The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-01-12

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Suppose the unreconstructed to be now
twenty-nine years old. Thirteen years
from twenty-nine leaves sixteen, the age
of the unreconstructed when the wal
closed. How old was he when he went
into the army? That is the problem 10
mental arith metic. i feel un settled IN
nv mind. We have always been taught
that only women deny their age. l
should like some strong-minded man to
answer me this question: Will man lie
about his sge2
Further on is Harper's Ferry; poor old
SCARED, sorrowiul Hsrper's Ferryi As
we went flying past it, we stood On the
rear platform OF the car and looked at
the wild hills and ruined arsenal, the
wierdest, ghos.liest place in all creation,
and before l thought, said out load:
"John Brown of Ossawatomie-
They led him out 10 die!
"They led out what was left Of
him." sand the rebel grimly; "look at
that old fort down there, You see it is
riddled though and through. That is
where John Brown was confined before
his execution. They shot at him through
the windows and walls, and all around
the building, and he was pretty we'll shot
to pieces, l tell you, before they took
him out to be hung"
A small brick building in the grounds
of the old United States Arsenal was
where John Brown was confined. 1t is
riddled through and through, as our un
reconstructed friend said, and the WIN
dows are all battered ont. "John Browns
Fort" Is painted in large black letters on
white ground along the side OF the
building next the railway. If you ever
pass that way look down at the scene OF
this dark tragedy, and remember old
Jonn Brown, OF Ossswatomie.
"Look at the houses over there on the
hillside" continued the unreconstructed;
they, too, were all battered to pieces
during the war. They have all been re-
constructed since. They used to be of
wood but have been rebuilt of brick"
Then they are better than they were
before they were reconstructed, aren't
they, SAID ~
Il suppose they are" said the rebel,
slowly.
We closed the first day in Washington
with pilgrimage to the top of the great,
splendid dome OF the Capitol, to me the
mos, magnificent sight in Washington.
| gaze on it when 1t Is gilded with the
glory of sunrise. look at 1t again,
shining white and dazzling in the sun
set. | turn toward it always as pious
Mussulman turns toward the dome Of
ST. Sophia when he says his prayers.
The top of this shining white dome IS
$50 feet above the west gate OF the Cap
ltol Park, not so high by nearly a hun
bred feet MS the dome of ST. Peters at
Rome, which is said to be the Hottest
dome in the world.
Mr.. g. n. Browning, formerly of
Clermont County, now OF Washington,
kindly piloted your correspondent to the
'op OF the beautiful dome. We were
standing in the inside, looking up in-
tently ut Herr Brumidi's great allegor-
icsl, metaphorIcaI. hyperbolical repre-
sentation of America chasing all the
world around the inside of the dome OF
the Capitol. / remember Mr.. Brown
! ing WAS showing me Ben Franklln SPIN
ming on an old-iashOned flax-wheel, and
| General Washington sitting clothed IN h
+ short gown and pettlcOst, listening IN
tently to DR.. Mary Walker presentln .
| him with woman suffrage petition,
while Jupiter Tonans stood just behind
her eggIng her on and telling her to be
| true TO the dream of her youth, when
| suddenly the strangest sort OF voice up
ADD began otslk to US. 1t was u muiiled
spirited-circIe sort OF voice, and made
you teel queer and creepy about your
spinal column First ! thought it WAS
up above us; then | thought 1t was Ham
let's ghost. 1t was neither. 1t WAS the
dome policemen speaking to US in the
whispering gallery. had forgotten
there WAS whispering gallery in the
dome OF the Capitol, If, indeed, l ever
knew it. At tie railing around the in
| side of the dome, If one person stands OPP
posite another, the two can converse In
the merest whisper across don't know
how many feet OF space. The top OF the
dome collects the sound and magnlties 1t
and reflects i. back, so that at the right
point people can hear each other whisper
across the dome When you come to
Washington don't forget to try the
powers of the whispering gallery up In
| the dome OF the Capitol.
The big, bright red sun was just Gid
| iuc down behind the hills rs We came
down stairs and stood upon the steps at
the western trsnt of the big white build
| ing. We stood and looked ut 1t silently.
Just so Mr.. Browning and had stood
many and many n day and watched the
red sun 20 across the water and behend
the hills in our childhood homes, on the
ONO River, and the sight never grew
Old and never wearisOme. Somehow We
,, thought of it now, and silently blessed
the memory of those old riverside homes,
and of all homes where Country-bred
children watch the sun drop behind the
beautiful hills. and lohg with an insane
longing 70 follow him in his flight.
But telgn hol What are We about?
All thi: is not politics, or the silver bill,
or the army and navy. 1t isn't even
abusing any ody. 1t Is the merest stuff,
and nonsense, and dreaming. Patience,
good friends. Just yOg--wait until the
Woman's Rights Convention comes OH
N u few days.
Til then let my tough old heart re.
mem Der the fading out OF the tender sun.
set upon the glorious dome OF the capitol
and the beautiful. radiant close OF th,
frs day ever spent in Washington by
+. A.
How the Bonds Came TO be Fay liable