Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-06-11
WASHINGTON
As a City of Instruction and Edu-
cation.
THE DEPARTMENTS OF GOVERNMENT
As SchooIs---vaIuabIe and Otherwise
Unattainable knowledge to
Be Acquired.
NOTES AND GOSSIP OF THE CAPITAL.
Special 10 Ghe Register.

GScStAa " sag Ah0S'S'S'-
WASHINGTON, June l0.-The large num-
Der of educational events coming to the sur
face in Washington just now call especial
attention to its advantages as city OF In
strueion. Nowhere in the country are to
be found the advantages which Washing
ton offers to the youth or the person OF ma
turer years as an instructor. The wonder
is that there has not been founded here a
greater national institution Of learning
which should offer in combination with The
advantages which the city itself gives, as
complete course of mental training as is
to be found in any of the best universities
Of the world. 1t was, as ls well known,
favorite thought with Washington, that this
the capital city of the nation should have
in it a magnificent university one which
should not be surpassed by any in the world.
This he urged in his private conversation
and writings, in his public expressions OF
views, and at one time in an annual mess
age to Congress. His idea has not been
realized in its full sense, yet in some Tea.
lures it is even mora thoroughly carried
out than his thoughts had pictured it. No
city in the country has such educational
advantages as this, advantages
supplied By the character ot
the city and the institutions which it affords
and sustains. AS for the schools themselves
they are past the average, both in numbers
and excellence while the educational sur
rouudincs and adjuncts are not surpassed
~ anything TO De found in the country
Take the
Departments of the Government
for instances. They are Of themselves a
great university. The instruction which
| they offer is wonderful The State Depart
ment, for instance, places you in direct
contact with ever civilized nation Of the
globe, while the diplomatic corps with
which you come more or less in contact
with are living, moving representatives OF
these nations. Through the reports of the
consuls from all parts Of the country you
are given a close and invaluable insight
into the affairs as seen through American
ewes all over the world. When you once
see and know even by sight the heads OF
the departments and their assistants you
entirely find yourself taking greater inter,
est in their movements and in the criticisms
offered regarding their departments and
those of other nations corresponding IN
character with them. Take the
Treasury Department, for another case,
it is surprising low much more easy II
is to comp ehend the great system
and wonderful workings from this stand
point where you may see all its opera,
lions and operatives So with the other
departments, Postoffice, Interior, War, Navy,
and Justice. The detail of these depart
ments and he information they present 20
the observer, young or old, is surprisingly
great. Take the Interior department. 1t
has its Smithsonian Institute with its scien'
tifc collection not equaled by anything in
this country, if indeed in the world. Then
there is the National Museum which is con,
,ributed to by all the other departments
trough their representatives all over the
world, and which is most instructive
teacher. The Patent Office, wich is part
of the Interior department is a highly in.
structive feature of this great department,
and one which proves valuable in reaching
,he minds of those who study il to useful
tpplication. Almost every one of the de.
oaItments has its museum. The War de.
ment has the most valuable medical
museum in the country, highly instruc.
tive to those who propose to devote
their lives to the study of medicine
and surgery valuable to anybody who
desires information. Its library is the larg-
est and most complete of any in the coun-
try. perhaps in the world. Each of the de-
partments has its library, valuable in itself,
While at the Capitol there is the Congress
sional library, not equaled by any in the
country. The Agricultural department is
a valuable instructor. Tue bureau of educa.
lion, the section Of the Interior devoted to
geology. the work of the eutomologist, the
features Of the War and Navy department
which offer facilities for the study of the
arts OF war, the Navy Yard, where great
csnnons are being msde-in fact there is
no end to the list of object teachers and
object lessons which are thus furnished free
OF cost to those who desire to study them,
aud fairly force upon the most hsIlsss OBJ
servor their useful teachings. In art every
public building and every public slusre is
rich, while at the Capitol the great Supreme
Court and the great Congress of the greatest
nation of the earth furnish invaluable les
sons of information, argument, and oratory.