Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-03-23
wssh.n.tsa's Birthday In Alexandria
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 1879.
B1iser Of f1s (3rozL.ls.

"ssSi41lSItli DiEIuUdy WAS celeDra-
ted with rather more earnestness i'm
this vicinity this year than is usual.
Whether it is owing to the fact that it
had Just baen lPgalized as Il holiday.
we know not There is usually but lit
tie notice tasen of it here. A few more
people on the street than at other times
and perhaps little better dressed;
but seldom anything more.
There was in this city parade of the
military in the morning and one of the
fire department in the afternoon; but the
Dig time WIS to be across the river at
the queer old city of Alexandria, and
as 1t was the order of the day for all
Washington to 60 over, we went.
Trains were announced to run across
every hour, and boats continually.
As the cars are So much more conven-
ieit than the boats, the majority EN-
ployed that mode of transportation,
and our party among the rest.
We went To the depot and found
long train waiting, bat no seats that
were vacant. Inside the Cars the seats
and aisles were packed, and outside, the
platforms were crowded. We had hard
ly gotten seat on the wood-box when
the train WAS off.
Down we went towards the river
very slowly-at : rate of speed which
did not much increase at any time
and acrnss the old Long Bridge" and
out on Virginia soil, across a long low
stretch where we were jostled and JOLT
ed with many stops-so many. indeed.
that a passenger declared that boy OH
foot had passed us three times-until
the final stop in Alexandria.
We were landed Orwell no matter
what street; we don't know ourselves,
but SUPPOSE it was King or Queen, or
Prince or Princess, or Duke or Duchess
street. Anyhow we are positive that
1T had some royal name, for the streets
here. so far as we could learn, are all
named for the nobility.
We were scarcely landed on this aris-
tocratic street when the procession
came filing hy. 1t WAS of course like
all other professions. Tie brass bands
Were surrounded by crowds of bows
white and black, and some men and
women Of the latter color, who splash
ell through the mud in perfect time.
Then there WAS the miIitia compa-
MES, followed 10y the fire department.
and other associations, not too numer-
Gus but tho unimportant to mention.
In fact this would not lIave-been a very
long parade If the different divisions
hal marched within Il block or so of
one other. Bat yet ii had knack of
displaying itself that was very wonder
full; for turn which way we would all
the fore part OF that day we were sure To
meet that procession.
After viewing it for half dozen
times we wandered about town until
dinner time. Wandered through a
great many old streets and past the
house where Colonel Ellsworth was
assasslnated, from the outside of which
the American flag is now floating.
but perhaps the sentiment OH the Inside
is as bitter yet as it was fifteen years
ago.
After we had wandered about a long
time, We found ourselves down by the
river near the ferry house, and in front
of "a dining-saloon, which we entered.
But Alexandria is n very poor place to
get diDner-that is. if this establish
ment is to be taken as an example.
The sides of the room We're Inrtitioned
off into little clnsets with red curtains
In front, To shut from view the tables
and the guests; but the guests on this
day dad not seem very anxious To be-
shut out; there was head stuck from
behind most every curtain, believing
an order to a little boy with "A large
head, vino was the most deliberate lit
tie boy we have ever seen. The loud
shouts and frantic gestures Of his Gus
toners did not appear to worry him in
the least; he kept on softly whistliDg a
popular air. waiting on whom he chose,
and omitting those he saw fit, and alto
gether doing things IL suit his own
pleasure.
Our party, evidently did not impress
this little fellow fayurably, for after
waiting long time to get table, We
had IN wait still longer before this wal
ter boy would take the least notice of
us. and teen only To the extent of two
dishes of oysters; the third of our party
got nothing.
After this ''repast" we again contin.
ued our tour of inspection. This time
we strnlled among the old wh,rves and
warehouses. many uf which We suppose
were familiar landmarks for water
marks) to George Washington. There
was not much stir on these old wlaryes
and in these old warehouses that day.
and most of the craft in the river wert
ara their holiday attire of old bunting
aud washed linen.
We walked up "a narrow col,l'le paved
street. but then all the streets are paw
ed with coll,.e stone there. and solnt
are well developed cObb!e stones al
that, and have been laid for years
'.L0ok Il here" said an old native
pointing out this fact I" us, this Vel
street is bin paved for fifty or hun
q ed years, an il Is jest as good How "a.
il userer be." W.. were not much sur
prised ut that. for the size of snne oi
the rocks would prevent any same driv
er fro n risking his vehicle on them.
We went up u street until we came. t.
church, th.lt tnod at the Lead OF 1t
This church was surrounded 10y Z
churcli-ya d. through Il gate of which
a great many people were passing IL
and out. We inquired of Il little dar
key boy what church il was, and were
informed that il was 'Gawge Washin'
toms church, and with this infnrn.s
tion we entered Tie gateway with tin
crowd In the yard were Il good MANY
graves with brown stone monuments
the dates OH many being in the las
century.
The interior Of the church differed
but little from the interior Of most 9th
CIR Episcopal churches, and Washing
toms particular pew WAS but little nn
like its fellows; indeed we scarcely
think we could have told which ii Wa
nj all. if il had not been partly drapet