Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-01-29
Fascination of Life in Washington.

There is a nameless fascination in the
Washington air. The average citizen.
living far removed from the capital,
often wonders why the Office holder
who once comes to Washington is so
10th to leave it that he will often stoop
to almost any device to secure further
lease of whether it be four years
in the White House, another term in
either end of the capitol or only q longer
commission in n petty department
cleTkship. But when the citizen comes
to Washington himself, the mystery is
solved. He may not be able to define
them clearly, but he cannot stay long in
the city without himself experiencing
in some measure those subtle influences
which render the capital so attractive
to the permanent resident. Even to the
casual visitor there is something very
interesting about merely watching the
great governmental machine or inspect
ing its component parts. The very at
mosphere of the capital, instinct with
the official and social life that centers
about the seat of government in great
nation, seems to possess a singular
charm, which disposes one to inger
and enjoy it. The stranger no longer
wonders that the office holder likes
Washington, that he constantly schemes
for an extension of his term, that, if
finally deposed from power, he SO often
prefers the most humble position here TO
residence elsewhere.
Not the least among Washington's
charms are its physical ana climate ad-
vantages. Noone can longer doubt that
the city is fit to be the capital of great
country. The comprehensive plan on
which it was laid out in the early years
of the struggling republic, gives one
fresh respect for these far-sighted
fathers who could even then devise a
scheme which should to-day fit the
necessities Of the seat Of government for
fifty millions of people, and be capable
of equal development with the progress
of the nation hereafter. The broad
avenues are constant source Of delight,
the parks and squares are ample for the
needs Of large city, and the great sys-
tenn of improvements, carried through
with whatever corruption under the
Shepherd regime, laid the basis for the
transformation of Washington from
struggling and neglected town to a
handsome metropolis. Nothing goes
farther to Justify the choice of this To-
cality as the capital than its climate.
Though it suffers from the summer
heats, its temperature during by far the
larger part of the year is most comfort
able, and the change from the inclement
weather which prevails over the greater
portion of the country through the win
ter months to the usually balmy air OF
the capital is especially grateful. In
deed, as winter residence Washington
possesses greater charms than any othe
city on the continent, what with its
mild weather, its exceptional social ad-
vantages and the attractions which the
meeting Of Congress presents to any one
interested in studying our system of
government at its fountain-head. Every
year the capital is becoming more and
more the winter headquarters for peo-
pie of leisure, for persons Of literary
tastes, for students OF politics, for de-
votees Of fashion, and composite So
ciety il gradually growing up in which
everybody is sure to find c0neenial ele
ments Good Company.