The Republican journal., 1885-03-05

From here we take stroll through the park
south of the Presidents Mansion and the
beautifully laid out grounds beyond, make a
detour to the U. S. Fish Ponds and Propagat-
Ing Gardens and come again to the wonder of
the World-the Obelisk. Having passes from
Coi. easy, U. ). Engineer, to go to the top of
the monument we await the next trip of the
elevator Quite a large party of ladies and
gentleman are in waiting and soon ''all aboard"
Is heard and we begin our trip heavenward.
One experiences peculiar sensation as the
elevator slowly mounts higher and higher be-
tween the dimly lighted massive walls. We
notice that the gay voices and laughter grad
ually subslde as we ascend and by the time we
reach the height of 800 it. not a sound is heard
but the grooming and creaking of the massive
frame work. Among the party was a huge
hentucklan who lowered head and shoulders
above the rest of US and who Nv his Quaint
humor afforded us considerable amusement
when we first started When asked why he
was so quiet now, replied, The was irving to
hgure up who would strike the bottom first if
this thing should give way Not being very
well Versed in science he had evidently come to
the conclusion that being the heaviest he would
naturally fall fastest and that his chance would
be small to have the rest Of us come tumbling
down on to him. Having been assured by the
man IN charge that the elevator would carry
ten tons he appeared to be in better spirits
Inc View from the top eXcels in grandeur that
seen from the dome of the capitol, now POO feet
below US. The city is grand panorama at
our feet, The surrounding country is spread
out like map before US for scores of miles in
all directions The Potomac is a silver line
winding downto the ocean. The historic Long
Bridge, over which the National Armies march
ed into Virginia during The war Of the rebel
hon spans The river like a dark band stretched
from the Maryland 10 the Virginia shore
while the crowds thronging the walks and
streets beyond remind W of uuIiyer's Lilli-
putians. A. we look down from this siddy
height it hardly seems possible that we are
resting on mother Earth but rather as though
we We're viewing this mundane sphere from
some distant planet.
our next day of sight seeing took IN the
Post Office Department., the Patent Office, the
Agricultural Buildings and the Bureau of en-
craving and printing. The General Post Office
il large marble building of the Corinthan
style of architecture. and was begun in 1889
and completed in 1867 at total cost of s.. 700
600, The entire building il occupied by the
various branches of the z. O. department.
There is nothing of special interest here eX-
cept the Dead Letter Office Museum. which Is
indeed a monument TO the carelc>snees and
stupidity Of the American people. 1t is made
up of curious articles taken from the mali, Tor
non-payment of postage, as unavailable or az
improperly addressed. Valuable birthday pre-
sens, New Year and Christmas gifts sent to
distant friends aud loved ones, hul which for
lack of little care failed to reacI their ,.c~t
nation. Valuable iewelry, watches 49, bundles
and packages from every department of rade.
| loaded reviewers, tooth forcpps and tlsc teeth,
stuffed birds, a bottle of potato bugs. hofued
toads, small agator>, centipedes and snake
are part of the collection. Seventeen snakes
Of different sizes came in a large perforated lin
can and fifteen of them were found alive.
rattle snake at least it. long was received
alive. 1t is surprising to sec the immense
number and variety of articles received here
daily. There are also some articles Of historic
interest among which is the original book in
which Benz, Franklin kept tue records when
he did the business of the Department alone.
tWenty-Seven gentlemen.
Just across the Street from the H. o. is the
Department of the Interior OF Is it is usually