty Large Passage—The Model Room—“The Exhibition of the Nation”—A Room two hundred and seventy Feet in Length—The Models—Recording our Name—Wonders and Treasures of the Room—Benjamin Franklin’s Press—Model Fire-Escapes—Wonderful Fire-Extinguishers—The Efforts of Genius—Sheep-Stalls, Rat-Traps, and Gutta Percha—An Ancient Mariner’s Compass—Captain Cook’s Razor—The Atlantic Cable—Original Treaties—The Sig
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CHAPTER XLI. THE BUREAU OF PATENTS—CRAZY INVENTORS AND WONDERFUL INVENTIONS.
CHAPTER XLI. THE BUREAU OF PATENTS—CRAZY INVENTORS AND WONDERFUL INVENTIONS.
Patent-Rights in Steamboats—Origin of Copyright and Patent-Laws—Congress Settles the Matter—A Board of “Disinterested, Competent” Persons—Destruction of the Patent-Office by Fire—The New Building—The Corps of Examiners—The Commissioner’s Speech—Twenty Thousand Applications per annum —Fourteen Thousand Patents Granted in One Year—Wonderful Expansion of Inventive Genius—“The Universal Yankee”—Second-hand Inventions—Where the Inventions Come from—Taking Out a Patent for the Lord’s Prayer—A Patent f
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CHAPTER XLII. THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
CHAPTER XLII. THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The Secretary-of-War—His Duties—The Department of the Navy—Efficiency of the Army—The Custody of the Flags—Patriotic Trophies—The War of the Rebellion—Captured Flags—An Ugly Flag and a Strange Motto—“Crown for the Brave”— Sic Semper Tyrannis —The Stars and Stripes—The Black Flag—No Quarter—The Military Establishment—The Adjutant-General’s Office—The Quartermaster-General’s Office—The Commissary-General’s Office—The Paymaster-General—The Surveyor-General—The Engineer’s Office—The Washington Aqued
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CHAPTER XLIII. THE ARMY MEDICAL MUSEUM—ITS CURIOSITIES AND WONDERS.
CHAPTER XLIII. THE ARMY MEDICAL MUSEUM—ITS CURIOSITIES AND WONDERS.
Ford’s Theatre—Its Interesting Memories—The Last Festivities—Assassination of President Lincoln—Two Years Later—Effects of “War, Disease, and Human Skill”—Collection of Pathological Specimens—The Army Medical Museum Opened—Purchase of Ford’s Theatre—Its Present Aspect—Ghastly Specimens—Medical and Surgical Histories of the War—The Library—A Book Four Centuries Old—Rare Old Volumes—The Most Interesting of the National Institutions—Various Opinions—Effects on Visitors—An Extraordinary Withered Arm
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CHAPTER XLIV. “OLD PROBABILITIES’” WORKSHOP—HOW WEATHER CALCULATIONS ARE MADE.
CHAPTER XLIV. “OLD PROBABILITIES’” WORKSHOP—HOW WEATHER CALCULATIONS ARE MADE.
“Old Probabilities”—An Interesting Subject—The Weather Bureau—The Experience of Fifty Centuries—Value of Scientific Knowledge—Meteorological Observations—Brigadier-General Albert J. Meyer—His Life and Career—He Introduces System and Order—Foreseeing the Approach of Storms—The Fate of the Metis —Quicker than the Storm—The First Warning by Telegraph—Exchanging Reports with Canada—The “Observing Stations”—Protecting the River Commerce—The Signal Corps—The Examinations—The Sergeant’s Duties—The Sign
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CHAPTER XLV. THE NAVY DEPARTMENT—THE UNITED STATES OBSERVATORY—THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
CHAPTER XLV. THE NAVY DEPARTMENT—THE UNITED STATES OBSERVATORY—THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
Primitive Arrangements—The Navy in Early Days—The Department of the Navy Established—The Secretary’s Office—The Navy-Yards and Docks—The Bureau of Construction—The Bureau of Provisions and Clothing—Equipment of Vessels—Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography—The Naval Observatory—The Bureau of Medicine—Interesting Statistics—The Navy Seventy Years Ago—The “Day of Small Things”—Instructions of the Great Napoleon—Keeping Pace with England—The Glories of Foote, Ferry, Porter and Farragut—Scene from the
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CHAPTER XLVI. INSIDE THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE—THE STORY OF A “PUB. DOC.”—WOMEN WORKERS.
CHAPTER XLVI. INSIDE THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE—THE STORY OF A “PUB. DOC.”—WOMEN WORKERS.
Another Government Hive—The Largest Printing Establishment in the World—Judge Douglass’s Villa—The Celebrated “Pub. Doc.”—“Making Many Books”—The Convenience of a “Frank”—The Omnipresent “Doc.”—A Weariness to the Flesh—An Average “Doc.”—A Personal Experience—What the Nation’s Printing Costs—“Not Worth the Paper”—A Melancholy Fact—Two Sides of the Question—Invaluable “Pub. Docs.”—Printing a Million Money-Orders—The Stereotype Foundry—A Few Figures—The Government Printing-Office—A Model Office—Aid
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CHAPTER XLVII. INSIDE THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION—ITS TREASURES OF ART AND SCIENCE—THE LARGEST COLLECTION IN THE WORLD.
CHAPTER XLVII. INSIDE THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION—ITS TREASURES OF ART AND SCIENCE—THE LARGEST COLLECTION IN THE WORLD.
A Singular Bequest—Strange Story of James Smithson—A Good Use of Money—Seeking the Diffusion of Knowledge—Catching a Tear from a Lady’s Cheek—Analysis of the Same Tear—The Attainments of a Philosopher—A brief Tract on Coffee-Making—James Smithson’s Will—A Genealogical Declaration—Announcing a Bequest to Congress—Discussions and Reports—Praiseworthy Efforts of Robert Dale Owen—The Bequest Accepted—The Board of Regents—The Plan of the Institution—Its Intent and Object—Changes Made by the Regents—
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CHAPTER XLVIII.OLD HOMES AND HAUNTS OF WASHINGTON—MEMORIES OF OTHER DAYS.
CHAPTER XLVIII.OLD HOMES AND HAUNTS OF WASHINGTON—MEMORIES OF OTHER DAYS.
The Oldest Home in Washington—The Cottage of David Burns—David Burns’s Daughter—Singing a Lady’s Praises—The Attractions of a Cottage—“Tom Moore” the Poet Pays Homage to Fair Marcia—The Favored Suitor—How the Lady was Wooed and Won—Mother and Daughter—The Offering to God—The City Orphan Asylum—A Costly Mausoleum—The Assassination Conspiracy—Persecuting the Innocent—A Suggestion for the Board of Works—The Octagon House—A Comfortable Income—The Pleasures of Property—A Haunted House—Apple-Stealing—
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CHAPTER XLIX. MOUNT VERNON—MEMORIAL DAY—ARLINGTON.
CHAPTER XLIX. MOUNT VERNON—MEMORIAL DAY—ARLINGTON.
The Tomb of Washington—The Pilgrims Who Visit it—Where George and Martha Washington Rest—The American Mecca—The Thought of Other Graves—The Defenders of the Republic—Eating Boiled Eggs—A Butterfly Visit—The Old Mansion-House—Patriarchal Dogs—Remembering a Feast—The Room in which Washington Died—The Great Key of the Bastile—The Gift of Lafayette—The Harpsichord of Eleanor Custis—The Belle of Mount Vernon—Moralizing—Inside the Mansion—Uncle Tom’s Bouquets —Beautiful Scenery—Memorial Day at Arlingt
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CHAPTER L. THE LIFE AND CAREER OF JAMES A. GARFIELD, THE MARTYRED PRESIDENT.
CHAPTER L. THE LIFE AND CAREER OF JAMES A. GARFIELD, THE MARTYRED PRESIDENT.
The National Republican Convention of 1880—Nomination of James A. Garfield as President Hayes’s Successor—The History of His Life—His Humble Home—Death of His Father—Hardships and Privations of Pioneer Life—Struggles of His Mother to Support the Family—Splitting Fence Rails with her own Hands—The Future President’s Early School Days—Working as a Carpenter—Chopping Wood for a Living—Leaving Home—Life as a Canal Boat Boy—Narrow Escapes—Beginning His Education in Earnest—School Life at Chester—How
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CHAPTER LI. THE HISTORY OF THE ASSASSINATION AND DEATH OF PRESIDENT JAMES A. GARFIELD—THE GREAT TRAGEDY OF THE AGE.
CHAPTER LI. THE HISTORY OF THE ASSASSINATION AND DEATH OF PRESIDENT JAMES A. GARFIELD—THE GREAT TRAGEDY OF THE AGE.
Inauguration of President Garfield—Kissing His Venerable Mother—Chief Magistrate of Fifty Million People—Illness of Mrs. President Garfield—Tender Solicitude of the President for the Welfare of His Wife—She goes to Long Branch—The President’s Plans to Meet Her—His Arrival at the Depot of the Baltimore and Potomac R. R. at Washington—His Buoyant Spirits—Joyous Anticipation of Meeting His Wife—The Assassin Lying in Wait—The Fatal Shot—Tremendous Excitement—The Wounded President—His Assassin, Charl
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