Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1881-06-04
WASHINGTON.


WASHINGTON.
Extracts regarding the capitol and
It's surroundlngs from letter to his
paper, the Independence Sentinel, by
Mr.. Jas. E. Payne:
Although the clpitol is not of the |
most elegant style of architecture, 1t
i: grand aud massive. 1t in,presses
Quo as being typical Of our glorious
aud he who looks upon 1t
tor the first time. If he IL an American |
patriot. does 80 with awe aud rever-
snce. He iorgets for the moment that
it 10 often tho scene Ot bltter aud un-
worthy strife between cOntsmding
t0rgets that the temple is
sometimes deflled by designing pOli-
tical huckstsrs who come here to
peddie their small wares; forgets
that this great heart of the republic
sometimes pulsstes with the foul
blood of corruption fergets that the
csrrion Of politics often hsstsns here
for q feast. He torYets all this and
ouly rej0,ces in the fact that there
stands the capitol Of his country. the
constitution in stone, the republic III
marble, tho bulwxrk VI his liberty
in granite aud irOn. He THINKS ot the
past, and the capitol seems mOnu-
lneut erected TO commemorate the
sacred dead who Inundated them
selves upon the altar Of human tights.
He thinks of the present, and behoids
in it living realization Of the dreams
.,sh Ssaa ~ . ~ h,.R
blOod nurtured the Tree uf Ameri-
eau Liberty. He thinks Of the future
and sees in the capitol . promise Of
tho future welfare ana glory Of tho
Yes. tho capitol is al immense
Building. 1t covers ST acres Of ground,
is Isl feet 4 inches ieng. is S24 feet
wide, 287 feet s inches high and cost
SIS, 900. 900. The east trent is dece-
rated with . pertico 16O feet wide,
with . projection, including steps. OF
66 feet, ornamented with "a pillars
aud IL piiastsrs, crowned with pc
dimsut of 80 feet span to this ha,
been added on either side, . csiOnad-
ed corridor of ~ feet; to these are
attached the extsmsions-that Of the
senate Oh the north, and that Of the
house on the south end. Each exten-
sion . is adorned with . portico 142
feet aud inches wide. with pedi.
ment Of ~ feet span % columns aud
40 pilastsrs Of the C0rinthiAn style
oruament these porticoes. But 1 will
net 20 into further ietail OF the
capitol.
The accent to the done was made
with case, considering its altitude
Up in the whispering gallery we tool
short rest, aud tested the wonder
full ascoustic properties Of the tympa
mum Of the deme. Standing GU QUE
side, 1.-THE slightest Whispering Of th'
person GU the oppesite side 10 dis
linctly heard, bat the sound seems tt
come over y01r right shoulder, aud
if taken unswsrs. you instinctively
turn round to see who has been st
unoeremonious a. to whisper in you
ear. This tympauum 10 decorated
with characters in trescoe. All.
shouid your vis.a-vis speak out il
harsh tones you feel like turning VI
to Old Neptune. who is just in tn,
act OF bridling the white cUursers q
the sen with the eclectric cable, ant
answer him in the language Of tn,
street urchiu, "Whatd' you soy p
Another short flight Of stairs bring
rs to the entrance 10 the pOrtico
the dome. We step out, snd-yrea
heavens, what y scene greets ouI
delighted visionl From this loft
sminencs-for we are now $50 fee
above the city-alm0st everything o
interest out doors 10 visible. From
here we trace tue bro,d Potomac u
it smiles iu the morning sunlight
aud feast our eyes upon the deeE
green Of the distant Virginia hills
The city with its bread avenues. vel
paved streets, with its sparkling
fountains. its psrks aud pagOdas lie
at our feet like magnificent picture
To the west Of us is the "Mall," witt
Its gardens and parks; within 1t
shady confines stands tue famet
Smithsonian Institute. 3the agricul
tural buildings aud the undnishe,
Warrington monument. This struc
ture is al old one, having been CON
msnced in 1S48, but it's builder nov
hopes to have it completed in 1855
1t 10 q plain marble ebelisk SO Zee
square aud will be $50 feet high. Tn
outer walls are Of marble, the inne
, ones Of granite. When completed
will be tho l0ftiest structure Oh th
earth, aud pass into faturity as enc O
the wonders OF the world.
AT ESQ p. m, our small, but thor
, Oughly select party, boarded the gOs
steamer w. w. Corcorsu, Capt. L
L. Blake, commander, for al excul
sisn 40 miles down the Potomac. w
, were soon under way and steaulin
, down stream at a pleasant speed. A
, exandria. enc Of the oldest cities o
. the continent, is passed. aud we a.
, speeding onward again. Here "
| down to meet the tide, and then met
{ a schooner under full sail making fu
1 . landing. The scenery IL very q
: tractive Z; indeed, the Potomac is on
3 Of the most beautiful streams Oh tn
, continent, and perhaps no othe
/ American river has . history msr
, rsplete with interest to the America
: citizen. Its shores firsL listened I
!, the suppressed whisperings Of Free
/ dom its waters re-sch0ed the lsl
i shot fred for American Iudepe,
dence, from the ernbattlsd shores ,
: the York, and upon its banks repo.
: the ashes st one Of the noblest, bra
q est aud truest defenders Of Anerica
J. Liberty. 1t 10 as unlike one Of OF
b western rivers ~ II could be aud sti
{ be river. II Is broad in ssme placs
c aud much broader in others. IL
i banks are, should Judge. about II
Q feet high 81 All average, but genera
v ly slOpiug to the waters edge. A
!. places the shores recede in order
II enclose some expansive bay or estu
|, ry, aud then the distance from shO
Il 10 shore 10 5 to Is miles. The water
II clear and almost motionless. except VIII,
i responding to the pulsation Of ol
t. ocean ~ its tides ebb aud dow. o.
v Of the humorous points Of iutere
), along its banks is Tsrt Washimsto
.e erected upon the Maryland shore {
y, point At tue mouth Of the Pisca
q away. The site was selected
ii Washington. and the fort built in a
!. cOrdauce with Ms instructions. Mer
d ly touching the wharf here, y
u steamed along. Soon the so'emn to