National Republican., 1878-01-09
What Shall We do with our Visitor.

COHCIHtUE
The fashion of going to Washington" has alss
become the acknowledged thing for bridal par
ties all over the land, and whoever has th>
good fortune to reside within the charmed
limits Of the District Of Columbia feels in duty
bound to invite the pretty girls of her 90.
quaintancs in other cities to spend the holiday
season in this and all the country cousins,b
the schoolmates Of other days, the frionds a
lang syHs, and the dear Eve hundred gensr-
ally to visit her.
Besides, every native American never feels
that the object Of his or her life has been at
tained until he or she has visited WashingtQn
and the tomb Of the Father" at Mount VEL
non; and the moro remote the rural district
from which the visitor halls, and the greater
the intervening distance. the more anxious %
he to accomplish the journey. Just now IL h
not iced that the city is unusually full Of sight
seeTs, and hostesses, "on hospitable Thoughts
intent are doing their best toward tho enter
tainment OF their visitors, to have them soc
all the beauties of this capital, which is dcs-
tined to become the
PARIS OF THE coNTINuNr.
II Is safe to predict that when tbc nert half
century shall have rolled away. there will NOT
be wooden building left within tho city
limits that the magnificent avenue from the
Capitol grounds TO Fifteenth street will pro-
sent solid unbroken front upon either side,
of the grandest hotels and mercantile hous %
of the country, erected in accordance with the
constantly-improving ideas of modern arphi-
lecture, a boulevard unsurpassed In all the
world. By that somewhat distant day IL ID
hoped that the projected Improvements" may
have been completed about the Capitol groundS
Ito which, Of course, will be added the square
from Third to First street on the north side Of
the avenue, taking in tho south side of b
street; as also the low grounds on the south
side of the present park by that time the
ornamental scrubbery," rs Mrs. Partington
calls 1t, which now encumber the ground in
lieu of the stately forest kings that lately
graccd IL, will have had time to grow, [unlesa
the conflicting tastes Of various commissioners
shall have sacrificed thon also, and these long
suffering grounds will rival tho fabled gardens
Of the Orient for beauty and attrnctiycness.
To this will be added the then
MAGNIFICENT PARK DRIVE
south of Missouri avenue, from the Capitol to
the Executive Mansion, taking in the Smith
sonian and Agricultural Departments, an un-
broken line Of greer, ,,sward and blossoming beds
oyerarched by noble trees; and so along the
West End roads to the beautiful Boundary
avenue, Lovers Lane" the Rock Creek drive,
thence to Brightwooi, and around by the Sol
dien' Home, which latter place, Judging by its
present rate of improvement and its manifold
natural advantages, should be little less
Paradise regained." The verdict of many
who have visited every place worth seeing.
potn III Europe Anu America, IL, tnht when
completed and left to the gracious finishing
touch of time, Uncle Samuels capital cannot
be equalled any whore for drives and breath
ing Places
But ITO return to our muttons" and our
visitors: As yet the guide system Of Europe
has not been inaugurated here, but no doubt
II soon will be in our Wholesale adoption Of
foreign styles, and We have already several
guide books, fully up to the standard Of
Murrays or any other. In the meantime
STRANGER srGHT-sEERs
must he chdpcroned by friends, If they have
them here, or benign and omnipresent police
man or mercenary hsckman; else, in bluader-
ing about unaided, they will lose much val
liable time. A genial family in Georgetown
are now entertaining number Of Western
visitors something after the manner of tho
following programme, which, II followed out,
will enable their guests to carry home the do
lightlully satisfying consciousness OF having
seen everything Of account Say the visitor
arrives on Sunday night and proposes to ro-
main week or more in such case there ID No
time to lose, and suppose you employ it In this
wise:
Monday-Puuctually at ten Il. IN. make II n
point TO be ut the Executive Mansion 20 10
the SeCretaTy's rooms, on The second floor and
have the ever-courteous Charley" take in
your cardS-tO pay your respects and shake
hauds-"only this and nothing more" The
mouy occupies but moment. Thon send your
rards to Mrs. IluyCs-whO devotes two hours
every muruinP TO just such calls-and you will
be charmed during a hvr-minutcs interview
with this first lady Of tho land Then rambls
through the great East parlOr, tho Red, Blue,
aud Green rooms, the state dining-ro0m and
cnnservatOrcs. and by all means have the
cvcr-polito attendants point out to you tho
various interesting and historical articles Of
r'fH thai everywhere adOrn the Presi-
dents home. This will occupy, perhaps,
an hour. Then visit the state, War, and Navy
Departments and bc presented to the various
Secretaries, by no means emitting the urlnns
General Of the Army. Next drive direct to
tho Capitol il Congress !, in session. Monday
is fcld-dNy in the House, and up To two
o'clock visitors have the rare opportunity OF
seeing almost every member rise in his scat to
present bills or resolutions for reference.
Thus, with u diagram In hand, you will DO
ublr to distinguish "who is who among these
brain.panS of the nation. At two o'clock, or
thcrcabout, suppose yOu adjourn TO the Senate
side and slrnd sleepy hour among those
potent, grave, aud reverend scighcurs. Don't
attempt on this first visit to investigate any
Of the wonders Of the Capitol building, Us by
this time you will bc tired enough, and better
spend the remainder Of your day till the din
ncr hour among the manifold drives Of inter-
est Pennsylvania avenue is At its best be-
tween four and five p. NJ, for at that hour tho
great thOroughihre is thronged with Depart
munt clerks, congressman, the kings and
queens of social and political rings" and all
kinds and qualities of people.
Tuesday Visit the Treasury, lntcrioTT aud
Post -Oftire Departments, and make the grand
tour Of the soldiers Home park.
Wednesday Make Il special pilgrimage to the
Capitol, and spend the day studying all the
sights from dome to crypt; and if when night
comes you cannot saywilh Longfcllow s"Nillage
something accomplished, some
thing done, has earned u nights repose,' then
we are mistaken.
Thursday The Government Printing Bu-
reau the Agricultural and Botanical Depart
mrmts, the Medical Museum and grand Oak
Art Gallery in the evening.
Friday: Take the morning boat to Mount
Vernon and on the return trip have the Oblg-
ing captain deposit You ut the Arsenal wharf,
where your carriage should be in waiting,
that you may do the Nayy.lard, via Nir-
ginia avenue.
saturday Take an early break fast, and drive
TO Cabin John Bridge Great Falls &c. and you
will be delighted with that days pleasures
and prepared for u hearty dinner
Then there is the Observatory, whore other
worlds may be observed through the largest
telescope known in this. And morning
drive to Arlington must not be omitted a
visit to the forts and iOrtitiCations ON the Nir-
gina side, aud to drOwsy old Dladensburg,
with Its historic battle fields and to equally
cOmotose Alexandria. Saturday afternoon
there Is Mrs. Hayes reception and occasionally
an evening reception Of the Presidents, next