Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-12-15
A Visit to the Capital,
IrnoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENCE

DINO river, Cneal Eldue Ndlley TdllIudu anu tut
Potomac, is very pleasant route for change
from the more direct and usually lrequented
way of travel. Some OF the railways, over
which this course passes, have one admirable
and distinctive feature in particular-the sentry
system used Acknowledgements being made of
"alPs well" at regular intervals along the route,
thus giving passengers on the fastest trains
feeling Of almost perfect security.
The first part of the journey through Illinois
and Indiana, is over the ocean-like prairie with
its ever repeating monotony, relieved only by
an occasional oasis of the bright green Ierdurc
of winter wheat. This offers little worthy of
special observation, and therefore the varying
beauties of the Ohio valley and the Alleghcnies
are very gladly welcomed.
Cincinnati effectively courts the attention of
travellers, and detainS them few days to enjoy
her many attractions and to see her latest lions,
the handsOmest monumental fountain in Amer
lea, and the largest suspension bridge in the
world
After leaving the queen city of the west, and
her picturesque surroundings of dragged bluffs
and gentle wales, of peOpled hills and vine-clad
valleys the lightning express for the national
capital winds gracefully along Il e meandering
tributaries Of the Ohio river, now darling across
tanciful bridges and rushing through dismal
tunnels, then skirting large vineyards and i'm
mense cOrn-feds and ever and anon atfUrdmg al
ternatiug glimpses of bold ACTIVITY and deep
ravine, of dashing cascades and gushing streams,
forest and copse, undulating plain and elevated
plateau in pleasing succession until the Allie
ghenics are reached at Parkersburg, where the
Ohio river is crossed on the new and magnif-
cent iron bridge, which is one mile and third
in length, and nearly one hundred feet in
height
At Parkersburg we stopped over night, and
the next day dawned auspiciousy for travel
among the mountains, and in anticipating fine
ocular feast there was no danger of disappoint-
ment The charming scenery realized our high
est expectations and was certainly beyond any
ordinary pen or picture description; the Cheat
river valley is particularly grand and inspiring,
although unclassical in associations, and COM
priscd many clements and characteristics of the
sublime in nature. As seen from the cars by
the illumination of a noon-day sun, this cele-
brated valley presented the peculiar charm Of
wonderful panoramic evolutions and rapidly
changing perspectiyes, which added 10 its merits
of great size and interesting geological form
ations it should be seen by every lover of
American as well as of foreign natural scenery;
and good connoisscur and extensive traveller
said that "the view OF this one valley alone was
worth trip across the Atlantic"
In order to see the whole mountain district by
daylight VIC remained one night at the prettily
situated town of Cumberland, and the next day
brought us through delightful views of land
scape to the PERCEPTIONS banks, deep gorges
and noble bluffs of the Potomac at Harper's
Ferry, from which place to this city there was
nothing Of remarkable Importance.
In travelling west and east, it is curious to no.
tce the very apparent fact, that inhabitants of
certain sections of the country migrate to cor
responding latitudes; the stalwart lumbefman
from the pineres of Maine we find in the big
woods of northern Minnesota, welding with
agile hand the sharp forerunner of an on.com-
ing civilization, and slashing the giants of the
forest for the consumption of commercial
feeder; in Wisconsin and southern Minnesota
the New England aud New York farmers and
mechanics discover u eongenial field of indus
try, and on every hand we notice the patent
evidences of thrift, energy and moral advance
ment, seeing which NO one can really believe in
the hackneyed "degeneracy of the times, but
rather in the fertile thought that "al things are
working together for good, )" for the best and for
truth. In Iowa, Missouri and other states we
observe the same facts, aud find people of the
middle states keeping their distance" from the
Z 4 A.
more northern brethren.
Since our last visit here there have been and
are continuing to be made many useful and
much needed as well as ornamental improve
ments; and the new streets of asphalmm and
Nicholson pavements, wider sidewalks, with
richer styles of private residences are fast trans
forming Washington into an interesting and de-
sirabe place Of residence. AT both ends of the
avenue there are several changes for the better
and the new drives, promenades, terraces and
partcrres give the beautiful and two nobest ed
| ifices more fitting and palatial appearance.
| Among the inconsistencies of arrangement in
| our capitol building there is one which time has
not effaced or legislation abolished, and that is
| the congressional peanut stand As appropriate
were the money changers in the temple as this
unseeemly exctescence, desecrating the dignity
of II great nations hall of Justice To say the
| least, its presence there is in very bad taste
and must impress travellers from abroad with
sense of the ludicrous and the literal democracy
of our liberal institutions. OF course, it is an
oversight, but the responsible committee Unjust
| have a very elevated range of vision not to per-
ceive so gross a violation of propriety, or poor
| ideal of appropriateness Happily there is far
more to praise and admire than there is to criti-
| else.
One day last week we avaed ourselves of an
unusually favorable opportunity for making a
morning call upon President Grant, which was
fortunately without the tedious formality of
state pr esentation. We found him all alone in his
modest apartment, sitting at the end of a long Ia
Bile with a large amount of manuscript business
before him, the individual merits of which he was
contemplating over the fragrant fumes of an
atter-breakfast Havana. He appeared to enjoy
little depression from the dull routine Of
official considerations, and conversed IN an in.
tercsted manner on two or three special subjects
| of general concern.
| In both houses of congress it is pleasant to
| observe fuller and almost complete representa-
ton of members, and the aspect of their delib-
| erations now wears the sembance of wonted ac-
tiyity in times past. Yesterday and to-day we
noticed the usual amount of badinage in the
| senate, and much amusement was caused when
the irrepressible smiles of the noted Indiana SEN
| ator (caused by an unstated desire for early adj
iournment,) were playfully referred to by the
acknowledged lion of the senate, of whom his
constituents may properly be proud, for none
arc nobler, though many are gentler. The
house of representatives is the same busy bee
hive as ever; and among its heroes of many bat
ties we sec a new element-the representatives
who are not of the plain complexion
Among all officers of the government, from
lowly page to digniied president, it is pleasant
to notice general uniformity of polteness. 1t
is particularly noticeable in our popular vice
president, whose contagious affability emanates
from that high station with good effect, and
eXerts potent influence for "the graces'' of the
celebrated and critical English lord Occasion
ally we observe an arbitrary style of clearing
Il