National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-04-30
UP IN THE DOME.
CHANCES AROUND FROM ITS TOP.
Georgetown Heights-The Lee Estase-Where Alex
andria Got Its Name-W0men's Rufe-Iiow-
ard University The Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad.

Three hundred and seventy-one steps
to the Dome; but who cares for steps when such a
glorious, beautiful view is opened before them:
such an extensive field rich in historic memories
and interesting stories of the people who have
lived and moved among those hills? Who cares
for fatigue when with one glance they can take in
the whole Of The District of Columbia parts of the
States of Maryland and Virginia. and with the eye
follow the winding Potomac many miles on its
journey to the sea? Every hilltop. every knoll,
every building and private residence has story
of It's own. Looking west, the city is spread out
before you like beautiful picture with lis spires
and parks its trees and fountains, its wide ave-
enues like spOkes in a wheel, and its noble white
shaft by the river side, which has awakened from
its slumber of twenty years and is slowly creeping
upward toward completion. Away of in the dis
lance are the heights of Georgetown, cnreloped in
Q haze and forming perfect background Tor the
ancient town, with its charming villas, its cele-
brated college, and the beautiful cemetery where
repoSe the bones of the dear ones gone before. To
the left across the river, is Arlington, about which
SO much has been written and which
VISITORS TO WASHINGTON
always take in one of the chief points of in
terest, ard are always ready to listen to anything
relating 10 it. The land upon which this house
England to Governor Alexander which extended
from the Long Bridge to Alexandria, and the lat
ter place took its name from his family. Upon the
death of Governor Alexander the estate was di
Vided: one portion FILLING to the share of Robert
and the other 10 Gerard Alexander. Mr.. Gusts
purchased the portion called Arlington. and there
is story told about the TRANSACTION which has
never before appeared il print. It seems that ne
gotatiOns had been pending for some lime, and
one Sunday morning NJ. Gusts and Mr. Alexander
attended service at Falls Church, Virginia After
service Mr. Alexander invited Mr.. Custis-as the
custom was then-to go home with him and dine
The invitation accepted, and after COM
Portable dinner some conversation took place
about the property, and Mr.. Gusts offered his
check or note IN payment for ii, when Mrs. Alex
ander, who was n strict church woman, spoke up
and said: We can have no business transacted
here on the Lords day" Her husband turned to
his guest and said.
" THE WOMEN RULE HERE,
so put back your note The afternoon was spent
in pleasant conversation, and, the evening draw
ing near, Mr.. Gusts went out to mount his horse to
return to his home His host followed him to the
horse-bIcck, and some further conversation took
place about the property, and the note was again
offered and this time was accepted. The next day
Mr. Alexander learned to his sorrow that Congress
had the Saturday pr evious passed a law in regard
10 the continental money which made the pay
ment he had received instead OF fine price for
his land almost a total loss to him. AT present. as
every one knows, Arlington is vast graveyard,
where are sleeping the bones of twelve thousand
Union soldiers. The first grave made in it was for
a young man who had enlisted under a fictitious
name, and when death approached refused to tell
his real name or anything about his family, and
requested that his tombstone should be simply
marked, " Mustered out"
TURNING TO THE NORTH,
the Howard University is prominent and pleas
ing feature Of the landscape, and beyond it the
tower and flag of the Soldiers Home are plainly
seen. The beautiful drives of the park surround
ing the latter are thoroughly appreciated By the
people Of Washing ton and bright afternoons it is
quite gay with the stylish turnouts passing through
them. Like black thread stretching across the
country, the eye can follow the track of the Balti
more and Ohio Railroad for many miles. During
he war this great horoughfare the artery that
supplied the life blood to the Capital, and through
It to the Nation, and how jealousy it was guarded
through those trying timeSI 1t was dull, monoto-
nous work engaged in guard duty along railroad
rack, and many murmured at their hard lot while
others were winning glory in the field; yet this
luty quite as important, and they serving
heir country just well those who were facing
he canon's mouth. If they had the power of
speech those lion tails might
WHISPER STRANGE STORIES
If the countless mu,titudes passing over them !
They might tell of ambitious statesmen on their
way 70 the Cepitai. with dreams of future great
less floating before; ofscheming politicians who
lnder the gu:se of devotion to the country, are
aging their plans for some wonderful improve
nents to he Ca RED out but in which beloved self
$ to be improved more than onything else Of
49,
# the love and confidence of happy, intelligent
people; of fair women, with grace and accomplish
nemts, coming again 20 the circle where they have |
moved and shOne and re;gned of hearts filed |
With sadness. bearing away the inanimate form of
ONE dear one TO its last resting place. This road
AN appreciate the force OF the old saying: 1t is
N i'll wind that blows nobody any good for the |
var, which wrought desolation and ruin to SO |
many,
PROVED PERFECT BONANZA
o it. Deeply in debt at the beginning of the war, !
~ the time it had distributed the last regiment of
soldiers 10 theirhones it had large surplus on the
,redt side 1t is hard to realize TO day, standing
lpOn the dome and looking out the circle of hills
ur-ounding the city, that within a score of years
ZACH one of them was crowned with a fort, orsome
work Of defense; that the plains between them
yere white with the tents OF q large army, and
hat each setting sun, reflected from flashing bayo-
lets, might rise the next day field of blood.
'o-day those hills are beautiful with trees and
decked in their most
BEWITCIIING SPRING ATTIRE;
he slopes are covered with luxuriant pastures in
which the lazy cattle browse unmolesed the
elds are furrowed by the plowman and made
eady for the precious seed, which, i'll few months
yill yield golden harvest. Iustead of flashing
ayonets, the ripping waters Of the Potomac catch
he sunbeams, aud with q thrill of pleasure one
eels that all is quiet along the Potomac" but
fferent quiet from that which was won't to fly
yer the wires, sending comfort for the day to ten
thousand anxious homes North and South. 1t is
he quiet of peace and the old river flows OIL for
citing the part it took in that struggle; flows on
aSt the city of the dead with its twelve thousand
raves; past the ancient town with its grass grown
treets past the beautiful home and tomb of
Washington; past happy home stcads, where infant
ons and daughters are being trained to take the
,aces of the fathers and motheIs of the present,
nd. as it flows, softly whispers, Peace"
OUR BOATING MEN.
The Po;OElacs Ind the IssscciatiOn-The