Our national government; or, Life and scenes in our national capital. Portraying the wonderful operations in all the great departments, and describing every important function of our law-making bodies, including its historical, executive, administrative, departmental, artistic, and social features. With sketches of the presidents and their wives ... from Washington's to Taft's administration

Front matter

y Ij;:: lip" ■ '

111 ^'l*r liilill m

I

Preface

well ; in short, to present every interesting phase of life in Washington.

My desire is to be remembered as an intelligent guide, leading the reader on from one scene of interest to another, awakening the mind to a finer comprehension of our country's greatness, and inspiring all with a higher and more devoted patriotism.

1 PORTRAIT OF MRS. JOHN A. LOGAN .... Frontispiece

Engraved for this work from a photograph taken expressly for it.

2 MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE WHITE HOUSE .... Title fage

3 ORNAMENTAL HEADING TO PREFACE i

4 ENGRAVED AUTOGRAPH OF MRS. JOHN A.LOGAN . . iv

5 ORNAMENTAL HEADING TO LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS v

6 ORNAMENTAL HEADING TO CONTENTS . . . . xUi

7 MAIN CORRIDOR I\ THE REMODELED WHITE HOUSE

(Full Page) Pacing 33

8 ORNAMENTAL HEADING TO CHAPTER I

9 EAST FRONT OF THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL, AS SEEN

10 FLOOR PLAN OF THE PRINCIPAL STORV OF THE CAPITOL 88

11 A SECTION OF STATUARY HALL IN THE CAPITOL

Vi LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

12 NEW VESTIBULE, MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE REMODELED

WHITE HOUSE (Full Page) Facing 107

13 DIAGRAM OF THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESEN-

TATIVES Ill

U DIAGRAM OF THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE .... 114

15 THE EXECUTIVE MANSION, POPULARLY KNOWN AS THE

WHITE HOUSE (Full Page) Facing 130 "

1(5 MAIN FLOOR PLAN OF THE WHITE HOUSE .... 134

17 THE GREEN ROOM IN THE REMODELED WHITE HOUSE ^

IS THE FAMOUS EAST ROOM IN THE WHITE HOUSE

19 IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE DURING A NEW YEAR'S

RECEPTION ( Full Page ) Facing 145 -

20 THE FAMILY DINING ROOM IN THE WHITE HOUSE

21 THE STATE DINING ROOM IN THE REMODELED WHITE

HOUSE ( Full Page ) Facitig 150

22 THE OLD STATE DINING ROOM IN THE WHITE HOUSE

23 THE PRESIDENT'S BEDROOM IN THE REMODELED WHITE

HOUSE ( Full Page ) Facing 156 ■

24 THE FAMILY KITCHEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE (Full Page)

Facing 158

25 THE PRESIDENT'S ROOM IN THE PRESIDENT'S NEW OFFICE

BUILDING (Full Page) Facing 162

26 SECOND STORY PLAN OF THE WHITE HOUSE ... 165

27 THE CABINET ROOM IN THE PRESIDENT'S NEW OFFICE

BUILDING (Full Page) Facing 166

28 THE PRESIDENT'S PRIVATE OFFICE IN THE WHITE HOUSE

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Vll

29 GENERAL OFFICE FOR CLERKS IN THE PRESIDENT'S NEW

OFFICE BUILDING (Pull Page) .... Facing 179 -^

30 THE CABINET ROOM IN THE WHITE HOUSE (Full Page)

Pacing 181 '

31 THE LIBRARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE ( Full Page )

Pacing 185 -

32 SIGNING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

( Full Page ) Pacing 191 "

83 FACSIMILE OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

( Insert ) 19a« '

31 THE UNITED STATES TREASURY (Full Page) . Pacing 201 -

35 A MYSTERY OF THE TREASURY. SOPHIA HOLMES, A

COLORED JANITRESS, DISCOVERING ?,3()0.0(K) IN BANK BILLS IN A WASTE PAPER BOX IN THE TREASURY (Full Page) Pacing 213

36 BUSY WORKERS IN THE TREASURY. THE ROOM WHERE

PRINTED SHEETS OF UNCLE SAM'S PAPER DOLLARS

ARE SEPARATED (Full Page) .... Pacing 223^

37 HOW UNCLE SAM MAKES HIS MONEY. THE ENGRAVING

ROOM WHERE UNITED STATES NOTES, BONDS, STAMPS,

ETC., ARE ENGRAVED (Full Page) . . . Pacing 229 -

38 MAKING MONEY. ONE OF THE ROOMS WHERE UNCLE

SAM'S PAPER DOLLARS ARE PRINTED (Full Page) Pacing 235 ■

39 INSIDE THE TREASURY. THE ROOM IN WHICH UNCLE

SAM'S PAPER DOLLARS ARE NUMBERED AND TRIMMED (Full Page) Facing 2:«

40 WOMEN'S WORK IN THE TREASURY. COUNTING UNCLE

SAM'S NEWLY PRINTED DOLLARS (Full Page) Pacing 24.'> ^

41 WOMEN'S WORK IN THE TREASURY. COUNTING, IDEN-

TIFYING, AND ASSORTING WORN-OUT MONEY (Full Page) . Pacing 249

42 WOMEN EXPERTS IN THE TREASURY IDENTIFYING

BURNED MONEY FOR REDEMPTION (Full Page) Pacing 2.52

Vlll LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

43 THE FUNERAL OF UNCLE SAM'S PAPER DOLLARS. THE

TREASURY DESTRUCTION COMMITTEE DESTROYING $5,000,000 IN PAPER MONEY (Full Page) . . Facing 261

44 WEST FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE PRESIDENT'S

NEW OFFICE BUILDING (Full Page) . . . Pacing 284

45 MAKING POSTAGE STAMPS. WOMEN SEPARATING AND

PERFORATING THE PRINTED SHEETS (Full Page) Facing 318

46 WHO IS IT FOR? A SCENE IN THE DEAD-LETTER OFFICE.

EXPERTS TRYING TO DECIPHER AN ILLEGIBLE ADDRESS

47 FACSIMILE OF A DEAD LETTER DELIVERED AT ELIZA-

BETH, N. J 336

48 FACSIMILE OF A DEAD LETTER DELIVERED AT JERSEY

CITY, N. J 337

49 FACSIMILE OF A DEAD LETTER DELIVERED AT NEWARK,

50 FACSIMILE OF A DEAD LETTER DELIVERED AT CARTERET,

51 FACSIMILE OF A DEAD LETTER DELIVERED AT HART-

FORD, CONN. 340

52 FACSIMILE OF A DEAD LETTER DELIVERED AT HOBOKEN,

53 FACSIMILE OF A DEAD LETTER DELIVERED AT CLEVE-

LAND, N. Y 343

54 WOMEN'S WORK IX THE DEAD-LETTER OFFICE (Full Page)

Facing 344

.55 FORECASTING THE WEATHER IN THE INSTRUMENT ROOM

OF THE WEATHER BUREAU (Full Page) . . Facing 404

56 THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, AS SEEN FROM THE CAPITOL

(Full I'jtgc) Facing 418

57 FIRST-STORY PLAN, LHJRARV OF CONGRESS . . .424

58 SECOND-STORY PLAN, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ... 429

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. IX

59 THE PUBLIC READING ROOM IN THE LIBRARY OF CON-

GRESS ^ Full Page ) Facing 430 -

60 INSIDE THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE LIBRARY OF COX-

GRESS (Full Page) Facing 440

61 THE FOREST OF MARBLE PILLARS ON THE SECOND FLOOR

OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS (Full Page) . Facing .448-

62 MAIN FLOOR OF THE CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART

(Full Page) Pacing 453

63 FOUR HIGH-PLACED WOMEN EXPERTS IN GOVERNMENT

SERVICE (Full Page) Facing 461-

64 BEAUTIFUL ARLINGTON, THE SILENT CITY OF THE DEAD

(Full Page) Facing 528 y

65 FACE OF MONUMENT TO THE UNKNOWN DEAD OF THE

CIVIL WAR 585

66 TOMB AT ARLINGTON TO THE UNKNOWN DEAD OF THE

CIVIL WAR (Full Page) Pacing 586

67 PORTRAIT OF GEORGE WASHINGTON)

) {VwU TsLge) Pacing 543

68 PORTRAIT OF MARTHA WASHINGTON )

69 THE HOME OF GEORGE AND MARTHA WASHINGTON.

THE MANSION AT MOUNT VERNON AS IT IS TODAY

( Full Page j ........ Facing 544

70 THE RED ROOM IN THE REMODELED WHITE HOUSE

(Full Page ) Faci7ig 554 "

71 THE ROOM IN WHICH WASHINGTON DIED AT MOUNT

VERNON (Full Page) Pacing 558-

72 THE NEW TOMB OF GEORGE AND MARTHA WASHINGTON

AT MOUNT VERNON ( Full Page) . . . Pacing 562/

73 THE FAMOUS BLUE ROOM IX THE REMODELED WHITE

HOUSE (Full Page) Facing 570

74 THE ATTIC ROOM AT MOUNT VERNON IX WHICH MARTHA

WASHINGTON DIED (Full Page) .... Faci7ig 575

X LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

75 PORTRAIT OF JOHN ADAMS 1

76 PORTRAIT OF MRS. JOHN (ABIGAIL) K^^" Page) Facing: 576

ADAMS J

77 PORTRAIT OF THOMAS JEFFERSON ^

78 PORTRAIT OF MRS. MARTHA [ < ^«" Page) Facing 584

JEFFERSON RANDOLPH

79 PORTRAIT OF JAMES MADISON "j

80 PORTRAIT OF MRS. JAMES (" DOLLY") ( (^^^^ T age) Facing 586

MADISON J

81 PORTRAIT OF JAMES MONROE )

V ( Full Page ) Facing 599 83 PORTRAIT OF MRS. JAMES MONROE )

83 PORTRAIT OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS -j

84 PORTRAIT OF MRS. JOHN h^'^" P^ge) Facing 604

QUINCY ADAMS

85 PORTRAIT OF ANDREW JACKSON

86 PORTRAIT OF MRS. EMILY DONELSON "

87 PORTRAIT OF MARTIN VAN BUREN

88 PORTRAIT OF MRS. ABRAHAM VAN RFuU Page ) ^«.;«^ 619

BUREN (ANGELICA SINGLETON) J

89 PORTRAIT OF JOHN TYLER

90 PORTRAIT OF MRS. JOHN TYLER

91 PORTRAIT OF JAMES K. POLK

92 PORTRAIT OF MRS. JAMES K. POLK

(Full Page) i^a««^ 620

93 PORTRAIT OF WILLIAM HENRY

HARRISON \ {-FvLll Page) Facing 631

94 PORTRAIT OF ZACHARY TAYLOR

95 PORTRAIT OF MILLARD FILLMORE ]

96 PORTRAIT OF MRS. MILLARD , {Full Page) Facing 632

FILLMORE

97 PORTRAIT OF FRANKLIN PIERCE

PORTRAIT OF MRS. FRANKLIN PIERCE "

I

LIST OP ILLUSTRATIONS. Xi

99 PORTRAIT OF JAMES BUCHANAN ]

100 PORTRAIT OF MRS. HARRIET LANE [ ( Full Page ) i^acm^ (540

JOHNSTON J

101 PORTRAIT OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN )

102 PORTRAIT OF MRS. ABRAHAM LINCOLN )

103 THEGREEN ROOM IN THE WHITE HOUSE (Full Page )77a««g- 648

104 PORTRAIT OF ANDREW JOHNSON

( Full Page ) Facittp- (W6

105 PORTRAIT OF MRS. ANDREW JOHNSON '

106 PORTRAIT OF ULYSSES S. GRANT )

} i Full ra,ge)Fadne- 663 lOr PORTRAIT OF MRS. ULYSSES S.GRANT

108 PORTRAIT OF RUTHERFORD B. I

HAYES I

109 PORTRAIT OF MRS. RUTHERFORD B. |

HAYES J

110 THE EAST ROOM IN THE WHITE HOUSE DECORATED FOR

A STATE RECEPTION (Full Page) . . Facing 680

111 PORTRAIT OF JAMES A. GARFIELD

( Full Page ) Facing 684 113 PORTRAIT OF MRS.JAMES A. GARFIELD '

113 PORTRAIT OF CHESTER A. ARTHUR

114 PORTRAIT OF MRS. JOHN McELROY '

V

11.5 PORTRAIT OF STEPHEN GROVER

CLEVELAND

( Full Page ) Facing 698 116 PORTRAIT OF MRS. STEPHEN GROVER 1

CLEVELAND J

117 PORTRAIT OF BENJAMIN HARRISON

118 PORTRAIT OF MRS. BENJAMIN [( Full Page ) /^a««^ 706

HARRISON

119 THE RED ROOM IX THE WHITE HOUSE ( Full Page) /^<7««^ 716

120 PORTRAIT OF WILLIAM McKINLEY, Jr. 1

I

121 PORTRAIT OF MRS. WILLIAM W Full Page) Fa««^ 721

McKINLEY, Jr. J

Xii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

122 A CORNER IN THE LIBRARY OF THE REMODELED WHITE

HOUSE (Full Page) Facing 734

123 PORTRAIT OF T HEODORE ROOSEVELT 1

124 PORTRAIT OF MRS. THEODORE K Full Page ) /^ociwg- 742

ROOSEVELT

125 IN THE LIBRARY AT THE WHITE HOUSE ( Full Puge) Facing 732

126 PORTRAIT OF WILLIAM H. TAFT ■)

127 PORTRAIT OF MRS. WILLIAM H. TAFT \ ^'"'" ^'^Se) Facing 756

Chapter I

THE SITE OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL AND HOW IT WAS SELECTED — EARLY TROUBLES AND TRIALS.

The Prophet of the Capital — Forecasting (he Future — A Government Moving Slowly and Painfully About on Wheels — Insulted by a Band of Mutineers — Troubles and Trials — Washington's Humble Ideas of a President's House — Renting and Furnishing a Modest Home — Spartan Simplicity — Madison's Indignation — "Going West" — Where is the Center of Population ? — A Dinner and What Came of it — Sweetening a "Peculiarly Bitter Pill" — A "Revulsion of Stomach " — End of a Long and Bitter Strife. ..... 33

Chapter II

GENERAL WASHINGTON AND OBSTINATE DAVY BURNS — now THE "WIDOWS MITE" WAS SECURED— HOW AND BY WHOM THE CITY WAS PLANNED.

Making Peace With Lords of Little Domains — " Obstinate Mr. Burns" — A Pugnacious Scotchman — The " Widow's Mite" — A Graceful Surrender — Republicans in Theory but Aristocrats in Practice — Who Was Major L'Enfant ? — A Lucky Circumstance — Plans that Were Ridiculed — Men Who Did Nv)t "Get On " Well Together — The Man Who Worried President Washington — Demolishing M;uisioiis Without Leave or License — An Uncontrollable Engineer — His Summary Dismissal — Living Witliout Honor and Dying Without Fame — A Quaker Successor of " Uncommon Talent" and " Placid Temper" — Five Dollars a Day and "Expenses" — "Too Much" — A Colored Genius for Mathematics — "Every Inch a Man" — Why the Capitol, the White House, Were Set Far Apart 44

( xiii )

XIV CONTENTS.

Chapter III

BIRTH OF THE NATION'S CAPITOL — GRAPHIC PICTURES OF EARLY DAYS — SACKED BY THE BRITISH — WASH- INGTON DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

Raising the Money to Build the Capitol — Government Lottery Schemes — Hunting for the Capital — "In the Center of the City" — Queer Sensations — Dismal Scenes — Sacked by the British — "The Royal Pirate" — Flight of the President— Burning of the White House — Mrs Madison Saves the Historic Painting of General Washington — Paul Jennings' Account of the Retreat — Invaded by Torch Bearers and Plunderers — A Memorable Storm — Midnight Silent Retreat of the British — Disgraceful Conduct of "The Royal Pirate" — "Light up!" — Setting Fire to the Capitol — Dickens' Sarcastic Description of the Capital — "Such as It Is, It Is Likely to Remain" — When the Civil War Opened — Dreary, Desolate, and Dirty — The Capital During the War — Days of Anguish and Bloodshed. . . 53

Chapter IV

BUILDING THE CAPITOL — HOW WASHINGTON AND JEFFER- SON ADVERTISED FOR PLANS — COMPLETION OF THE CAPITOL.

Early Trials and Tribulations— Schemers and Speculators — A "Front Door in the Rear" — Seeking for Suitable Plans — A Troublesome Question — Washington and Jefferson Advertise Premiums for the Best Plan — A Curious "ad" — Some Remarkable Offerings — The Successful Competitor — Carrying Off the Prize — Laying of the Corner-Stoiie by President Wasiiiiigton — A Defeated Competitor's Audacity — President Washington's Rage — Jealousies of Rivals — Congress Sitting in "the Oven" — Crimination and Recrimination — Building Additions to the Capitol — Hoodwinking Congress — How the Money Was Appropriated to Build the Great Dome — A Successful Ruse — Completion of the Building — Its Dimensions and Cost — Curious Construction of the Great Dome 68

Chapter V

A TOUR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL — INTEREST- ING SIGHTS AND SCENES — UNDER THE GREAT DOME — A PARADISE FOR VISITORS.

Entering the Capitol Grounds — Inside the Capitol — Bridal Pairs in Washington — Where Do They Come From ? — Underneath the Capitol — Using the Capitol as a Bakery — Turning Out 16,000 Loaves of Bread Daily — Marble Staircases and Luxurious Furniture — In the Senate Chamber and House of Representatives — Costly Paintings — Bronzes and Statues — In the Rotunda — Under the Great Dome —

CONTENTS. XV

In Statuary Hall — Famous Statues and Works of Art — "Brother Jonathan " — The Famous Marble Clock — The Scene of Fierce and Bitter Wrangles — The Bronze Clock Whose Hands Are Turned Back — A Colossal Statue Weighing Twenty-one Tons — Commodore Hull's Expedition to Bring it to America — Climbing to the Top of the Mighty Dome — Looking Down on the Floor of the Rotunda — Under the Lantern — At the Tip-top of the Capitol. . 83

CPIAPTER VI.

IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES — A PEEP BEHIND THE SCENES — CLAIMANTS AND LOBBY- ISTS — GOVERNMENT PRIZES.

In the House of Representatives — Scenes of Confusion — The Speaker — A Peep Behind the Scenes— " What Did They Do?" — A Visit to the Senate — Playing Marbles Behind the Vice-President's Chair — Secret Sessions — The Veil Lifted — A Senator's Amusing Experience — Some Revelations — How tiie Senate Works — "Will Carp Eat Gold Fish? " — Curious Requests — "We Want a Baby" — Women With Claims — Professional Lobbyists and Their Ways — Button-holing Senators — " Who are They r " — Importance of " Knowing the Ropes " — Catching the Speaker's Eye — An Indignant Congressman — Catching "the Measles, the Whooping-Cough, and the Influenza" — Shaves, Hair-cuts, and Baths at Uncle Sam's Expense — -Barbers as "Skilled Laborers" — " Working a Committee." 109

Chapter VII

A TOUR THROUGH THE WHITE HOUSE FROM ATTIC TO CELLAR — WHITE HOUSE WEDDINGS AND TRAGEDIES.

Inside the White House — An Historic Mansion — Reminiscences of the Past— "What Tales the Room Could Tell If It But Had a Tongue"— Why It Is Called the White House — Its Cost — How To Gain Admission — Its Famous Rooms and Their Fiirnisliings — Invited To "Assist"

— The Great East Room — Chandeliers That Cost $5,000 Each — Where Mrs. Adams "Dried the Family Wash" — Shaking Hands with Sixty Thousand Persons — A Swollen Hand and a Lame Arm — How an Old Lady Greeted the President — Trying To See the President

— Forbidden Rooms — The President's Private Apartments — Efforts to Peep at the White House Kitchen — Indignant Visitors — Weddings in the White House — Tragedies of the White House. , 130

CHAPTER Vin.

DAILY LIFE AND SCENES AT THE WHITE HOUSE — THE PRESIDENT'S DOMESTIC ARRANGEMENTS.

Official Entertainment at the White House — Social Customs — Daily Life and Scenes — " His High Mightiness" — Only Plain "Mr. Presiiient " — The President's Turnout — Why His Horses' Tails Are Not Docked

XVI CONTENTS.

— Public Receptions — Five Thousand Decorative Plants — State '■*; ^ners — Who Are Invited — Their Cost — The Table and its Costly ■i-i jrnishings — Decorating the Table — A Mile of Sniilax — Rare China and Exquisite Cat Glass — Who Pays for tlie Dinners — How the Guests Are Seated — Guests Who Are Not Well-bred — In the Attic of the White House— What May be Seen There — A Motly Collection of Articles — " Home Comforts " — Selecting a New Outfit of Linen — A Requisition for " Soap for the Bath Room " — " Proper and Necessary" Purchases — Paying the Bills — Who Furnishes the Kettles and Saucepans? — How the White House Is Guarded. . . 145

Chapter IX

OFFICIAL LIFE AND WORK AT THE WHITE HOUSE — A DAY IN THE PRESIDENT'S PRIVATE OFFICE.

Inauguration Ceremonies — Old Time Scenes — A Disorderly Mob in the White House — Muddy Boots on Brocaded Chairs — Overturning the Punch on the Carpets — Disgraceful Scenes — The Presideut-Elect — Taking the Oath — Kissing the Bible — The Inaugural Ball — How the Retiring President and His Wife Depart From the White House — A Sad Spectacle — Scenes in the New President's Office — A Crowd of Office Seekers — " Swamped" with Applications — Privileged Callers — "Just To Pay My Respects" — The President's Mail — Requests for Autographs — Begging Letters — A Door That Is Never Closed — How the President Draws His Pay — A Deficit of One Cent. . 162