The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-04-08
" A Circle of Cities"

Washington is very circle of cities.
There is an insidious fascination in the
air. 1t is puzzle to the average citi-
zen why the Office holder who once
comes to Washington is so reluctant to
leave it, that he will stoop to any means
to secure a continuance of power,
whether for four years in the White
House, another term at either end of
the Capitol, or to drag out petty life
i'll department clerkship. But the
problem is solved to the citizen coming
to Washington, without being able to
define these subtle influences; yet no one
remains here long without falling be-
meath the spell that renders the Capitol
so attractive to the permanent resident.
Cynic though he may be, disposed 70
seek the skeleton beneath the roses,
aware of the fervor of servility that
"bends the pregnant hinges Of the knee"
with fawning to the gods of this world,
yet the atmosphere, instinct with the Of
fetal and social life that centres about
the seat of the government in \ great
nation, possesses peculiar charm which
leads one to linger and enjoy. This is
the enchanted garden of Armida The
stranger no longer wonders that his re-
preventative schemes for an extension Of
of his term that when made to give way
he prefers the humble post mere to a res
idence elsewhere. The applicants for
places as doorkeepers, clerks to commit
tees, are mainly defunct representatives,
and knew two or three who, unable to
obtain an official position, forgot home
and friends, wore their lives thread
bare here, unable to forsake the
scenes of former power. One of
these, Mr. M, from a Western
State, died in Washington receiving
charity from former colleagues,
while he owned a good farm at home.
But the physical and climatical advan-
tages l have family touched are the
capitals greatest charms The theoretic
capital mover has only to see to believe
that the city on the Potomac is fit to be
the country's capital. The comprehen-
sive plan on which it was founded in
the early years, when the nation was en-
during the throes of birth, inspires
anew our admiration for those far
sighted men who planned a city that to-
day fits the necessities of the seat of
government for fifty millions of people,
and seems a capacity for unlimited ex-
panson in future Ranging the parks
and squares from Georgetown bridge to
the foot of this terrace, the public ed
ifces, from Howard University to the
Modest Smithsonian, enclosing in its
brick shell caskct of delights-to the
scientist all the corrupt expen-
diture of the Shepherd ring-the broad
avenues and myriad vases Of greenery,
the compact, handsome streets, so clean
you may walk in the middle of any, are
owing 70 their Transforming hands
when from swampy, struggling town,
Washington has risen to model me
tropolis. The temperature for the
greater part of the year, is that juste
milieu, or Spring-like atmosphere which
is so comfortable to live in. For
Winters residence, Washington's elm
ate is preferable to the Florida coast,
which has come to be the Winter water
ing place Of we'll to do New England.
Then to its exceptional social advan.
tages are opportunities presented by the
sessions of Congress for US to study our
system of government at the fountain
head Drawn hither are people of leis
ure, devotees of fashion, most ardent of
any in their role students of politics.
literary people, forming a composite So
cial order, you can study in
every assembly, at every official levee.
T>-~kaIl~,.,