Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-08-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
p EcIAL ;osEgsPo NDENcEoFrHEM MONITOR.

abundant leisure to visit the sights
of Washington. Yesterday your
correspondent went over to the ma
tional museum in order to sketch the |
so called wizard" Prof. Hendley at
his work of stuffing monkeys, ourang
outangs, and all sorts of animals,
and to-day l scaled the heights of the
still rising Washington monument.
This last was privilege not accord
ed to every one who applies FOR it.
Taking visitors to the top has in no
small measure retarded the progress.
of the work during the last year, and
consequently passes to the summit
are issued grudgingly.
/ 1t takes the elevator, always load
ed with stone, as well as human
freight, ten minutes to rise from the
bottom to the top, where it stops
with an alarming jerk. One does
not alight from the platform at once,
but stands for few moments en-
raptured by the scene suddenly re-
vealed to his vision.
The view of the city is beautiful
beyond Imagination; but from the
dizzy height, the houses look like
toys, and the men on bicycles like
slow crawling spiders. Even the
capitol with its high dome, appeared
to be nesting as close to the earth
as it could get. The surmounting
| figure of the dome, the bronze God
dess of Liberty" looked at from the
top of the monument, instantly gives
the observer an idea Of the enormous
height of the latter. The Goddess
is far below. ..
I The thousands of red brick build
ings in the center of Washington
, give the city a general red appear
ance relieved only by the white mar.
BILE public structures. The series OF
parks south of Pennsylvania avenue
extending from the botanical gardens
: Ito the monument, presented a pretty
/ | picture, with their green swards
? curving and intersecting roadways
and plots with masses of bright col
ored flowers.
The eye is attracted also to thu
T broad placid surface of the Potomac
l. stretching away to the southwark
!; From this elevation, the green ant
S fostering Potomac flats are seen a
y their worst. Down the river, oil
Fort Washington, fourteen mile
!. away, can be plainly seen, it's gra
1t battlements outlined against tn
4 green hills beyond. The two an
III three masted schooners looked lik
= miniature sail-boats scudding abou
on pond, and the old fashione
r. town of Alexandria was perfect
h. visible
II. With the assistance of pair {
field glasses the Blue Ridge noun
aims of Virginia, could be easily seer
ID and it is expected the pile will 500
: be high enough to distinguish Il
al ships on Chesapeake bay.
of The Washington monument vi
ill be the Hottest structure built by h
as man hands since the days of Babe
1t already overtops by several fe
~ the Cathedral of = - leaving b
nv one higher structure in the world Il
nd Cathedral of Cologne. H
lat This memorial to the s'father
The his country was begun enthusia
IL tically in a fit of patriotism which d
nls not last until it's object was half col
o. pleted. 1t left upon the banks
md the Potomac an unsightly pile
ed marble, which stood for years, ]
led proach to the country, until fnal
uld congress came to its relief by app
Ugh priating money for its completion.
'eu The monument is severely slmI
or in form, being plain obelisk, n.
18th rowing in diameter with every coul
all of stone. But as it nears completi
me harmony of proportion is dev
cen oped that impresses the mind, a
NJ there is the majesty too of mere sii
,w Visitors to the spot are surpris
irly at the careless manner in which
we workmen walk around on the w
uid edge of the shaft. Climbing abe
rea in the safety netting that snrrour
the edge of the top, they remind {
has servers on the ground of inse,