The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-07-11
(From the Washington Capieal.)
Our Rural Artist.
WHAT lie SAW AND DID ON HIS FIRST VISIT
TO TIE CAPITAL CITY.

WHAT lie SAW AND DID ON HIS FIRST VISIT
70 TIE CAPITAL CITY.
After finding clearinghouse, I immedi
ately visited the capital building, not only tc
see the largest building in which own
any interest, (this, you know, belongs to the
people, but to meet the senator's and mem
bers from my own State. l met Senator
Hopity- Three, whom I had helped to
eject, and who told me at the time how very
glad he was to get my help. He now look
ed blandly on me, failed to remember my
name, and when told who was, took ME
tenderly by the hand, and, on account OF
pressing business, asked to be excused.
excused him, and turned on my heel wiser
and sadder man, and with strange rehec.
tions left the door of the Senate and passed
through long hall under the dome, and
through another long hall beyond the dome,
to the House of Representatives. Here at
the door 1 met man dressed up in brass
buttons, who asked what wanted. told
himI wished to see Colonel Jackson O..
He kindly asked me to wait until he saw it
the Colonel was in the House. He soon re-
turned, said he was, and told me that-since
this was Saturday, the day in which no
business is done, the day in which the men,
bers read hong speeches to which nobody
listens and get loudly applauded when no
one hears-I could go in, and in Invent. L
saw the several congressman from. my State,
who met me kindly, and when told l was to
stay.some weeks, asked me to call often,
and by every mark ofkindness and considera-
ton made me feel under many obligations.
Inext followed Ben Butler down in the
cellar ofthe Capitol building to large eat
ing-house. I was not hungry-I never
drink--so stood and looked at Ben until L
found it necessary to move on to keep from
smiling audibly. at that comical-looking
countenance which he carries with him.
I now went round into another part Of
the cellar where is o statue of Tecumseh,
the Indian chief, as natural as life and
twice as large. 1 looked at this about FIVE
minutes, and passed round to the statue OF
the kind-hearted phlianthropist and states
man, Abraham Lincoln. I looked on this
with strange emotions of love for the man,
but not with the same delight as on his
statue up stairs, which was made by that
versatile, irresistible little artist, Winnie
Ream.
] now went out on the portico in the
center of the building where are several
more pictures and statues, one of which l
took to be Victoria c Tilton, who with one
eve not quite as wide open as'the other is
looking strong athletic man, who holds a
play ball in his right hand, lovingly in the
face, inspiring him to throw the ball over
into woods pasture to George Washington,
who with uplifted hand sits ready to catch
1T on the fly.
now went down the steps, across the
road, through a gate and into the field
where George is kept. l found him perch
ed up ON a wall about six feet high, made
Of nice speckled stone hewed smooth with a
pick. now had the pleasure of seeing
the'serene countenance of the Father OF his
Country. I should have enjoyed it much
better had not q man with smooth plug
hat and new store clothes, who seemed to
know, said it was not a good statue. He
further told me it cost $40, 900; and that it
broke a ship all to pieces in bringing it
over from Rome.
While standing in front of the statue saw
that George had lost the first joint Of the
great toe on his left-hand foot This, the
man who wore the store clothes told ME,
was shot off while acting as aid to General
Braddock in the war between the English
assisted by the American colonies, against
the French aided.by the Indians, and which
war happened some time before the ReVolu-
tion.
Inow passed round to the north side of
the statue, where man is driving team Of
spirited horses hitched to cart. The man
is standing up on the cart and holding the
reins in his left hand and a black-snakc
whip (painted white) in his right. He
has Just given one Of the horses sharp
stroke with the whip and has raised the whip
TO strike the other horse. The horses see
their danger and have reared on their hind
feet for run, and have the appearance of
making it lively for the driver unless he sits
down and behaves himself.
I next went on the south side of the statue
where are two children, one lying on its
face, evidently to keep the sun off while it
takes nap; the other, half reclining on its
back and holding large worm in its right
hand while another worm is wound around
its left arm, getting badly hurt by being
pressed between the arm and the stone: |
make no doubt this child is intent on going
a-fshing, and is holding these worms for
bait to be used as soon as the sleepy one will
wake up and 90 with him.
But there was one thing that sorely per:
picked me, and concerning which l could
arrive at no satisfactory conclusion; and
like Wise man who always conhdes in the
better judgment of his wife, I fastened home
and found her. ! asked her to 60 with me
to the field; I led her around on the south
side of the statue and showed her the child
rem and asked her to inform me with regarc
to the sex. I think she at first failed to gel
my mean ing, when in my most winning
tones 1 asked,
care they boys or girls ?"
Her eve now twinkled; her lips wreathet