St. Landry democrat., 1884-08-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
FROM On Regular correspondent.
AUGUST 10th, 1884.

fIOn to the permanent EeSlueub uuIiuS
the heated summer season. The tran
sient visitor may afford to swelter in
the public buildings for day, while he
is seeing the sights of this city; but fol-
a steady thing at this season, give lis
the parks.
During the past fiscal year, eighty
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. Nu-
fnerous trees and shrubs have been
planted in the park between the White
House, and the Washington Monument,
which is directly in the rear of the Ex-
ecutive Mansion. Thousands of orna-
mental plants have been propagated in
the Monument grounds, and different
parks were adorned by the addition of
new pavements, 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 a 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 of 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 meadows; passes beneath the
oyerhangine branches Of trges in what
seems to be almost the forest primevap
, SO old, gnarled, and light excluding are
the trees; through light and shade;
through deep valleys. with brooks bab-
bling along, and with violets growing
on the mossy banks; and over gentle
hills. From one of these emineDces,
Washington can he seen far away. The
city is more beautiful at this distance
than it would be on nearer view.
The methodical streets, the rows OF
houses, all disappear. The Capitol,
Monument, and some of the larger edi-
fees are alone distinguishable from the
mass of buildings. The whistle of a
locomotive train or steamboat comes
family to the ear.
Ascending long hill we come upon
the two main edifces of Soldiers Home.
.Qne is used as an eating and lodging
house and the other as 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 anything 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 edifces are seen.
They are the residences of officers, and
are surmounted by the stars and stripes.
Among them is the Presidents summer
house, a large cottage, but in no way
Here is small stone
chapel, overgrown with ivy, and just
behind it is marble monument, erected
in honor of a shoemaker, a senator, and
q vice president of the United States.
Et bears the words, 'To Henry Wilson,
the Soldiers Friend"
Winding around over the many roads,
in which one unfamiliar with the place
would certainly be lost, we come upon
q bronze statue of Winfield Scott. A
life size statue would be large, since the
person it represents was six and q half
feet in height, but as the statue is in
tended to be heroic in size, it is really
colossal, and stands looking down from
5he highest point in Soldiers Home,
over-the grounds which he, more than
my other, was instrumental in setting
Rnarf and haautiepiro, Fo,. +ha xxo+~rov,n