The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1869-03-02
CORR Spondgtce.
-. D. q ~. 72 ea

WAssISsToS, ID G., Feb p. ea
In attempting 70 ehronicle for yoar
readers a few basir notes shout mat
ters and things heTe, | shall nol invade
the inner Coansels oi Congress or a.
snme The role oi privileged character
among the "big uns' oi the Gov~6n.
ment, Int write for The teneGt Of those
Who have never aud may never visit
the city q magnificent distances. -
OF course, TO Que who has never beeG
here, upon nearing the seat OF our Gov.
erpmeut, and the scenes incident 10
our lats great and terrible war, every
place Of interest ls yividiy brought t0
tue memory long before tnsy are pre-
senied 10 the eye. Al along the rail-
road between Pbisadelphia and this
city are still 10 bs seen relies Of old for
tihcatiens and earthworks; aud at Bal
/ limore, Nd, one feels as though the
first battlefield is Tsachsd-as indeed
is the case, Niue years have passed
with their long lists OF thrilling inci-
dents, carrying Sidowhood, orphanage
aud desolation 70 50 many once happy
homes and hearts; turning plantations
and whole townships into rash cemeie-
ries; striking the shacklss Of slavery
from millions Of human beings; yet
amid all these incidents, one cannot
forget Maj Winthroh and the 10th
Massachusetts regiment, and il seems
as though the blood Of those men were
still upon the payements of Baltimore
The shock from Sumpter had been felt
in our Green Mountain homes, and its
force added to by this disgraceinl mur-
der
At the Relay House, quite prominent
in the early days Of the rebellion. the
train stopped first, after leaving Balti-
more On the right OF the truck stands,
or floats, a little one-and a half story
hotel in the center Of an immense mud
puddle, on the stoop Of which were half
dozen examples Of not altogether
fruitless attempts to bleach the African
II am not prepared 70 say by whose
process. The hens stood winking and
blinking around on one foot in the sun
or picking at the dry dirt, etc, which
covered the floor, Ca practice which our
hens in Vermont indulge in, a few old
brown buildings half mile to the left,
an intervening swamp, cut through
yellowish rock, where we passed
There are many things to be seen
here admirable, wonderful and ridicu-
Ions all interesting, aud specimens Of
which can be seen at the capitol. Once
within the great iron fence we fnd that
Instead of the rough, uneven brick pave
ments OF the avenue, We have broad
marble walks, arcbed by tall trees, with
here an1 there massive iron sofas. -
What this place must be in summer,
with all these trees futtering their por
geous apparel, and these fountains send |
ing their clear water up among the .
leaves. can only imagine, but it is su- /
premely grand to-day with nothing but /
these bare trees reaching out their
brawny arms to each other over the
busy crowd hurrying TO and from.
Going from Pennsylvania avenue we
enter the Rotunda, the main entrance
of the capitol The House of Repre-.
sentatiVes is in the right wing, lsouth +
and tho Senate 10 the left wing, north T
Over the door we enter to the Rotunda
Is the scene, wrought in marble, Poca-
hontas saving the life Of Capt. Smith.
Eight fine paintings surround the room,
lt~o between each o. the doors, about
IA by 10 feet. The first to the right is
the surrender Of Burgoyue at Saratoga,
Oct, l777 The next IS the signing ol
the Declaration of Independence in old
Independence Hall, Philadelphia l77G.
Passing the door to the House won
come to the Baptism Of Pocahontas. l.
The next is by far the finest painting at
the capitol, II represents DR. Soto dis.
covering the Mississippi river, many
gaze upon il for hours and is indeed
lost IN admiration of its beauty and
distinctiyeness. Passing the east door
se come 10 the landing OF Columbus,
Oct. 1892, apparently the oldest pant
ing here, it is somewhat cracked, bat i
still fine specimen Of art. The next
Is the embarkation Of the Pilgrims Ju-
y Il, 1920 Passing the door 10 the
Senate the next picture is Gen. Wash
ngton resigning bis commission 10
congress- at Annapolis. Nd, Dec %.
1883 The next is the surrender Of
CORVALLIS at yorktown, Va. Oct, II
j. This completes the cree. Over
he door Of the Senate is representa-
ion, cut in marble. 0f the Indian
Treaty of 1902. and over the east door
> a representation, executed in the
anne way, Of the landing Of a Pilgrim
'Oat, an Indian in the act Of handing
hem an ear Of corn.
he last two paintings mentioned
nd the GRIT one-Surrender nt Com