Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-02-09
G0rrtspon0tutt.
Letter from DR.. Kitchen.
PHILADELPHIA. Jan. 81. '55.

~
DRAR AMEmcAS:-I promised you
report Of my recent observations ere
this: but being surrounded by such
multiplicity Of them, | found II i'm.
possible to extract even a dispatch. un-
Ill had gained the port, hauled In
sail, and cast anchor.
My journey from Cincinnati to Wash
ington City appeared almost magical
occupying only twenty.eight hours.
| was burdenod but little with dietetics,
and none nj oil with sleep. did sue
coed, however, in buying five cents
worth Of minec pic apology. for break.
fast, and paid half n dollar FOR Eve
minutes "piteh in" at the tea.table,
while crossing the Ohio In ferry.
boat.
/ was sorry that our tour through
the Alloghanios was during nlght.fall,
for was anxious 10 have daylight
view Of the mountains, The night
was n beautiful one, though, tho silye.
ry rays OF starlight gliding the lofty
peaks with most beautiful and ~"
mantle tingo, from which echoed the
the familiar chorus
aeome, arouse thee, my brave Iron iieTsel
Take Thy train, make Thy time, and awaSi'---
We reached Harper's Ferry just At
day.broak. and In a few hour moro !
found myself In washington--a city
famous for political manufactures. fne
looking men, fascinating women, hacks,
distances, and-late suppers. II 10
much handsomer. and its area much
greater than ! expected 10 find. The
streets are very Wide and clearly. The
public buildings arc substantial In
structure and elegant In model.
The Capitol. situated on beauti-
full emlnenee at the east end OF Penn
sylyania Avenue. Ia a magnificent
structure. surrounded by twenty acres
Of ground most tastefully ornamented.
and commanding a fine view Of the
city. the Smithsonian Institute. Wash
ington Monument, (which. Us yet. Is
only 100 feet high. and the placid
waters Of tho Chesapeake.
Congress being In session. repair
cd to the Hall; and owe many thanks
TO my friend Hon. S. w. Parker, foi
his Kindness IN leading me up into q
high pinnacle. and pointing out III,
prominent actors In the great political
drama. with n short history Of theil
feats and their glory-thc latter ex
eeedingly short with many.
l silently watched their Legislation
for some hours; and came 10 the con
clusion that greatness is generally IL
"direct proportion TO the square Of III,
distance" Such confusion and mat
tention seemed TO mo entirely unwor'
thy their position and trust. Chewing
splitting, whispering, rustling of news
papers, moving from seat 10 seat-a
dozen voices calling simultaneously,
"Mr. Speaker. Mr.. Speaker" = the
successful one, who obtained the floor
would combine his power Of rhetoric
and eloquenee with vehemence. rs !
a dreadful crisis was just at hand, snd
nobody paying any attention TO him
In the Senate l found q diferen
state Of things. Dignity, age. anC
experience were there. Not all Of tina
class, however, for Bright and Douglas
are comparatively young.
i found the officers in the Navy-yart
very afiable, and plea'ed to impart any
information in their nc to the inquir
ing visitor,
But the most interesting curiositiei
that meet the eye of the stranger IL
Washington arc the immense cabinets
of Science and Art, Natural History
Including immense varieties in Zoolo
gy. Ornithology. Mineralogy, and &c
ology,) rare specimens OF natura
curiosities. habit or genus. from almos
every tribe Of men upon the face o
the earth.
Here too. are deposited relies o
honor, ever sacred to an American
heart; the sword Of the Ilustriou