San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-08-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON Aug. 16, 1884.
[from Our Regular corrssposdsnI

WASHINGTON Aug. 16, 1884.
The parks and public gardens o.
Washington furnish its greatest at
traction to the permanent residen
during the heated summer season
The transient visitor may afford Il
swelter in the public buildings fol
a day, while he is seeing the sight
of this city; but for q steady thint
at this season, give us the parks.
During the past fiscal year, eight,
thousand dollars have been expended
in the improvement Of the parks, but
this is a mere bagatelle in comparison
with their cost in previous years
Numerous trees and shrubs have beer
planted in the park between The
White House, and the Washington
Monument, which is directly in the
rear of the Executive Mansion
Thousands of ornamental plants have
been propagated in the Monument
grounds, and different parks were
adorned by the addition of new pave
ments, and by the planting of many
towering bulbs. Several statues
have also been placed during the
year. Most of the parks do NOT
exceed one or two squares in size, but
few are quite extensive, of the latter
class Soldiers Home is the most
striking example. Just beyond the
Northern boundary of the city is q
long avenue of trees through which
the visitor reaches a large gate,
Hospitality thrown open. Within is
veritable Arcadia, with modern
improvements, placid lakes, with
water lilies and the graceful forms Of
snowy swans reflected in their clear
waters. Weeping willows with their
ever dropping boughs, and many
trees of various kinds are clustered
on the shores. Crossing a rustic
bridge that spans one of the lakelets,
different roads lead off to different
parts of the grounds, or double with
confusing iteration on their own
tracks. Let us choose this one which
seems coolest and most pleasant.
The way winds through green mead
ows; passes beneath the overhanging
branches of trees in what seems to be
almost the'forest primeval'so old,gnar-
led and light excluding are the trees
through light and shade; through
deep valleys, with brooks babbling
along, and with violets growing on
the mossy banks; and over gentle
hills. From one of these eminences,
Washington can be seen far away.
The city is more beautiful at this dis
tance than 1t would be on q nearer
view. The methodical streets, the
rows of houses, all disappear. The
Capitol, Monument, and some OF the
larger edifces are alone distinguish
able from the mass OF buildings. The
whistle of a locomotive train or a
steamboat comes family to the ear.
As cending a long hill we come
upon the two main edi6ces of Soldiers
Home. One is used as an eating and
lodging house and the other as a
hospital. At any place in the
grounds, old soldiers, clad in blue
uniforms, may be met, but here they
are swarming. Those who are able
are employed IN various light kinds
of garden, farm, and dairy work, for
which they receive nominal wages.
Others roam about with no apparent
object or lie beneath the trees in
groups, dreaming most likely OF any
thing but war, and deploring the
inferior quality Of tobacco and the
high price of beer, others sit on the
piazzas, smoking and reading the
newspapers.
Not far from these houses, several
rather handsome edi6ces are seen.
They are the residences Of officers,
and are surmounted by the stars and
stripes. Among them is the Presi-
dents summer house, q large cottage,
but in no way remarkable. Here is
a small stone chapel. oyergrown with
ivy. and just behind it is q marble
monument, erected in honor Of Q
shoemaker, a senator, and q vice
president Of the United States. II
bears the words, TO Henry Wilson
the Soldiers Friend
Winding around over the many
roads, In which one unfamiliar witt
the place would certainly be lost ",
come upon a bronze statue Of Win.
field Scott A life size statue would
be large. since the rerson il repre-
sents was six and q half feet in
height, but - the statue u intended
10 Be heroic in SIZE, It Is really colOs
sAl. and stands looking down frOu