The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-11-30
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
1 arrived 10 Washington, D. G." two
weeks ago; my FIRST visit to the beautiful
capital of this great country. To the
weather Office fraternity for retaining the
services of his solar majesty's most beam
ing smiles at this late season, appropri-
ate as a great compliment, arranged in my
honor, and to whom feel deeply indebted
for the additional pleasure received in ma
king my first acquaintance with Washing
ton under his favorable auspices. But |
containing as it does so much TO be seen, 60 |
many places of interest to be visited, which |
TO give auy idea of and thoroughly enjoy
one should have abundant leisure to ex-
plore. and sufficiently authorize descrip-
ton of places already so familiar to many,
if not BY actual presence. through the va
ried descriptions portrayed so wildly by
numerous writer's, enabling US to realize
them with scarcely less of enjoyment.
Washington, to be fully appreciated, must
be visited in summer The city should be
seen under soft skies, when the air is filed
with the sweet perfume Of q wealth Of
leafy foliage aud lovely flowers. The broad
smooth drives and vistas from numerous
points disclosing some one of the many
great majestic public buildings, cleaning
white through the delicate green drape'
ries softeDing into new beauty. The
city of magnificent distances it is
- FILL 4
everywhere observable in the laying out
of the city viii not fail to present itself to
the eye Of the stranger. Wide streets,
innumerable parks, squares, and circles,
showing off to the greatest advantage,
the stately edifciss aud bsauti al monu-
ments, ornamentiUg the city; everywhere
abundance Of room, the very foundation
toward making a great city beautiful one.
To great contrast is the business portion Of
tie ancient borough of Georgetown, not
withstandiug most picturesque nud in-
terestiug old place, separated from
Washington by Rock Greek. The streets
here are nrrrow and the bulldogs con-
tracted alter the old REGIME, apropcs of
that, yer IS 90" when this great seat of the
republic now, was then in her infancy. the
Inquiry was for Washington near George
town." The heights OF Georgetown are
tnickly dotted with handsome suburban
residences, many fine old maUs4oDs most
delightfully."- situated 10 spacious grounds
belonging 20 some of the oldest families il
the country; and some Of the most ancient
OF the houses were built Of brick brouGh
over from England Altogether it is ont
Of the most dramatically interesting place
Imaginable. The scenery afforded frou
tho heights is inexpressibly grand, pres
aF4Ia aTIa Ct
surrounding country including tn
two states of Virginia and Maryland
Nesting round that cleaning white 4nt
incomDarabiy beautiful structure, tn
capitol, pointing It's stately dome to th
skies lies the city of Washington; tn
Potomac in the tar distance spreading it
silvery way, with the Blue Ridge mouL
tans OF Maryland bounding our furthe
vision. Foremost among the fue old man
sions spoken of above is the one Owned
and occupied by Josiah Dent, ESQ, one +,
the commissioners of the District. judge
Dent is a man Of strict integrity. higl
principle, aud great ability; INST capa
Die man to fill this important position
he has lived in Georgetown nearly all hi
life and employs the rare distinction her,
of being home made ruler, rs the inVa
riable rule has been to select the com
disappointed politicians in the differen
states. They have the usual corporation
ornament here known as the city attorney
who has been drawing salary of So OOt
per anDum for some time. Recently hi
salary was raised TO $1,000 by two OF tn,
commissioners and against the earnes
protest OF Judge Dent. IL YsR of thu
recent reduction OF salaries all around O!
the score OF economy, the newspaper
wanted to know why this official
who does almost next to nothing
should have his pay raised aud the.
questioned the Legality OF the increases
the legality OF it was submitted to this at
toruey and be promptly decided that i
was legal. If we had three such commits
sioDers as Judge Dent, who is life loni
democrat this outrage would never have
been perpetrated.
In the library at Georgetown College i
seen one of the most interesting relics il
the district. The Council Table used b,
the Council of Maryland Colony, uude
Leonard Calvert. Ii is nearly lime fee
square and made from three heavy slab,
OF mahogany. IL j. supported by mas
Give carved legs and has been receut,
brought from Chapel Point, Maryland
This college is undoubtedly the pest cat ho
lie college in the United States. and th.
young gentlemen educated there have tn
exceptional advantage of a residence q
the national capital. The m-Sui6cien
building il course of erection to supplan
the one now occupied, will, when cOmplet
ID. be one Of the aaDdsOmest in the dis
tIiHi, not even excepting the lew stat
department Yamen. Before lie y:ug IN,
old town Of Georgetown, must no: fc-
get TO tell you OF the beautiful cemetry VI
Visited,A walk there is an event never T. b
forgotten, IT scertainly placs u iuspir
Harveys meditative mood; an imagina
tlyenature ccGld almost imagine grim dealt
slept here Invested OF half lis terror
Laid oft in the most exquisite taste; neatl
Kept winding walks lead us in every direC
ton through { wilderness of beautifu
trees, shrubbery and velvet swaru; Stare
with splendid monuments in every design
including some handsome mausolcum' 8
from the entrance gates down a decleyit
to Rock Greek river bubbling over tb
rocks below, a descent of one hundre
and nifty feet, making it one of the mos
picturesque places ever saw. Its crown
ing beauty, the ivy embowered churcE
looking so charming and ancient in its gree
mantle, almost cheating us into belieyip
some century old Landmark. thong
wi twenty years old, A very favori,