National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-02-25
What Beautiful Scenes Can 10 Observed Up and
Down the Potomac-The Old Families OF
''Wcht Washington ''--Othcr
Interesting Subjects.

'tH'hinbtoi sat III " puNktu ptW hllu Ie-
sponded to the ritual Of those carly days To the
len, on the rolling hills OF Maryland, is seen the
red stone walls OF the National Lunatic Asylum
while at its base the turbid waters Of the Anacos
tia mingle with the main branch of the Potomac.
From where sit the eye still takes in the whto
dome OF the National Capitol aud the tall roofs
| and towers OF Washington city, while the marble
monument to the Father OF his Country reaches
for the sky and the stars. rejecting Its white face
against the yellow columns OF Arlington House.
| the former home of General Lee, and the present
| site of the National Cemetery where 1900 Union
| soldiers lie buried. A thousand confederate sol
ders sleep outside the cemetery, In obscure and
mournful nook, yet the grass grows as green, the
rain falls as free, and the sun shines as bright
over the one rs the other.
These in the roblngs OF glory,
Those In the gloom Of defeat,
All with the battle.blood gory
In tile dusk of eternity meet.
Under the sod and the dew,
Waiting the judgment day,
Under the roses the blue,
Under the lilies the gray.
Who has not heard of the historic Long Bridge
spanning the Potomac under the shadow Of the
Capitol, and uniting Virginia with the North by
bands Of iron aud ties ofhuman INTEREST," Looking
back TO that hot July day In 1851, when the Union
| forces fled before the oonqucring warriors OF
Beauregard and johnson and made Flora Temple
4
the close call that Uncle Sam got for perpotuity.
| Had johnson moved on the men of the North with
| his seven thousand fresh soldiers the Capital and
| Treasury would have fallen into his hands, and
| the cast Of States and empires might have been
| different day. But God moves In n mysterious
| way His wonders TO perform. To-day the men
| who fought each other in deadly conflict make
national laws under yon white dome, and instead of
| the rebel yell aud Union cheer can be heard the
| laughter of Legislators, and the popping of cham
pagne (allns tea takes the place of the rumble and
| roar Of fatal artillery.
| Leaving the Long Bridge the eye rests upon the
silver bosom Of the Potomac, viewing the Observ-
ntory, and then casting to the right climbs the
rugged hills of Virginia 10 the tall tower of Fort
| Myer, looming up against the evening sky like
somo lone crag amid Alpine ranges The Poto-
| mac proper winds It's crooked course Mt the foot
| Of Georgetown, ana through the rocky ribs OF old
mother earth 1t cleoves its frelted channel from
the Blue Ridge, Blackwnter, and Shenandoah by
iarpcrs Ferry, leaping over rugged rocks at Great
| Falls, dashing under Chain Bridge, Aqueduct
| Bridge, through the Long Bridge, on TO Point
Lookout into the Chesapeake Day, until its waters
mingle with the brny surges OF the broad Allan.
tic. The Catholic university for the education of
young men is of the great landmarks of George
town. For nearly hundred years It's classic halls
have sent forth doctors lawyers, and ministers to
mngle with the world and become prominent in
MI tiO Whlks Ol me- Inc new Dullulng lately
erected by McSsrs smithmeyer & pelz under the
artistic and financial management Of Father Healy,
is one Of the grandcst in the District and its tall
towers loom up above the Capitol OF the Nation,
making splendid background against the even
ing sky to Washington and the upland slopes of
Georgetown. Those who have Travelled In foreign
lands may gaze upon the gables, turrots, aud tow
ers and be reminded of old baronial castles on
the Rhine or some lordly mansion nestled
among Italian crngs overlooking tho blue
waters OF the Adriatic. But TO see the
college building In all Its glory, join some of the
Potomac barge parties in the month of June when
the perfume of wild flowers floats DER the river,
and when the round, full moon lights up the
sleeping world with glow of celestial enchant-
ment. A score Of happy spirits, boys and girls,
floating down the river to the music of the guitar
the whisper OF love, and the warm glow of imagin-
alton will set the mind in notion and from the
" Three Sisters" the eye will rest entranced upon
the weird.like towers. angles, aud battlements OF
the great university on the top throwing its
fantastic shadows on the placid waters of the
| rolling river.
Georgetown was a stalwart commercial port
| when Washington was in its swaddlng clothes
| but the picture has been somewhat reversed
| leaving the business and homes Of this town high
and dry above ihe sordid seductions of yon gildcd
| Capital. When the streets from Washington abu.-
ting on Rock Greek are arched and bridged over the
|
! In the district, and those sickly aristocrats who
now inhale the malaria of Pennsylvania avenue
dncluding't the aroma Of tcrrGpin stows) will fly to
| the hill-tops Of Georgetown for good health and
long life.
| Massachusetts, avenue should be at once ex-
tended across romantic Rock Creek aud winding
| around Oak Hill, pass the fine old homes on Road
street. on to the new National Observatory grounds
| where the future naval officer may dictate time
to the tides and he rs peaceful md still as Z" u
painted ship upon painted ocean"
The old families who nourlshed in Georgetown
nFty years ago arc now sleeping in the peaccCul
shades of Oak min, but many of their descendants
yet linger in the old town. ana iondly boast of The
| good old DAYS when heart, love, beauty, and
wealth minglc6 with thc.melody of loves young
| dream. iilling the hcetng hours with flowers of
pleasure and fruits Of friendship While not as
able financial y to dispense raro wines and rich
terrapin as their Urisiocratc ancestors the people
OF to-day make mp all lalsss 'n heir kind actions
and generous words The families o. Dodge
| Dougal Adlor, Mngruder, CTopey, Whentley, Lin.
thicum Gordon Hunter MaTbury Williams
Tyler Herr. Moore, bowman, Blnckford, Cook,
Seymour, Lockcnnan, Pickerel, Cox Hume Walsh,
Mcpherson, Richie, Peek, Lockwood, O'Neil,
Davis. Miller Dent Sweeny, FlcLling, Frye Hyde,
Mathews, MHckNll, Snyder Boggs, Libbey, Cassin,
aud Peter are now the most prominent Of those
who minister to the pleasure and business of this
ancient burg The town Is fast feeling the I'm =
| pulse Of progrcss, and ere another decade the
great water power OF the Potomac will be utilized
| in miscellaneous manufacturing es Establishments.
where the hum Of the spindle the click of the
| loom, and the hammer of the artist will rosound
| until even tho echoes may awaken the inhabitants
| around Oak Hill Cemetery This lovely spot COY.
| cred with rugged oaks crunbilng slones nnd fine