The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-06-06
THE EDITORIAL EXCURSION.
WASHINGTON, June 3, 1874

WASHINGTON, June 3, 1874.
The 'bucolic Journalists" as the Chicago
papers delight to call the Illinois editors on
the present excursion to the east, among
whom, by the way, is pretty strong sprink-
ling of Chicago editors, arrived, 1870 strong,
at Washington at noon on Monday, having
left Chicago on the preceding Thursday, ar
irving ON the evening of the same day at Gin
cinnati Let it be noted to the credit of the
'lcadheads" that they paid their own fare
cheerfully, herocially and manfully, and are
under no obligations to any "blarstcd monop.
olists" for favor in that way.
/ At Cincinnati day was spent, and all the
attention shown the eXcursionists that they
could IN reason expect. A formal reception
was given them by the Board of Trade in the
forenoon, and then, after big dinner at the
Gibson house, carriages were furnished, and
they were driven to Spring Grove and other
notable points about the city.
Left Cincinnati at 80 on Friday evening
| in three Pullman Palace cars, over the Balti.
more and Ohio r. r., for Baltimore and
Washington. The transportation" furnished
us by the company was all that could be
wished, and the attendance faultlessly cour-
teous and polite. Much Of the journey, of
course, was in the night, but daylight next
morning met US in the midst of the mountains,
and no one can appreciate our enjoyment Of
the magnificent scenery who has not, like us,
upon this splendid r. II. route, passed such
picturesque and historic points as Cumber-
land, Mart,nsburg, Harper's Ferry and all the
way up the Potomac to Washington, every
mile of which teens with rich legends and
thrilling memories.
Arrived at Baltimore at s 80 Saturday eve
ming, and had good nights rest. Sunday
morning most of the eXcursionists went to
such churches as they fancied, and in the af:
ternoon such as felt like it visited Druid Hill
Park, famed for its beauty Fort MclIenry,
the Old Cathedral, and other places of note,
of which there is no end about this beautiful
city.
Monday morning at 10 80 we left for Wash.
ington, arriving there, as already stated, at
noon, and stopping at Wizards, the biggest
caravansary or tavern" l had yet encoun-
terd.
Here we found ourselves at once pleasantly
IN the care of the congressional delegation of
our own state and the illinois Association"
an association of government employees
and other residents of Illinois temporarily
sojourning here.
Their programme involved trip on the
Potomac in the afternoon by the steamer Gar.
row" TO Mt. Vernon. The tip is delight
full one 1t takes in its way the picturesque
and venerable city of Alexandria, and Fort
Foote and Washington, the "Whle Hail."
&c. Mt. Vernon, of which of course can
venture on no description, is looking its best
at this season, gay with choice flowers and
all the glory of exubcrant vegetation. The
return from this trip was not accomplished
until nearly II at night, when all were quite
resigned to seek repose.
Tuesday under the most welcome leader
ship and guidance already intimated, we
made the tour Of the ditiernt departments
the Treasury, Post Office, Interior, Smithson-
ian Institute, &c, and lastly the capitol,
where we saw the men you read Of" in har
ness and at work l will not say, with the
green Vermonter l have heard you speak Of,
that in my first impressions of Washington
the public buildings astonished me on &C
count OF their magnitude and the men on ac-
count of their littleness, but such feeling
certainly does steal over one after brief
stoppage here.
In the evening we had grand reception
at Wizards, which included ieasting, music,
dancing, and good time generally; but |
have strung this out already to tedious
length, and will make no attempt he go into
details.
To-day we interview the President, and
make some further explorations about the
city, leaving for homc at night by the same
splendid route that brought US hither,-that
is, most of the excursionists, for some will
strike of towards Philadelphia, New York,
&c, More anon. II.