I entered Washington about the middle of February and speedily secured a site on which to erect an academy. The place selected was on Pennsylvania avenue, and the building I erected was of capacity sufficient to contain three thousand persons. I announced a public exhibition, and on this, the first day of opening, the place was filled to the utmost. At the close of the exhibition I invited those of the audience so disposed, to unite in forming a class. A large number responded to this call, and, as I entered on my work, I was encouraged by finding the numbers increasing by hundreds. This nerved me to the utmost, and at length, in sixty days, my class had reached the gratifying number of two thousand five hundred and five persons!
President Grant intimated his desire to take private lessons, and requested me to organize a class to meet in the forenoon of each day. This I did, and I soon had the honor of imparting instruction to such a class of distinguished men as have rarely, if ever beside, been gathered together for a similar purpose. The President invited some special friends to join him in acquiring the knowledge he desired, and soon I numbered in my class men distinguished in the pursuits of arms, politics, literature, and theology, many of whom would rank with the foremost men of the world. Amongst them were President Grant, General Sherman, Surgeon General Barnes, General Fremont, General Porter, General Babcock, General Mechler, Judge Advocate General Holt (the highest position in the army), General Eli Parker, Count Catacazy, the Russian Minister; Count Turenne, of the French Legation; P. H. Le Poor, French Legation; H. S. Le Strange, of the British Legation: Commodore Ammen, Commodore Pickering, Senator McDonald, Senator Stockton, Hon. W. H. Hooper, Rev. Dr. Newman, Chaplain to the Senate; Senator Sprague, Governor Cooke, and many others of high rank and standing.
As is well known, in the national capital may be found learned and talented men from almost every nation, and as there are gathered objects of interest to all, a brief sketch of what met my eyes may not prove out of place.
First of all is the renowned “White House,” the home of the honored head of our nation, and now occupied by President Grant and his family. It has been said that
“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,”
and a similar declaration might be made of the occupant of the Presidential chair; few have found it to be an easy seat. The servants of a public jealous of their rights and privileges, and exposed to the adverse criticism of selfish and disappointed opponents, even the most generous and well-meant movements of those filling that high position are liable to misconception and ridicule. There may be no personal dislike, yet the public, ever on the qui vive for news of those in high life, are seldom disposed to scrutinize a spicy story, whoever it may strike. In this land every man who deserves them has his friends, and none, however deserving, are without some enemies.
The external appearance of the “White House” somewhat disappointed me; yet it is a magnificent structure, with massive pillars in front, while the interior does credit to the good taste of those in charge.
The Red Room, being generally selected for the receptions held by the President and his wife, is very handsomely furnished in velvet and drapery, the color of which corresponds with the name of the room. I must, however, express my preference for the Blue Room; its light shade of satin damask, with gold, is so chaste and elegant that one could scarcely dream of a fairy-land more beautiful; and at “morning receptions,” from two till five P. M., the guests being received in this room, it is rendered doubly beautiful by the elegant toilettes of our American and foreign ladies, who crowd it with the beauty and fashion of the metropolis.
The large East Room, which occupies that entire end of the building, is elegantly furnished, while the walls are hung with life-size portraits, in oil, of Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and others who have formerly filled the highest national office, but who now have passed away.