The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1884-09-19
" wAsHisGres LATTER.
tgrsp eur regular correspondent,

| WAsHfSoTos, Aug. gard. 1884
| One OF the pleasantest drives aud
pFomlnades about the city Is the
l"Mall," q Series OF parks extending
from the Washington Monument to
the Capitol (sbout a mile) and EN-
braclng the grounds OF the smith
sonlan Institute, Agricultural De-
Partment, Bureau OF Epgraylng and
Printing, and the smooth gardens In
The immediate vicinity Of the Mon
umeNt In these days. when the
sun - wfeaking his health OF hcat
and light, and when Tho asphalt
streets, softened by bis too ardent
attentions, sink under tho feet OF
horses and pedestrians, numerous
people Of oil classes and ages msy be
seen courling the grateful shades In
all the parks OF Washington, and
every day numbers hasten 10 seek
the coolest paths and shadlest retreats
vi the Mall. II Is natural that many.
having mopped their brows and rest
ed, should stroll to the bulldogs 10
tho center OF these spacious grounds.
The Smithsonian Institute Il a large,
substantial edItice of dark red stone.
Its walls arc partly hidden By Ivy.
tit wero only little moro vener-
able In appearance II might pass for
for barouIal castle. But Ihere Is
no suggestion Of antiquity 10 It's new
aud perfect walls towering above The
surrounding trees.
On entering, we SEQ long halls,
flled with glass cases. The first
tioor Is devoted entirely TO ornilhology.
Here We see stuffed birds OF every
kind and from ali countries In the
world, from tho sparrow or lark TO
tho pelican, hamIngo or ostrich.
Here are feathered specimens tna,
are considered fabulous by some,
such rs the birds OF paradlce. The
nind Is bewIldered by the variety;
large and small, from q dove 10 an
eagle; beautiful and ugly, from u
hummIng bird 10 n vu.irre, Some
have brilliant plumsge among which
may be mentioned, parroiy, peacocks,
and pheasants.
They glow In all the coloIs Of the
rainbow, purple, red, green, violet,
orapge, blue, pink, aud yellow.
On the second Hpor Is au interest
Ing promiscous collection OF quaint
japanese screens and v . =; mummIe,
and skulls In abundance; idols and
Chinese pagadss. antique coins and
crockery: pictures of prehistoric Eu-
ropei Indian beads and wapun; min
eralogicai specimens, etc, etc,
Adjoining the Instltnte Is the Ma
tIonal Museum, a handsome brick
building. Here the inaugural Bal
was held when Garfield was made
President. In the rotunda Is a fount.
ain with many gold Ash sporting Ia the
water. In the entrance hall are
several glass cases contaiping relic.
OF Washington. The robe In which
he was christsned; the arm chair II
which he sat few minutes befor,
he died; The mirrow that once re-
dected his face; his camp chest and
tent; hiSclothes and other interesting
obIecls. Among these things Is {
letter written by his own hand 10 4
business firm, concerning the receip
Of wine and tea and the purchase ol
u nice set OF blue and white crockery
'1f / can get IL on pretty easy
terms"
| In the same hall are wax works o.
Mrs. JarIey, representing persons O
different nations and races; Lapland
ers, Chinese, Indians, Malays and
Esquimaux. In one room are stuffed
animals in the most natural positions
and so lifelike do they appear, that
1t Is rather startling to see buffalo
In the act of charging In front; &
snake coIled ready for spring; {
bear eying you suspIciously on on'
side and a seal on the other. Fight
Ing orang-outangs, leapif G chamois
climbing monkeys, running dogs
lions, rbinoceros, bears, wolves, pan
theirs, hippopotomI, elephants ant
many other animals are scattered
around. Ono apartment Is devotet
to geology, another is filled will
models OF boats, from q junk o
canoe to steamer.
AEother contains skeletons Of hug
prehistoric animals; the kaugarc
lizard; the glyptodon; the mammot
and others.