Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-07-25

FoRT wAsHINeToS-MouNr vERsoS-wHIrE
HoUsE-GLYMoSI-THE RIvER-THE STEAM
ER, &c, &c.
STEAMER PowHATAN,
On tAe Potomac, Conrsing SoEth,cdrd,
mo. 81 July 81, 1889. y
The condition Of this staunch steamer illustrates
what proper care and management will accom-
plish Five years is a fair, effective lifetime for
Mississippi steamer; whereas the Powhatan has
not only been longest in service upon the Potomac
but is safe, comfortable and agreeable az either
Of the more modern built steamers Of the line
than which no other such ships combine more
advantages for the traveller. Her commander,
Capt Charles Mitchell has been from early youth
running the river, until he has become IS much
an incident Of avoyage to Norfolk as his father
wasfor near half a century. We question whether
a steamer commander ever sailed more miles with
fewer aceidents than the senior Mitchell, and the
son bids fair to rival the sire in that particular.
Though not yet middle-aged man, he has "run
the river and bay for twenty -four years. il we
not mistaken, without casualty. The secret Of
his exemption from them is the order and regu-
larity with which the boats affairs are managed
no hustle, confusion or noise being permitted on
her. Though antiquated in the style Of her fitting
up, the security and substantial comforts one en-
joys upon her tend to please the traveller more
than the concomitanu Of the crack land neces-
ssrily crank steamers 1t is now fashionable to
build.
The river is almost az smooth to-day a. the sur
face of glass mirror, and very little air stirs.
But in my seat forward, on the upper deck,
| enjoy breeze from the boats motion) most en-
viable on the part Of friends left in the parched
| thoroughfares of Washington. The glare Of the
sun reflected on the placid waters, disturbed ever
and anon by the plunge of a sturgeon or other
large fish, flashes rays of silver gold into ones
eyes and thus alone dsturbs the quiet and luscious
GOODNESS of the voyage.
Fort w ashington our left, was the first point
Of note passed after leaving Alexandria. No pic
mic party being there, it Wore look Of sombre
desolation. Gradually, for years past it has been
| becoming in the popular mind an obsolete idea as
| fertilization. Military men, however, regard its
due preservation and Improvement as essential to
the defence of Washington, Alexandria, and
Georgetown. Congress, for twelve years past,
though squandering the public money on itself
| and legislating with free hand in expanding
Congressional perqusites and privileges, has made
crusade against the nations defences. The
| member representing the district composed of
mountain Businesses knows little more Of the ne
cessities Of the coasts of his country, than of
| those Of the Chinese seas; and the member who
owes his election to his talent for combining the
efforts OF small politicians, officeseekers, grog
shop loafers, ct al, comprehends that the class
| whose floating votes elect him. is down on'' any
other expenditures from the Federal treasury than
such as are made in his own district, so two very
large classes Of the honorable gentlemen of the
| times leave no stone unturned to defeat apprO-
| priations for Notifications.
1 AS a consequence, Fort Washington, though
said to be in good repair, looks most like huge
| funeral monument, such one pictured as
| having been dsentombed from the arid sands in
| which for centuries On centuries the lately dis
| covered wonders Of the Egyptian world have been
smothered To be sure grass grows around it, and
rich forest background serves to make 1t impress
sive the Observers eye. Yet 1t is thus made to
look only dingy, dingier, dingiest as the voyager
| approaches, passes and rapidly recedes from 1t. A
formidable place 1t Is capable Of being made, be-
| yond question Modern Improvements in mill
| tary gunnery have been such that with very
| inconsderable expenditure II may easily be made
| impregnable to any force that can possibly be
brought mp the river against il. In these times,
however, when the people send to Congress men
| who devote themselves to securing public plumber
for their g strikers" and approach their constit-
uents' hearts by endeavorng to reduce the pttance
paid as DAYS wages to skilled laborers for the
Government in the way Of perfecting those ini-
Provements and avaling the country of them, be-
1 cause negro labor can be obtained for less money
in the Interior IL is almost folly to hope that any
thing short of a war-nvolving the possible de
struction OF the Governments vast property ia the
| District of Columbia-will induce Congress to
place Fort Washington on proper footing.
The White House Pavilion, substantial and
handsome building, is Just now opposite on m !.
|
with Britain, between a scouting party of our mi
ltia and small detachment landed from Admiral
Cockburn's feet; which, ending in an American
victory will surely be talked over in the chimney
corner long as Fairfax and Prince William are
blessed with g oldest inhabitant 4" This season
few pleasure parties visit the White House, as it
is not kept regularly open though it has been of
late years the scene of much Washington, Alexan-
dria and Georgetown festivity.
A few miles further down on my left Glymon
is opening to view. 1t was a happy thought to
nestle in its little gorge the beautiful pavilion
with which it is graced. The foreground Of
verdure slopes gently mp to 1t, and behind 1t are
The winding walks skirting precipitous hills
overhung with fantastic foliage, anon affording
well-nigh impenetrable shade and then opening
suddenly to the peering eyes Of the jealous lover
Amid the intricacies of these walks, and around
the cool spring they encircle, any amount Of
counting has been done for three years past
Glymont being the favorite resort of the lovers
Of the District and surrounding country. No
such place is better kept or more patronized. All
is hustle and excitement at its little wharf at
which the Powhatan is now moored for an in
slant The appearance of Sunday school pic
mic party in its pavilion and rambling in its
pleasant groves, as we now sail rapidly by, CON-
pletes a very beautiful picture, indeed.
On my right is Mount Vernon, the appearance
of which has changed in no particular In forty
years. l am not among those who commend Mr.
Washington's sale Of it to any others than the
General Government or the State Of Virginia
My fear is that, in female hands especially, il will
soon become a sort of close corporation for the
benefit Of spectators, or Of the agents Of the
society owning it. Such has been the fate of more
CT less such public trusts; and year by year the
spirit OF speculation has been so increasing, and
the publics disinclination to It's success by repre-
hensible means has been 20 decreasing, as that few
will he surprised IT, in ten years after the ladies
really own It, 1t becomes virtually the property Of
hoo. Nahn h.v TIA