Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-07-29
IETrBR FROM WARRRNT'oN.

- WARRENros. Va, j uly 2sd. 1873.
ssMr. Editor :-Leaying Frederick CITY at
6;o'clock, a.. NJ, on Saturday, by 4 o clock.
p. NJ, via. the metropolitan Railroad, I was
pet down in Washington City, the city Of
magnificent distances, ~ as that singular
genius, John Randolph, Of Roanpoake, was
pleased to calli.. Ijudge that this gentIe-.
man man INDUCED in bit ofirony when; he uttered
the expression. The extensive scale on which
the city was planned, the distance between7th
public buildings, and the large space unoc-
cupied in many parts of it for years, doubt
less prevented Mr. Randolph from seeing the
realization of. the CONCEPTIONS of the original
founders, especially the city IN its present
dominion with its wonderful filing up. Soft
is. 1t is questionable whether the founders
of the Republic and the public men of fifty or
sixty sagoseriously contemplated SO vast
country in territory, population, humber and
| grandeur of cities and vastness Of material
greatness as: ours is at present. I passed
through the city in '66, but it was at night,
and could see but little, thought had no dis.
position to tarry long, for just at that period
it was not very healthy place for one of my
| way of thinking. My recollection of it is
before the war, and from what little / saw
this time, it was manifest the march of i'm
provement in the last decade of years has
been great I tarried over Sabbath, from
Saturday to Monday noon, with my good wife.
found kind reception and entertainment
at the delightful home of j. W. Middleton,
Esq, the Chief Clerk of the Supreme Court
of the United States, which is located on
Capitol Hill, about square from the Capitol
building, overlooking the city, and giving d
magnificent view of the same and the country
unf{ ho1 IL: T.z:1S
in view, the broad Potomac and Alexandria
in the distance, the heights of MARYLAND and
Virginia, arlington House with its white
columns-once the heme of Mrs. r. r. Lee
and institutions founded by the government
OF charitable nature. Take it all and in all
1t was big thing for me, and 1 enjoyed it
hugely. l rather have preference for this
panoramic looking at things, CHS grouping
together of objects, than to examine them 10
the rinGtiae. The latter somewhat confuses
me and is too much of good thing. Ijudge
Washington City is likely to continue the
Capital of the nation, tho ..'permanent seat"
We'no more hear. of removal to the westward
where the star Of Empire drifts Improve
ment is the rage. The Capitol grounds are
being enlarged, whole squares Of buildings
being torn down for the purpose, and just
about me where 1 staid, hundreds of shovels
and picks with carts, and busy hands were
plying, in carrying out the plans inausurated:
by the authorities. Wen, Uncle Sam has
plenty of money, for he makes it by the cord
almost, and scatters it literally. On Sabbath
DESTROYS of seeing the Metropolitan Methodist
Church, (North,) of which had read and
heard so much, l wendell my way thitherward
Being on hand too soon for public service I
dropped into the Sabbath School room, where
L heard some sweet singing. But there was
recognized. On enquiry learned that Young
Mr.. Havener, a grandson of Rev. Norval
Wilson, and nephew of Mrs. W. W. b. Gal
laher, was to preach in the absence of Mr..
Tiffany, the regular pastor, who had gone, on
trip to Europe. I was introduced to the
young minister, who invited me to assist him
IN the service. Anxious to see the chief au-
detorlum and through sympathy to the youth
ful preacher, T consented. and with him sat
in the pulpit of the grand structure, for such
it is in fact, though not equal to the Mount
Vernon place church of the same denomina-
ton in Baltimore, in beauty of finish aud
architectural richness Mind you, this is
Gen. Grants church, and there was his pew,
though he was absent Mt Long Branch. I
made the opening and closing prayers sincere
| ly invoking Gods blessing on the President of
the United States, for I thought he needed
all the prayers he could get, and if my feeble
one would help him to be better man, he
was welcome to it. The young minister
preached we'll. Enpassant I may say. with.
out attaching any significance or worth to the
thing, l guess, l was the first minister of the
NJ. 70. Church South that was ever il that
pulpit. "Let us have peace"
On Monday went to Alexandria and spent
the night. The old town was my home for
three of nay youthful years. looked u little
around and could but mark great improve
ments since l was last there. The most noted
was the new market>house built on the site of
the old, which was burned in ri. Many
,fne structures, public and private, we're
noticeable. I looked in the old store room
where piled the yard stick--Btt the men Of
that day, where are they? A large number
have passed to the "bourne from whence no
traveller returns" They have laid tracks and
for week ola King st. has been 'enlivened
with street cars. Quite an item for the
ancient city. After a pleasant two hours ride
via. the Orange & Alex. r. r. on Tuesday
morning I am in Warrenton, my natal spot,
but of this more anon. I conclude this by
saying grand ball came off to night among
the "ton," just across the street from my
Uncle's, where I am staying. am fearful
my slumbers will be disturbed by the music
and dancing and frolickers. The building is
now town hall, but was once church, and
| have preached the pure word of life in it.
The world joys along.
Yours, &C.. TIMOTHY