The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-05-03
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
A VISIT TO THE NATIONS CAPITAL.
A Baltimore County Lady Seeing the
Sights in the Nations Capital.
WAsuINeroN, D. G.. April 2sth. 1ss

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 2Sth, 1884.
Messrs Editors "Wednesday last we visited
that beautiful city of the Dead Oak Hill, called
from the great number of oaks in its enclosure
Near the entrance is the handsome monument
erected by w. W. Corcoran, Esq, to John Howard
Payne, author of "Home, sweet home" Near by
is the original slab taken from his grave in Tuns
with this inscription "In memory of Col. John
Howard Payne, twice Consul of the U. S. of Amer
ica for the city and Kingdom of Tunis. This
stone is placed by grateful country. He died at
the American Consulate in this city, after tedi-
GUS illness, April LIST, 1852. He was born at the
city of Boston, State of Massachusetts,, June Sth,
1892. His fame as dramatist is we'll known
wherever the English language is spoken through
his celebrated ballad of Home, sweet home,' and
his popular tragedy of 'Brutus' and other similar
productions" Carved on the top of the slab is
the American eagle, shield, stars, &C., with the
U. S. motto, "E pluribus unum."
few steps farther on is the monument to Edwin
M. Stanton, who Secretary of War during the
late rebellion. Ona knoll overlooking Rock Creek
| is monument to Joseph Henry, who for years
was professor ut the Smithsonian Institute. A
statue of him is now in the Institute grounds.
| This should be called the city of statues.
foundation for the statue of Martin Luther is be-
| gun in front of the Memorial Lutheran church on
| 18th street. Also one to Chief Justice Marshall,
which is to be placed the west front of the Cap
itol. There is one here to Jackson, Thomas, Ad-
miral Farragut and others.
Many elegant residences are built here, and flats
like those in New York. six stories high, having
full suites of rooms for housekeeping, with all the
modern conveniences, gas, water, elevators, &c.
Thursday we visited the Navy Yard, an i'm
mense place, almost town in ITSELF Two senti'
nes tramped their weary round near the entrance
| Close by is the residence of Commodore Semmes,
who is commander of the yard. They have a
museum filled with curiosities pertaining to the
! Navy, such as cannon, rifles, swords, &C., captured
| in battle, besides fragments of shells and minnie
balls gathered from battle-fe after each war;
| Amongst them gun cast in 1870, brought over
and used by Cortez in the conquest of Mexico
The first Calling gun, six barrel ever used, is on
| exhibition. Also two large cannon captured by
Decatur in 1877, at Alvarado, Mexico. These
guns were cast at Douay in l740. Wewent through
all the Departments that we're open. 1t generally
| takes |, 800 men to run the yard. Now there are
not more than 800 at work 200 of these are inthe
! ordnance department. They cast very heavy
anchors and cannon l always thought cannon
were cast hollow, but found the metal was cast in
solid blocks and then bored out. They we're
making heavy shaft. 1t was heated to a white
heat. They used hammers in that department
| that weigh much as l6, 500 lbs. A man with one
hand can raise and lower them with ease. In one
of the departments-the galley house-we saw
them making furnaces for cooking aboard ship
They are worth rs much as $1,000 each and are
made of the best materials. Enough for 700 men
can be cooked on one of them. The Presidents
yacht, the Despatch, was at the foot of the yard.
We inspected it and were shown the saloon, berths,
&c. 1t was furnished in fine style. We also went
aboard the Talapoosa, Government dispatch
boat. 1t was getting ready to take Secretary Of
4War Lincoln and Secretary of Navy Chandler and
| others to Norfolk, to witness parade.
Since we. came here we have been through two
of the markets. They are splendid brick build
ings enclosed. Everything edible seemed in pre-
fusion. All kinds of foreign and domestic fruits,
preserves, ellies meats fish of all kinds from the
fresh mackeral of the North to the red snapper of
the South "a fish had never before SEEM. heaF
! you can get everything you wish in the markets,
from mushrooms to new made cider.
Friday we went to see large halibut that is on
exhibition at the Fish Commissioners building.
1t was caught off the coast of New Foundland, and
is the largest ever caught in American waters be-
ing feet long, feet wide and weighs 426 lbs
1t was too large for preservation in alcohol so
| Prof. Palmer made plaster cast of it.
| Saturday we attended lecture at the National
Museum, by Major J. w. Powell, on "The canons
of the Colorado" He gave thrilling account of
his explorations of that river. The hall filed
with an intelligent looking audience. On the
walls of the lecture room nearly 300 Indian por-
traits were arranged. The remainder Of that i'm
mense building has numerous rooms filled with
exhibits. Near the fountain are the elegant vases
from France, presented to the United States; one
worth $3.50, another 81 200 The Chinese med
icines, 1000 varieties, worthy of notice,
among them being dried snake skins, sea horse,
toads, tortoise Shells deer horns, hedge hog skins
&c. The prices range from dollar a pound to
four hundred dollars ounce for some of their
medicine. The historical and personal effects of
| Washington, consisting of his camp equipage,
china, furniture, plate and numerous articles used
in housekeeping, have peculiar interest attached
| to them.
Yesterday being the Sabbath we went to Ham
line NJ. E. church to hear Bishop Andrews preach
! and afterwards ordain q deacon. The sermon xss
| a fine and the ordination services-S
pressive.
At o'clock ne went to the Masonic Temple to
hear Miss Won Finklestein, highly educated ma
tive of Jerusalem, Palestine, give description of
that city. She was dressed in Oriental costume.
Her description of the Holy Land held the large
audience spebound At that lecture we saw a
man with head as large as two. He has sold it
! for $500 to the Medical Museum, to be delivered
! by his family after death.
We are now about to leave this great city. We
have had delightful visit and hope for many
more in the future. INCoG.