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Transcriber’s Note:

Незначительные ошибки, допущенные типографией, были исправлены. Подробности относительно устранения любых текстовых проблем, возникших при подготовке данного текста, см. в примечании корректора в конце книги.

Все исправления отмечены подчеркиванием. При наведении курсора на исправленный фрагмент появится всплывающее окно с исходным текстом.

Все исправления оформлены в виде гиперссылок, которые перенаправляют читателя к соответствующей записи в таблице исправлений в примечании в конце текста.

Гравюра Дж. Э. Перина, Нью-Йорк.

Мэри Клеммер Эймс. A.D. WORTHINGTON & Co. Хартфорд.

ДЕСЯТЬ ЛЕТ В ВАШИНГТОНЕ:

OR,

INSIDE LIFE AND SCENES

IN

OUR NATIONAL CAPITAL

As a Woman Sees Them.

EMBRACING

A FULL ACCOUNT OF THE MANY MARVELS AND INTERESTING

SIGHTS OF WASHINGTON; OF THE DAILY LIFE AT THE WHITE HOUSE, BOTH PAST

AND PRESENT; OF THE WONDERS AND INSIDE WORKINGS OF ALL OUR

GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS; AND DESCRIPTIONS AND REVELATIONS

OF EVERY PHASE OF POLITICAL, PUBLIC, AND

SOCIAL LIFE AT THE NATION’S CAPITAL.

By MARY CLEMMER,

Author of “Memorials of Alice and Phœbe Cary,” “A Woman’s Letters from Washington,” etc., etc.

TO WHICH IS ADDED A FULL ACCOUNT OF

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PRESIDENT JAMES A. GARFIELD,

BY J. L. SHIPLEY, A. M.

FULLY ILLUSTRATED

With a Portrait of the Author on Steel, and Forty-Eight fine Engravings on Wood.

[SOLD BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY.]

HARTFORD, CONN.:

THE HARTFORD PUBLISHING COMPANY.

EXCELSIOR PUBLISHING CO., CHICAGO, ILL.

OHIO PUBLISHING CO., CLEVELAND, OHIO.

1882.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881, by

THE HARTFORD PUBLISHING CO.,

In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.

1. Fine Steel-Plate Portrait of the Author, [Frontispiece.]

2. Columbia Slave Pen, To face page 48

3. The Freedman’s Savings Bank, 48

4. Smithsonian Institute, 48

5. Major L’Enfant’s Resting Place, 48

6. The National Capitol—Washington, 72

It covers more than three and a half acres. Over thirteen million dollars have thus far been expended in its erection.

7. The Marble Room—Inside the Capitol—Washington, 95

8. The Senate Chamber—Inside the Capitol—Washington, 98

9. The Hall of Representatives—Inside the Capitol—Washington, 100

10. The Ladies’ Reception Room—Inside the Capitol—Washington, 120

11. The Central Room, Congressional Library—Inside the Capitol—Washington, 130

12. The Red Room—Inside the White House—Washington, 169

13. The Conservatory—Inside the White House—Washington, 174

14. The Cabinet Room—Inside the White House—Washington, 238

15. The Blue Room—Inside the White House—Washington, 246

16. The Great East Room—Inside the White House, Washington, 258

17. The Green Room—Inside the White House—Washington, 258

18. United States Treasury—Washington, 284

19. Making Money—The Room in the Treasury Building where the Greenbacks are Printed, 319

20. Among the Greenbacks—the Cutting and Separating Room in the Treasury Building, 322

21. Burnt to Ashes—The End of Uncle Sam’s Greenbacks, 337

The above is a graphic sketch of the destruction of the worn and defaced currency constantly being redeemed by the Government, which is here burned every day at 12 o’clock. On one occasion considerably more than one hundred million dollars’ worth of bonds and greenbacks were destroyed in this furnace, and the burning of from fifty to seventy-five millions at a time is a matter of ordinary occurrence.

22. The New Marble Cash-Room, United States Treasury, 340

The most costly and magnificent room of its kind in the world.

23. Counting Worn and Defaced Greenbacks and Detecting Counterfeits, 354

This room is in the Redemption Bureau, Treasury-Building. Over One Hundred Thousand Dollars’ worth of Fractional Currency alone is here daily received for redemption: out of which about Three Hundred and Fifty Dollars’ worth of counterfeit money is detected, stamped, and returned.

24. The Lobby of the Senate—Inside the Capitol—Washington, 382

25. Dead-Letter Office, U. S. General Post-Office—Washington, 398

26. The Model-Room—Patent Office—Washington, 438

This room contains the fruits of the inventive genius of the whole nation. More than 160,000 models are here deposited.

27. Blood-Stained Confederate Battle-Flags, Captured during the War, 462

Sketched by permission of the Government from the large collection in possession of the War Department, at Washington.

1. Black Flag. 4. State and Regiment unknown. [Captured at the Battle of Gettysburg, by the 60th Regiment of New York Volunteers.]

2. Alabama Flag.

3. Palmetto Flag. 5. State Colors of North Carolina.

28. The New Building now being constructed for Departments of State, Army, and Navy—Washington, 466

29. The Main Hall of the Army Medical Museum—Washington, 476

This Museum occupies the scene of the assassination of President Lincoln, in Ford’s Theatre, which after that date became the property of the Government. It contains a collection of upwards of twenty thousand rare, curious and interesting objects, surpassing any similar collection in the world. It is visited annually by upwards of twenty-five thousand persons.

30. Curiosities from the Army Medical Museum, 482

31. A Withered Arm, 482

Skin, flesh, and bones complete. Amputated by a cannon-shot on the battle-field of Gettysburg. The shot carried the severed limb up into the high branches of a tree, where it was subsequently found, completely air and sun-dried.

32. Skull of a Man, 482

Who received an arrow-wound in the head, three gun-shot flesh-wounds, one in the arm, another in the breast, and a third in the leg. Seven days afterwards he was admitted to the hospital at Fort Concha, Texas, (where he subsequently died,) after having travelled above 160 miles on the barren plains, mostly on foot.

33. Apache Indian Arrow-Head, 482

Of soft hoop-iron. These arrows will perforate a bone without causing the slightest fracture, where a rifle or musket-ball will flatten; and will make a cut as clean as the finest surgical instrument.

34. Skull of Little Bear’s Squaw, 482

Perforated by seven bullet-holes. Killed in Wyoming Territory.

35. All that Remains Above Ground of John Wilkes Booth, 482

Being part of the Vertebræ penetrated [A] by the bullet of Boston Corbett. Strange freak of fate that the remains of Booth should find a resting-place under the same roof, and but a few feet from the spot where the fatal shot was fired.

36. Skull of a Soldier, 482

Wounded at Spottsylvania; showing the splitting of a rifle-ball—one portion being buried deep in the brain, and the other between the scalp and the skull. He lived twenty-three days.

37. A Sioux Pappoose, 482

Or Indian infant, found in a tree near Fort Laramie, where it had been buried (?) according to the custom of this tribe.

38. Skull of an Indian, 482

Showing nine distinct sabre wounds.

39. “Old Probabilities’” Instrument Room, 504

Storm and Weather Signal Service Bureau—Washington.

40. Tropical Fruits—Inside the Government Conservatory—Washington, 545

41. The Dome and Spiral Staircase; Rare Plants and Flowers—Inside the Government Conservatory—Washington, 546

42. Tropical Plants and Flowers—Inside the Government Conservatory—Washington, 548

43. The Van Ness Mansion, and Davy Burns’ Cottage, 550

44. The Capitol as seen from Pennsylvania Ave.—Washington, 550

45. View of the “City of the Slain”—Arlington, 582

The remains of over 8,000 soldiers, killed during the war, lie buried in this Cemetery—the name, regiment, and date of death of each is painted on a wooden head-board.

46. The Tomb of “The Unknown”—Arlington, 586

Erected by the Government to the memory of Unknown Soldiers killed during the War. It bears the following inscription:

“Beneath this stone

repose the bones of Two Thousand One Hundred and Eleven unknown

soldiers, gathered after the war,

from the fields of Bull Run and the route to the Rappahannock.

Their remains could not be identified; but their names and deaths are

recorded in the archives of their country, and its grateful citizens

honor them as of their noble army of Martyrs. May they rest in peace!

September, A. D. 1866.”

47. Portrait of James A. Garfield, the Martyr President, 588

Engraved from a recent photograph.

48. Portrait of Mrs. James A. Garfield, Wife of the Martyr President, 600

Engraved from a recent photograph.

СОДЕРЖАНИЕ.

CHAPTER I.

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. PAGE.

The Young Surveyor’s Dream—A Vision of the Future Capital—The United States Government on Wheels—Ambitious Offers—The Rival Rivers—Temporary Lodgings for Eleven Years—Old-Fashioned Simplicity—A Great Man’s Modesty—Conflicting Claims—A Convincing Fact—The Dreadful Quakers—A Condescending Party—A Slight Amendment—An Old Bill Brought to Light Again—The Future Strangely Foreshadowed—A Dinner of Some Consequence—How it was Done—Really a Stranger—A Nice Proposal—Sweetening the Pill—A “Revulsion of Stomach,” 21

CHAPTER II.

CROSS PURPOSES AND QUEER SPECULATIONS.

Born of Much Bother—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—Where is the Center 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—A Rather “Forcible Argument,” 31

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—A Magnificent Plan—A Record Which Can Never Perish—An Overpaid Quaker—Jefferson Expresses His Sentiments—A Sable Franklin—The Negro Engineer, Benjamin Bancker—A Chance for a Monument, 38

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, 51

CHAPTER V.

THE CAPITAL OF THE NATION.

Expectations Disappointed—Funds Low and People Few—Slow Progress of the City—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—Perils of the Way—A Long Plain of Mud—Egyptian Dreariness—The End of an Expensive Canal—The Water of Tiber Creek—Divided Allegiance of Old—The Stirring of a Nation’s Heart—A Personal Interest, 62

CHAPTER VI.

THE WASHINGTON OF THE PRESENT DAY.

Hopes Realized—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, 72

CHAPTER VII.

WHAT MADE NEW WASHINGTON.

Municipal Changes—Necessity of Reform—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, 76

CHAPTER VIII.

BUILDING THE CAPITOL.

Various Plans for the Building—Jefferson Writes to the Commissioners—“Poor HalletHallet” and His Plan—Wanton Destruction by the British, A. D. 1814—The Site Chosen by Washington Himself—Imposing Ceremonies at the Foundation—Dedicatory Inscription on the Silver Plate—Interesting Festivities—Extension of the Building—Daniel Webster’s Inscription—His Eloquent and Patriotic Speech—Mistaken Calculations—First Session of Representatives Sitting in “the Oven”—Old Capitol Prison—Immense Outlay upon the Wings and Dome—Compared with St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s—The Goddess of Liberty—The Congressional Library—What Ought to be Done, 83

CHAPTER IX.

INSIDE THE CAPITOL.

A Visit to the Capitol—The Lower Hall—Its Cool Tranquility—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, 93

CHAPTER X.

OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL.

The Famous Bronze Doors—The Capitol Grounds—Statue of Washington Criticised—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, 104

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 KosciuskoKosciusko—Pulling his Nose—Alexander Hamilton—Fate of Senator Burr—Statue of Baker—His Last Speech Prophetic—The Glory of a Patriotic Example—The Lesson which Posterity Learns—Horatio Stone, the Sculptor—Neglected Condition of the Capitol Statuary—Curious Clock—Grotesque Plaster Image of Liberty—Webster—Clay—Adams—The Pantheon at Rome—The French Pantheon, 109

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 Successes, 120

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—Compared with the British Museum—Curious Old Newspapers—Files of Domestic and Foreign Papers—One Hundred Defunct Journals—An Incident of the War of 1814—Putting it to the Vote—“Carried Unanimously”—35,000 Volumes Destroyed—Treasurers of Art Consumed—The New Library—The Next Appropriation, 127

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—Eliot’s Indian Bible—Literary Treasures—The Lawyers Want a Library for Themselves—The Finest Law Library in the World—First Edition of Blackstone—Report of the Trial of Cagliostro, Rohan and La Motte—Marie Antoinette’s Diamond Necklace—A Long Life-Service—An Architect Buried Beneath his own Design—“Underdone Pie-crust”—Reminiscences of Daniel Webster and the Girard Will, 138

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—His Apotheosis—Chief-Justice Chase—Black-Robed Dignitaries—An Undignified Procession—The “Crier” in Court—Antique Proclamation—The Consultation-Room—Gowns of Office—Reminiscence of Judge McLean—“Uncle Henry and his Charge”—Fifty Years in Office, 144

CHAPTER XVI.

THE “MECCA” OF THE AMERICAN.

The Center of a Nation’s Hopes—Stirring Reminiscences of the Capitol—History Written in Stone—Patriotic Expression of Charles Sumner—Building “for all Time”—“This our Fathers Did for Us”—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—The Dying Soldier, 148

CHAPTER XVII.

THE CAPITOL—MORNING SIGHTS AND SCENES.

The Capitol in Spring—A Magic Change—Arrival of Visitors—A New Race—“Billing and Cooing”—Lovers at the Capitol—A Dream of Perpetual Spring—Spending the Honeymoon in Washington—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—President Grant—The Foreign Ambassadors—“Beau” Hickman—An Erratic Genius—Walt Whitman the Poet—A “Loafer” of Renown—Poets at Home—Piatt—Burroughs—Harriet Prescott Spofford—Sumner and Chase—Tiresome Men—How to Love a Tree, 153

CHAPTER XVIII.

FAIR WASHINGTON—A RAMBLE IN EARLY SPRING.

Washington Weather—Sky Scenery—Professor Tyndall Expresses an Opinion—A Picture of Beauty—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,” 162

CHAPTER XIX.

INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE—SHADOWS OF THE PAST.

Haunted Houses—Shadows of the Past—Touching Memories—The Little Angels Born There—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—A Lady of Taste—An American “Baronial Hall”—The Furniture of Another Generation—A Valuable Steward—A Professor of Gastronomy—Paying the Professor and Providing the Dinner—Feeding the Celebrities—Mrs. Lincoln’s Unpopular Innovations—Fifteen Hundred Dollars for a Dinner—How Prince Arthur, of England, was Entertained—Domestic Economy—“Not Enough Silver”—A Tasty Soup—The Recipe for an Aristocratic Stew—Having a “Nice Time”—Hatred of Flummery—An Admirer of Pork and Beans and Slap-jacks—A Presidential Reception—Ready for the Festival—Splendor, Weariness and Indigestion—Paying the Penalty—In the Conservatory—Domestic Arrangements—Reminiscence of Abraham Lincoln, 167

CHAPTER XX.

LADIES OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

A Morning Dream—Wives and Daughters of the Presidents—An Average Matron of the 18th Century—Educational Disadvantages—A Well-Regulated LadyLady—Useful Wife—Advantages of Having a Distinguished Husband—A Modern Lucretia—Washington’s Inauguration Suit—An Awkward Position for a Lady—Festivities in Franklin Square!—Transporting the Household Gods—Keeping Early Hours—Primitive Customs—Much-Shaken Hands—Remembrances of a Past Age—Very Questionable Humility—The Room in which Washington Died—Days of Widowhood—A Wife’s Congratulations—A True Woman—Domestic Affairs at the White House—An Unfinished Mansion—Interesting Details—A Woman’s Influence—A Monument Wanted—Devotion of a Husband—The “Single Life”—Disappointed Belles—An Extraordinary Reception—Blacked His Own Boots—A Daughter’s Affection, 177

CHAPTER XXI.

WIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS—LIFE AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

A Social Queen—“The Most Popular Person in the United States”—The Slow Days of Old—Traveling Under Difficulties—Political Pugnacity—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—Waiting in Suspense—Taking Care of Cabinet Papers—Watching and Waiting—Flight—Unscrewing the Picture—After the War—Brilliant Receptions—Mrs. Madison’s Snuff-Box—Clay Takes a Pinch—“This is my Polisher!”—Two Plain Old Ladies from the West—They Depart in Peace—Days of Trouble and Care—Manuscripts Purchased by Congress—Last Days of a Good Woman—Mrs. Monroe—A Severe and Aristocratic Woman—Madame Lafayette in Prison, 192

CHAPTER XXII.

NOTED WOMEN OF WASHINGTON—A CHAPTER OF GOSSIP.

A Traveling Lady—Life in Russia—A Modern American Minister—A long and Lonely Journey—The Court of St James—Peculiar Waists—Costume of an Ancient Belle—Fearful and Wonderful Attire of a Beau—“A suit of Steel”—An Ascendant Star—A Man Who Hid his Feelings—The Candidate at a Cattle Show—Charles’s Opinion of His Mother—How a Lady “Amused” Her Declining Days—A Woman’s Influence—Politics and Piety Disagree—Why the General Didn’t Join the Church—A Head “Full of Politics”—Swearing Some—The President Becomes a Good Boy—Domestic Tendencies, 204

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 Grandson How to Fight—A Pathetic Reminiscence—A Perfect Gentlewoman—Obeying St. Paul—A Woman Who “Kept Silence”—“Sarah Knows Where It Is”—Three Queens in the Background—A Very Handsome Woman—A Lady’s Heroism—A Man Who Kept to His Post—A Life in the Savage Wilderness—A Life’s Devotion—The Colonel’s Brave Wife—Objecting to the Presidency—An Inclination for Retirement—The Penalty of Greatness—Death in the White House—A Wife’s Prayers—A New Regime—The Clothier’s Apprentice and the School Teacher—The Future President Builds His Own House—Domestic Happiness—Twenty-seven Years of Married Life—Home “Comforts” at the White House—The Memory of a Loving Wife, 218

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—Gay Doings at the Capital—Rival Claims for a Lady’s Hand—Reigning at the White House—Doing Double Duty—Marriage of Harriet Lane—As Wife and Mother—Mrs. Abraham Lincoln—Standing Alone—A Time of Trouble and Perplexity—Rumors of War—Whispers of Treason—Awaiting the Event—A Life-long Ambition Fulfilled—The Nation Called to Arms—What the President’s Wife Did—The Dying and the Dead—Arrival of Troops—The Lonely Man at the White House—An Example of Selfishness—Petty Economies—The Back Door of the White House—An Injured Individual—Death of Willie Lincoln—Injustice which Mrs. Lincoln Suffered—The Rabble in the White House—Valuables Carried Away—Big Boxes and Much Goods—Mrs. Lincoln Disconsolate—Missing Treasures—Faults of a President’s Wife, 231

CHAPTER XXV.

THE WHITE HOUSE NOW.

After the War—A Contrast—Secretly Burying the Dead—A Wife of Seventeen Years—Midnight Studies—Broken Down—A party of Grandchildren—“God’s Best Gift to Man”—The Woman Who Taught the President—Doing the Honors at the White House—Traces of the Soldiers—A State of Dirt and Ruin—Mrs. Patterson’s Calico Dress—In the Diary—A Nineteenth Century Wonder—How the Old Carpets were Patched—How $30,000 were Spent—Buying the Furniture—Working in Hot Weather—Very Good Dinners—Doors Open to the Mob—Sketching a Banquet—The Portraits of the Presidents—The Impeachment Trial—Peace in the Family—The Grant Dynasty—Looking Home-like—Mrs. Grant at Home—What Might Be Done, if—How a Certain Young Lady was Spoilt—Brushing Away “the Dew of Innocence,” 243

CHAPTER XXVI.

RECEPTION DAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE—GLIMPSES OF LIFE.

Feeling Good-Natured—Looking After One’s Friends—Ready to Forgive—Mr. Grant’s “Likeable Side”—Rags and Tatters Departed—The Work of Relic-Hunters—Eight Presidents, All in a Row—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—Underneath the Gold and Lace—The Census of Spittoons—“A Horror in Our Land”—The Shadow of Human Nature—Two “Quizzing” Ladies—An Illogical Dame—Her “Precarious Organ”—A Lady of Many Colors—“A New Woman”—A Vegetable Comparison—The Lady of the Manor—Women Who are Not Ashamed of Womanhood—Observed and Admired of All—Sketch of a Perfect Woman—After the Lapse of Generations—The “German”—The “Withering” of Many American Women—Full Dress and No Dress—What the Princess Ghika Thinks—A Young Girl’s Dress—“That Dreadful Woman”—The Resolution of a Young Man, 256

CHAPTER XXVII.

INAUGURATION DAY AT WASHINGTON.

My Own Private Opinion—The Little “Sons of War” Feeling Bad—Brutal Mothers—Our Heroes—Later Festivities—A Lively Time—The Mighty Drum-Major—“Taken for a Nigger”—Magnificent Display—The Oldest Regiment in the States—Sketches of Well-known Men—Blacque Bey—Full Turkish Costume—The Japanese Minister—The Supreme Court—Congress Alive Again—The Valedictory—Taking the Oath—“The Little Gentleman in the Big Chair”—His Little Speech—His Wife and Family Behind—The New President—Memories of Another Scene—The Curtain Falls, 269

CHAPTER XXVIII.

A PEEP AT AN INAUGURATION BALL.

How Sixty Thousand Dollars were Spent—Something Wrong: “Twas Ever Thus”—A Fine Opportunity for a Few Naughty Words—Lost Jewels—The Colored Folks in a Fix—Six Thousand People Clamoring for Their Clothes!—A Magnificent “Grab”—Weeping on Window-ledges—Left Desolate—Walking under Difficulties—The Exploit of Two Old Gentlemen—Horace Greeley Loses his Old White Hat—He says Naughty Words of Washington—A Little Too Cold—Gay Decorations—Modesty in Scanty Garments—The President Frozen—Ladies of Distinction—Half-frozen Beauties—Why and Wherefore?—A Stolid Tanner Who Fought his Way, 278

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE UNITED STATES TREASURY—ITS HISTORY.

The Responsibilities and Duties of the Secretary of the Treasury—Three Extraordinary Men—Hamilton Makes an Honest Proposal—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—A Little Variety—A Vision of Much Money—Old Debts Raked Up—Signs of the Times—The National Currency Act—Enormous Increase of the National Debt—Facts and Figures—The Credit of the Government Sustained—President Grant’s Rule—George S. Boutwell Made Secretary—Great Expectations, 284

CHAPTER XXX.

INSIDE THE TREASURY—THE HISTORY OF A DOLLAR.

“Old Hickory” Erects his Cane—“Put the Building Right Here”—A Very Costly Building—The Workers Within—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 List of Miserable Sinners—A Pitiful Ancient Dame—Women’s Work in the Treasury—The Bureau of Printing and Engraving—Dealing in Big Figures—The Story of a Paper Dollar—In the Upper Floor—The Busy Workers—Night Work—Where the Paper is Made—The “Localized Blue Fibre”—The Obstacle to the Counterfeiter—The Automatic Register—Keeping Watch—The Counters and Examiners—An Armed Escort—Varieties of Printing—The Contract with Adams’ Express—Printing the Notes and Currency—Internal Revenue Stamps—Manufacturing the Plates—The Engraving Division—“Men of Many Minds”—Delicate Operations—A Pressure of Five or Six Tons—The Plate Complete—“Re-entering” a Plate—An “Impression”—How Old Plates are Used Up—A Close Inspection—Defying Imitation—The Geometric Lathe, 303

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—A State of Dampness—Squaring Accounts—Superintending the Work—The Face-printing Division—The United States “Sealer”—Printing Cigar-Stamps and Gold-Notes of Many Colors—With a Begrimed Face—The Fiery Little Brazier—What the Man Does—The Woman’s Work—The Automatic Register—An Observer Without a Soul—Our Damp Little Dollar—The Drying Room—The First Wrinkles—Looking Wizened and Old—Rejuvenating a Dollar—Underneath Two Hundred and Forty Tons—Smooth and Polished—Precious to the Touch—A Virgin Dollar—The “Sealer” at Work—Mutilated Paper—What the Women are paid—The Surface-Sealing Division—Seal Printing—The Aristocratic Green Seal—The Numbering Division—Dividing the Dollars—Snowy Aprons and Delicate Ribbons—Needling the Sheet—A Blade that Does not Fail—Sorting the Notes—The Manipulation of the Ladies—The Dollar “In its Little Bed”—Dollar on Dollar—“Awaiting the Final Call,” 317

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE LAST DAYS OF A DOLLAR.

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—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 Little Packages—Taking it Coolly—One Hundred Millions of Dollars in Hand—Some Little White Bags—The Gold Taken from the Banks of Richmond—A Distinction Without a Difference—The Secret of the Locks—The Hydraulic Elevator—Sending the Money off—Begrimed, Demoralized, and Despoiled—Where is Our Pretty Dollar?—The Redemption Division—Counting Mutilated Currency—Women at Work—Sorting Old Greenbacks—Three Hundred Counterfeit Dollars Daily—Detecting Bad Notes—“Short,” “Over,” and “Counterfeit”—Difficulty of Counterfeiting Fresh Notes—Vast Amounts Sent for Redemption—Thirty-one Million Dollars in One Year—The Assistant Treasurer at New York—The Cancelling Room—The Counter’s Report—The Bundle in a Box—Awkward Responsibility—“Punching” Old Dollars—The Funeral of the Dollar—The Burning, Fiery Furnace—The End of the Dollar, 326

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 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 Object of Personal Curiosity—Dick and Dolly pay the General a Visit—How the Thing is Done—Getting his Autograph—A Specimen for the Folks at Home—Where the Treasurer Sleeps—Going the Round at Night—Making Assurance Sure—Awakened by a Strong Impression—Sleepless—In the “Small Hours”—Finding the Door Open—A Careless Clerk—The Care of Eight Hundred Millions—On the Alert—The Auditors—The Solicitor’s Office—The Light-House Board—The Coast Survey—Internal Revenue Department, 339

CHAPTER XXXIV.

WOMAN’S WORK IN THE DEPARTMENTS—WHAT THEY DO AND HOW THEY DO IT.

Women Experts in the Treasury—Their Superiority to Men—Money Burnt in the Chicago Fire—Cases of Valuable Rubbish—Identifying Burnt Greenbacks—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—One Hundred and Eighty Women at Work—“The Broom Brigade”—Scrubbing the Floors—Stories which Might be Told—Meditating Suicide—The Struggle of Life—How a Thousand Women are Employed—Speaking of Their Characters—Miss Grundy of New York—Women of Business Capacity—A Lady as Big as Two Books!—A Disgrace to the Nation—Working for Two, Paid for One—Beaten by a Woman—The Post-Office Department—Folding “Dead Letters”—A Woman Who has Worked Well—“Sorrow Does Not Kill”—The Patent Office—Changes Which Should be Made, 350

CHAPTER XXXV.

WOMEN’S WORK IN THE TREASURY—HOW APPOINTMENTS ARE MADE.

The Difference Between Men and Women—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—The Feminine Tea-Pot—“A Woman can Use Scissors Better than a Man”—Profound Discovery!—“She’ll do it Cheaper”Cheaper”—Besieged by Women—Scenes of Distress and Trouble—Infamous Intrigues—The Baseness of Certain Senators—Virtue Spattered with Mud—Secret Doings in High Places—Sounding Magnanimous—Passing the Examination—The Irrepressible Masculine Tyrants—Up to the Mark, but not Winning—An Alarming Suggestion—Men Versus Women—Tampering with the Scales, 369

CHAPTER XXXVI.

GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL LIFE—HOW PLACE AND POWER ARE WON.

Keeping his Eye Open—The Sweet and Winning Ways of Mr. Parasite—In Office—The Fault of the “People” and “my Friends”—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—John Jones is not Encouraged—Post-offices as Plentiful as Blackberries—Receiving Office seekers—Dismissing John—Over-crowded Pastures—John’s Own Private Opinion—Peculiar Impartiality of the Man in Office—What the Successful Man Said—A Certain Kind of Man, and Where He can be Found, 382

CHAPTER XXXVII.

THE DEAD-LETTER OFFICE—ITS MARVELS AND MYSTERIES.

The Post-Office—The Postal Service In Early Times—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—One Hundred and Twenty Years Ago—Franklin Performs Wonderful Works—His Ideas of Speed—Between Boston and Philadelphia in Six Weeks—Dismissed from Office—A New Post-Office System—The Inspector of Dead Letters—Only Seventy-five Offices in the States—Only One Clerk—Government Stages—The Office at Washington—Franklin’s Old Ledger—The Present Number of Post-Offices—The Dead Letter Office—The Ladies Too Much Squeezed—Opening the Dead Letters—Why Certain Persons are Trusted—Three Thousand Thoughtless People—Valuable Letters—Ensuring Correctness—The Property Branch—The Touching Story of the Photographs—The Return Branch—What the Postmaster Says, 388

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR—UNCLE SAM’S DOMESTIC ARRANGEMENTS.

Inadequate Accommodation in Heaven—Valuable Documents—In Jeopardy—Talk of Moving the Capital—Concerning Certain Idiots—A Day in the Patent Office—The Inventive Genius of the Country—Division of Indian Affairs—Lands and Railroads—Pensions and Patents—The Superintendent of the Building—The Secretary of the Interior and his Subordinates—Pensions and Their Recipients—Indian Affairs—How the Savages are Treated—Over Twenty—One Million of Dollars Credited to their Little Account—The Census Bureau—A Rather Big Work—The Bureau of Patents—What is a Patent?—A Few Dollars Over—The Use Made of a Certain Brick Building—Cutting Down the Ladies’ Salaries—Making Places for Useful Voters—A Sweet Prayer for Delano’s Welfare, 407

CHAPTER XXXIX.

THE PENSION BUREAU—HOW GOVERNMENT PAYS ITS SERVANTS.

Sneering at Red Tape—The Division of Labor—Scrutinizing Petitions—A Heavy Paper Jacket—Invalids, Widows, and Minors—The Examiner of Pensions—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 Ignorance—The Claim Agent Gobbles up the Lion’s Share—An Extensive Correspondence—How Claims are Mystified, and Money is Wasted—Seventy-five Thousand Claims Pending—The Reward of Fourteen Days’ Service—The Sum Total of What the Government has Paid in Pensions—The Largest and the Smallest Pension Office—The Miscellaneous Branch—Investigating Frauds—A Poor “Dependent” Woman with Forty Thousand Dollars—How “Honest and Respectable” People Defraud the Government—The Medical Division—Examining Invalids—The Restoration-Desk—The Appeal-Desk—The Final-Desk—The Work that Has Been Done—One Hundred and Fifty Thousand People Grumbling—The Wrath of a Pugnacious Captain, 418

CHAPTER XL.

TREASURES AND CURIOSITIES OF THE PATENT OFFICE—THE MODEL ROOM—ITS RELICS AND INVENTIONS.

The Patent Office Building—The Model Room—“The Exhibition of the Nation”—A Room Two Hundred and Seventy Feet in Length—The Models—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—The Signatures of Emperors—An Extraordinary Turkish Treaty—Treasures of the Orient—Rare Medals—The Reward of Major Andre’s Captors—The Washington Relics—His Old Tent—His Blankets and Bed-Curtains—His Chairs and Looking-Glass—His Primitive Mess-Chest and old Tin Plates—Model of an Extraordinary Boat—Abraham Lincoln as an Inventor—The Hat Worn on the Fatal Night—The Gift of the Tycoon—The Efforts of Genius—A Machine to Force Hens to Lay Eggs—A Hook for Fishing Worms out of the Human Stomach, 436

CHAPTER XLI.

THE BUREAU OF PATENTS—CRAZY INVENTORS AND WONDERFUL INVENTIONS

Patent-Rights in Steamboats—The Corps of Examiners—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 for a Cow’s Tail—A Lady’s Patent—Hesitating to Accept a Million Dollars—How Patentees are Protected—The American System—Exploits of General Leggett—His Efficiency in Office—The Inventor Always a Dreamer—Perpetual Motion—The Invention of a D. D.—Silencing the Doctor—A New Process of Embalming—A Dead Body Sent to the Office—Utilizing Niagara—An Englishman’s Invention—Inventors in Paris—How to Kill Lions and Tigers in the United States with Catmint—A Fearful Bomb Shell—Eccentric Letters—Amusing Specimens of Correspondence, 446

CHAPTER XLII.

THE WAR DEPARTMENT.

The Secretary-of-War—His Duties—The Department of the Navy—The Custody of the Flags—Patriotic Trophies—The War of the Rebellion—Captured Flags—An Ugly Flag and a Strange Motto—The Stars and Stripes—The Black Flag—No Quarter—The Washington Aqueduct—Topographical Engineers—The Ordnance Bureau—The War Department Building—During the War—Lincoln’s Solitary Walk—Secretary Stanton—The Exigencies of War—The Medical History of the War—Dr. Hammond—Dr. J. H. Baxter—The Inspection of over Half a Million Persons—Who is Unfit for Military Service—Curious Calculations Respecting Height, Health, and Color, 460

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—Ghastly Specimens—A Book Four Centuries Old—Rare Old Volumes—The Most Interesting of the National Institutions—Various Opinions—Effects on Visitors—An Extraordinary Withered Arm—A Dried Sioux Baby!—Its Poor Little Nose—A Well-dressed Child—Its Buttons and Beads—Casts of Soldier-Martyrs—Making a New Nose—Vassear’s Mounted Craniums—Model Skeletons—A Giant, Seven Feet High—Skeleton of a Child—All that remains of Wilkes Booth, the Assassin—Fractures by Shot and Shell—General Sickles Contributes His Quota—A Case of Skulls—Arrow-head Wounds—Nine Savage Sabre-Cuts—Seven Bullets in One Head—Phenomenal Skulls—A Powerful Nose—An Attempted Suicide—A Proverb Corrected—Specimen from the Paris Catacombs—Typical Heads of the Human Race—Remarkable Indian Relics—“Flatheads”—The Work of Indian Arrows—An Extraordinary Story—A “Pet” Curiosity—A Japanese Manikin—Tattooed Heads—Adventure of Captain John Smith—A “Stingaree”—The Microscopical Division—Preparing Specimens, 475

CHAPTER XLIV.

“OLD PROBABILITIES’” WORKSHOP—HOW WEATHER CALCULATIONS ARE MADE.

“Old Probabilities”—An Interesting Subject—The Weather Bureau—The Experience Of Fifty Centuries—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 Signal-Stations—The Work of the Observers—Preparing Bulletins at Washington—Professor Maury’s Account—Safeguards Against Mistakes—Deducing Probabilities—Despatching Bulletins—Watching the Storm—The Storm at San Francisco—Prophetic Preparations—Perfect Arrangements—Training the Sergeants—General Meyer’s Work—An Extraordinary Mansion—The “Kites and Windmills”—Inside the Mansion—The Apparatus—“The Unerring Weather-Man”—“Old Probabilities” Himself—How Calculations are Made—“Young Probabilities”—Interesting Facts, 491

CHAPTER XLV.

THE NAVY DEPARTMENT—THE UNITED STATES OBSERVATORY—THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

The Navy-Yards and Docks—Equipment of Vessels—Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography—The Naval Observatory—The Bureau of Medicine—Interesting Statistics—The Navy Seventy Years Ago—Instructions of the Great Napoleon—Keeping Pace with England—Scene from the Observatory—Peeping through the Telescope—The Mountains in the Moon—The Largest Telescope in the World—The Chronometers of the Government—The Test of Time—Chronometers on Trial—The Wind and Current Charts—The Good Deeds of Lieutenant Maury—“The Habits of the Whale”—The Equatorial—A Self-acting Telescope—The Transit Instrument—The Great Astronomical Clock—Telling Time by Telegraph—Hearing the Clock Tick Miles Away—The Transit of Venus—Great Preparations—A Trifle of Half-a-Million of Miles—A Little Secret Suggestion—Pardons and Passports, 507

CHAPTER XLVI.

INSIDE THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE—THE STORY OF A “PUB. DOC.”—WOMEN WORKERS.

The Largest Printing Establishment in the World—The Celebrated “Pub. Doc.”—A Personal Experience—What the Nation’s Printing Costs—A Melancholy Fact—Two Sides of the Question—Printing a Million Money-Orders—The Stereotype Foundry—A Few Figures—The Government Printing-Office—A Model Office—Aiding Human Labor—Working by Machinery—The Ink-Room—The Private Offices—Mr. Clapp’s Comfortable Office—The Proof-Reading Room—The Workers There—The Compositor’s Room—The Women-Workers—Setting Up Her Daily Task—The Tricks and Stratagems of Correspondents—A Private Press in the White House—Acres of Paper—Specimens of Binding—Specimen Copies—Binding the Surgical History of the War—The Ladies Require a Little More Air—Delicate Gold-Leaf Work—The Folding-Room—An Army of Maidens—The Stitching-Room—The Needles of Women—A Busy Girl at Work—“Thirty Cents Apiece”—Getting Used to It—The Girl Over Yonder—The Manual Labor System—Preparing “Copy”—“Setting Up”—Making-Up “Forms”—Reading “Proof”—The Press-Room—Going to Press—Folding, Stitching, and Binding—Sent Out to “The Wide, Wide World.” 520

CHAPTER XLVII.

INSIDE THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION—ITS TREASURES OF ART AND SCIENCE—THE LARGEST COLLECTION IN THE WORLD.

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—A Brief Tract on Coffee-Making—James Smithson’s Will—Praiseworthy Efforts of Robert Dale Owen—The Bequest Accepted—The Plan of the Institution—Its Intent and Object—The Smithsonian Reservation—The Smithsonian Building—The Museum—Treasures of Art and Science—The Results of Thirty Government Expeditions—The Largest Collection in the World—Valuable Mineral Specimens—All the Vertebrated Animals of North America—Classified Curiosities—The Smithsonian Contributions—Its Advantages and Operations—Results—The Agricultural Bureau—Its Plan and Object—Collecting Valuable Agricultural Facts—Helping the Purchaser of a Farm—The Expenses of the Bureau—The Library—Nature-Printing—In the Museum—The Great California Plank—Vegetable Specimens, 533

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—The Attractions of a Cottage—The Favored Suitor—How The Lady was Wooed and Won—Mother and Daughter—The Offering to God—A Costly Mausoleum—The Assassination Conspiracy—Persecuting the Innocent—The Octagon House—A Comfortable Income—The Pleasures of Property—A Haunted House—Apple-Stealing—“Departed Joys and Stomach-Aches”—The TragedyTragedy of the Decatur House—A Fatal Duel—The Stockton-Sickles House—A Spot of Frightful Interest—The Club-House—Assassination of Mr. Seward—Scenes of Festivity—The House of Charles Sumner—Corcoran Castle—The Finest Picture Gallery in America—Powers’ Greek Slave—“Maggie Beck”—During the War—The Romantic Story of Mr. Barlow’s Niece—Forgetting His Own Name—Locking Up a Wife—The “Ten Buildings”—Old Capitol Prison—The Deeds of Ann Royal and Sally Brass—“Paul Pry”—Blackmailing—Feared By All Mankind—An Unpleasant Sort of Woman—Arrested on Suspicion—Where Wirz was Hung, 549

CHAPTER XLIX.

MOUNT VERNON—MEMORIAL DAY—ARLINGTON.

The Tomb of Washington—The Pilgrims who Visit it—Where George and Martha Washington Rest—The Thought of Other Graves—The Defenders of the Republic—Eating Boiled Eggs—A Butterfly Visit—Patriarchal Dogs—Remembering a Feast—The Room in which Washington Died—The Great Key of the Bastile—The Gift of Lafayette—Moralizing—Inside the Mansion—Uncle Tom’s Bouquets—Beautiful Scenery—Memorial Day at Arlington—The Soldiers’ Orphans—The Grave of Forty Soldiers—The Sacrifice of a Widow’s Son—The Record of the Brave—A National Prayer for the Dead, 581

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—Hardship 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 He Paid His Own Way—First Meeting with His Future Wife—Early Religious Experience—Enters Williams College—Professor and President—His First Appearance in Politics—His Brilliant Military Record—His Services at Shiloh, Corinth, and Chickamauga—His Congressional Career—Republican Leader of the House of Representatives—He is Elected to the United States Senate—His Appearance as the Leader of the Sherman Forces at the Chicago Convention—He is Himself Nominated amid the Wildest Enthusiasm—An Exciting Campaign—His Triumphant Election, 588

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, Charles J. Guiteau—Who He is—His Infamous Appearance and Character—His Cool Deliberation—His Capture and Imprisonment—A Thrill of Horror Throughout the Country—Removal of the President to the White House—Arrival of Mrs. Garfield—Her Courage and Devotion—The Fight for Life—Anxious Days—Removal of the Wounded President to Long Branch—A Remarkable Ride—Great Anxiety Throughout the Country—Fighting Death—Slowly Sinking—After Eighty Days of Unparalleled Suffering the President Breathes His Last—Grief and Gloom throughout the Land—The Whole Civilized World in Tears—Unprecedented Funeral and Memorial Honors—His Burial at Cleveland—Attendance of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand People—His Life and Character Reviewed, 606

Ten Years in Washington.

ГЛАВА I. С САМОГО НАЧАЛА.

Мечта молодого землемера — Взгляд Гумбольдта на Вашингтон — Видение будущей столицы — Правительство Соединенных Штатов на колесах — Амбициозные предложения — Соперничающие реки — Победа Потомака — Битвы в Конгрессе — Патриотические предложения территорий — Временные пристанища на одиннадцать лет — Старомодная простота — Он не мог позволить себе мебель — Скромность великого человека — Противоречивые притязания — Смит поддерживает Балтимор — Убедительный факт — Ужасные квакеры — Снисходительная партия — Незначительная поправка — Старый законопроект, вновь извлеченный на свет — Индейское место с длинным названием — Угроза сецессии — Странно предсказанное будущее — Ужин, имевший последствия — Как это было сделано — Действительно чужак — Хорошее предложение — Подсластить пилюлю — «Желудочный спазм» — Закрепление на берегах Потомака.

Более века назад молодой землемер, капитан вирджинских войск, разбивший лагерь с силами Брэддока на холме, где ныне расположена Вашингтонская обсерватория, смотрел вниз, подобно тому как Моисей смотрел с горы Нево на землю обетованную, пока не увидел, как перед его пророческим взором вырастает город будущего, столица огромного и свободного народа, который еще не родился. Этим юношей был Джордж Вашингтон. Земля, на которую он взирал, была невообразимым местом для невообразимого города Республики, которой еще предстояло стать. Этот юноша, предназначенный Богом стать Отцом Республики, был пророком ее столицы. Он предвидел ее, он выбрал ее, он служил ей, он любил ее; но как столицу он ее так и не увидел.

Что же увидел молодой землемер, взирая с зеленого мыса Кэмп-Хилл на землю и воду внизу? Это было прекрасное зрелище, настолько прекрасное, что Гумбольдт, объехав весь земной шар, заявил, что во всем мире нет равного ему места для основания города. Слева от него поднимались лесистые высоты Джорджтауна. Справа холмы Вирджинии простирались к океану. Из роскошных лугов, опоясывавших эти холмы, река Потомак — названная индейцами Кохонгуротон, «Река лебедей» — берущая начало в Аллеганских горах и текущая с северо-запада на юго-запад, здесь разливалась более чем на милю, а затем в сосредоточенном величии устремлялась навстречу Чесапикскому заливу, реке Джеймс и океану. С юга и востока, впадая в нее, текла прекрасная Анакостин, ныне называемая Истерн-Бранч, а на западе, извиваясь среди живописных утесов, бежал прекрасный Рок-Крик, изливая свои светлые воды в Потомак под высотами Джорджтауна. В месте слияния этих двух рек, опоясанный этим светлым потоком и окруженный холмами, молодой землемер смотрел на широкий амфитеатр холмистой равнины, все еще покрытой местными дубами и подлеском. Но не их он видел. Его прозорливый взгляд предвидел будущее. Он видел две величественные реки, несущие на своих водах корабли, доставляющие к этим зеленым берегам товары многих наций. Он видел полого поднимающиеся холмы, увенчанные виллами, а вместо дубов и подлеска — широкие улицы, многолюдный город, великолепные здания, превосходящие храмы древности — Федеральный город, столицу огромной Республики, которой еще предстояло появиться! Мрачный лагерь, изнурительный марш, лишения, холод, голод, кровопролитие, революция, терпеливая победа в конце концов — все это предстояло пережить, прежде чем будет достигнута прекрасная столица его будущего. Предвидел ли юноша и это? Многие годы труда, борьбы и страданий отделяли мечту молодого землемера от первого слабого рассвета ее воплощения.

После принятия Декларации независимости, до принятия Конституции Соединенных Штатов, правительство медленно и мучительно перемещалось на колесах. По мере того как того требовали нужды войны, Конгресс собирался в Филадельфии, Балтиморе, Ланкастере, Йорке, Принстоне, Аннаполисе, Трентоне и Нью-Йорке. В эти неспокойные годы каждый молодой штат стремился заполучить местопребывание правительства. С этой целью Нью-Йорк предлагал Кингстон; Род-Айленд — Ньюпорт; Мэриленд — Аннаполис; Вирджиния — Уильямсберг.

21 июня 1783 года Конгресс в Филадельфии подвергся оскорблению со стороны группы мятежников, которых власти штата не смогли усмирить. Орган переехал в Принстон; и трудности и испытания этого странствования привели к тому, что вопрос о постоянном национальном местопребывании правительства стал обсуждаться с большой яростью с того времени и вплоть до принятия Конституции. Резолюции, предложенные в ходе этих дебатов, и результаты голосований указывают на то, что предпочтительное место для будущей столицы находилось где-то между берегами Делавэра и Потомака — «близ Джорджтауна», как гласит самая часто повторяемая фраза. 30 октября 1784 года этот вопрос обсуждался Конгрессом в Трентоне. Длительные дебаты завершились назначением трех комиссаров, наделенных полными полномочиями по выделению района площадью не более трех и не менее двух квадратных миль на берегах любой стороны Делавэра для федерального города, с правом покупки земли и заключения контрактов на строительство Федерального дома, дома президента, дома для секретарей и т. д.

Несмотря на принятие этой резолюции, эти комиссары так и не приступили к своим обязанностям. Вероятно, отсутствие необходимых ассигнований мешало им не больше, чем непрекращающиеся попытки отменить закон о назначении комиссаров и заменить Делавэр на Потомак в качестве места для предполагаемой столицы. Хотя имя президента Вашингтона не фигурирует в этих спорах, уже тогда мечта молодого землемера обретала в сознании президента осязаемую форму реальности. Первым после войны за свободу человека и провозглашения национальной независимости было желание Джорджа Вашингтона, чтобы столица новой нации, чьи армии он привел к триумфу, поднялась над почвой его родного Доминиона, на берегах великой реки, где он предвидел ее в своей ранней мечте. Не существует ни малейших доказательств того, что он использовал чрезмерное влияние на сменявшие друг друга Конгрессы, которые спорили и голосовали по поводу многих мест, и благородство его характера исключает такое предположение. Но окончательное решение свидетельствует о преобладающей силе его предпочтений и желаний, а огромная груда переписки, которую он оставил после себя по этому вопросу, доказывает, что после установления независимости столица Республики была наиболее дорога сердцу Джорджа Вашингтона. 10 мая 1787 года Массачусетс, Нью-Йорк, Вирджиния и Джорджия проголосовали «за», а Нью-Джерси, Пенсильвания, Делавэр и Мэриленд — «против» предложения мистера Ли из Вирджинии о том, чтобы Казначейство приняло меры по возведению необходимых общественных зданий для размещения Конгресса в Джорджтауне на реке Потомак, как только будут получены земля и юрисдикция над этим городом.

Многочисленными и тщетными были битвы, которые вел старый Конгресс за место для будущей столицы. Эти битвы, несомненно, имели большое отношение к разделу 8 статьи 1 Конституции Соединенных Штатов, которая гласит, что Конгресс имеет право осуществлять исключительное законодательство во всех случаях, над таким округом (не превышающим десяти квадратных миль), который может, по уступке отдельных штатов и с согласия Конгресса, стать местопребыванием правительства Соединенных Штатов. Эта статья была одобрена конвентом, разработавшим Конституцию, без дебатов. За принятием Конституции спонтанно последовали щедрые акты со стороны нескольких штатов. Нью-Йорк предоставил свои общественные здания для нужд нового правительства, и Конгресс собрался в этом городе 6 апреля 1789 года. 15 мая того же года мистер Уайт из Вирджинии представил Палате представителей резолюцию законодательного собрания этого штата, предлагающую федеральному правительству десять квадратных миль своей территории в любой части штата, которую Конгресс мог бы выбрать в качестве места пребывания федерального правительства. На следующий день мистер Сени представил аналогичный акт от штата Мэриленд. Меморандумы и петиции последовали один за другим от Пенсильвании, Нью-Джерси и Мэриленда. Резолюция законодательного собрания Вирджинии просила о сотрудничестве Мэриленда, предлагая выделить сумму в сто двадцать тысяч долларов на нужды общего правительства для возведения общественных зданий, если Ассамблея Мэриленда выделит две пятых от аналогичной суммы. После чего Ассамблея Вирджинии немедленно проголосовала за уступку необходимой земли и предоставление семидесяти двух тысяч долларов на возведение общественных зданий. «Нью-Йорк и Пенсильвания безвозмездно предоставили элегантные и удобные помещения для правительства» в течение одиннадцати лет, которые Конгресс провел в их среде, и предлагали продолжать делать то же самое. Законодательное собрание Пенсильвании пошло дальше в своей щедрости и проголосовало за выделение суммы денег на строительство дома для президента. Дом, который они построили, недавно был Университетом Пенсильвании. Нынешний Белый дом считается слишком старомодным и обшарпанным, чтобы быть подходящим жилищем для президента Соединенных Штатов. Любовь к вычурному показу заменила раннюю республиканскую простоту. Когда Джордж Вашингтон увидел размеры дома, который пенсильванцы строили для президентского особняка, он сразу же сообщил им, что никогда не будет занимать его, тем более нести расходы на покупку подходящей мебели для него. В те спартанские дни штату и в голову не приходило покупать мебель для «Президентского особняка». Таким образом, главный гражданин, вместо того чтобы въезжать во дворец, подобно сатрапу, арендовал и обставил скромный дом, принадлежавший мистеру Роберту Моррису на Маркет-стрит. Тем временем великая битва за постоянное местопребывание правительства продолжалась непрерывно среди представителей конфликтующих штатов. Никакие современные дебаты по своей продолжительности и ожесточенности не сравнятся с этими дебатами первого Конгресса по Конституции. Почти все соглашались, что Нью-Йорк недостаточно централен. Существовал острый конфликт относительно относительных достоинств Филадельфии и Джермантауна; Гавр-де-Грейс и места под названием Райтс-Ферри на Саскуэханне; Балтимора на Патапско и Конногочига на Потомаке. Мистер Смит провозгласил Балтимор и тот факт, что его граждане подписались на сорок тысяч долларов для общественных зданий. Южнокаролинцы выступали против Филадельфии из-за большинства квакеров, которые, по их словам, вечно преследовали южных членов своими планами эмансипации. Многие другие высмеивали проект строительства дворцов в лесах. Мистер Джерри из Массачусетса заявил, что верх неразумия — устанавливать местопребывание правительства так далеко на юге, что это поставит девять штатов из тринадцати так далеко к северу от национальной столицы; в то время как мистер Пейдж протестовал, что Нью-Йорк превосходит любое известное ему место по упорядоченному и приличному поведению своих жителей, утверждение, которое, увы, больше не применимо к городу Нью-Йорку.