Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-01-26
REC0LLECTIONs OF A RECENT VISIT 70
WASHINGTON.
BY A PH1LADEL ELPHIIN,

MeSSTS. Edit0fs:-A So)Ourn of few
days in your beautiful city of Washing
ton, has impressed us favorably-a cir
cumstance, we believe, as rare as it is
uncommon for stranger. A majority
of those who pay the Metropolis visit,
leave with 10 very exalted opinion either
OF Its appearance or its denizens, if we
are to credit common rumor. In our
case, however, we confess we were highly
pleased with the general aspect of the
town, particularly so with the Presiden-
tial Mansion, the Capitol, and the several
public buildings, which represent at once
the grandeur and he glory of our coun-
try. The casual visitor cannot but be
filled with wonder and delight, if unp,e-
JUDGED, in inspecting their external and
internal beauties. The only great diff
Guilty in our mind is, that you cannot do
them Or yourself justice, from the fact
that 1t requires weeks, instead of days,
to comprehend and examine all the works
of art and genius contained in their
walls. There is much to study and con-
template. Even we, of PHILADELPHIA.
who maintain that no city in the world
can compete with us for beauty and reg
ularity in our streets, must knock under
to Pennsylvania Avenue. Viewed from
the Capitol, even at this dead season of
the year, it fills tie beholder with sensa-
tions of peculiar pleasure, and when the
trees that line much of its length are in
full bloom, its appearance must be en-
chanting. The Washington Monument
is another great feature, although but
partially finished. When that is accom-.
plished, it will be the grandest and most
imposing column in the world, both for
material and height. The bronze monu.
ment oc General jackson, mounted upon
his battle horse, is also an object of erat.
ulation. The artistical skill displayed in
this undertaking is pronounced perfect
by all who visit it. At short distance
from the base, you would be led to be-
lieye that the old hero is dashing head
long into the enemy's lines at the head of
his troops, SO lite-like and natural do
both horse and rider appear. 1t is cred
liable alike to the artist and the country
There are many rawbacks, however,
attending visit to Washington; sundry
circumstances having a strong tendency
to create the dissatisfaction SO often ex-
pressed by visiters to said city. The
extravagant rate of living is one of the
chief causes. Those who cater for the
appetite and convenience of the travelling
public, seem to have imbibed the idea
that all who visit Washington have, or
ought to have, pockets full of cash, hence
the extraordinarily high charges preva-
lent at all the hotels. A dollar for your
dinner, and a dollar for your bed, is all
very we'll in the abstract, but when com
PEELED to pay such prices, with cores
ponding rates for breakfast and supper, il
is scarcely in the nature Of man to repress
the feelings of complaint that rise upon
the occasion, more particularly if you are
hard up, or on allowance. Then, again,
each hotel and public place of resort is
nothing more nor less than a school of
examination. Every individual who en-.
ters, and the door is aiar seven eighths of
the time, night and day, deems it his par
ticular privilege to scrutinize your every
feature, doubtless expecting in the pro-
cess to find friend or patron, as the case
may be; and as this surreiLlande is perse-
vered in twenty out of twenty four hours,
disinterested persons cannot divest them
selves of the impression, that if the scru-
tinizers are not, the custom itself is
great bore. Outside of the high fare,
however, and this semi-police arrange
ment, there is much to commend. The
establishment where we registered our
name - the National hotels conducted
in ayoy able manrer. Every thing went
on smoothly, and like clock-work; the
servants attentive, and the general ar
rangement salts actory.
During our sojourn, We attended a
levee given by the President, and also
one at the mansion of the Postmaster er
General, Judge CT npbell. Our recollec-
ton of these two levees, independent Of
the other matters already mentioned, will
remain fresh in our memory for a long
time to come. The White House was q
study for poet and a painter. We never
dreamed of a more perfect fairy seen e
than met the eye at every turn. To say
that the beauty and fashion were present,
would be weak expression-all the city
were there. of both sexes, and all shook
hands with the President, who received
their compliments in his usual felicitods
and graceful manner-his esteemed lady