The Washington critic., 1886-06-22


stands the Naval Observatory The hill on
which IL stands Is famous for having been
the camping, ground of Washington, Brad
dock, and the latter's army when on their
march to the fatal field, where the English
General fell q victim to his selfconcelt and
vanity. Tradition also points out this hill
as the decisive battle, ground between the
District Indians and the mysterious Susque-
hannas. This observatory contains the
largest refracting telescope In the world,
next to the new equatorial Just built for the
Lick Observatory. By.its aid that most in
toresting, y not greatest astronomical dis
coyery OF the country was made, the moons
OF Mars The entrance to the observatory
The tierdic cabs go to Twenty.second and
q streets.
The Agricultural Department..
This building Is situated east OF the Monu-
ment. IL Is enclosed by the most beautiful
and glowing flower garden in the country
ana The grounds contain the most complete
Arboretum probably In the United States.
Attached TO this Department are the Ex-
nerlmental Gardens; whose offices are i'm
mediately west of the main building. TIL:
Belt Line cars go right past the grounds.
The Smithsonian.
Across Twelfth street. Immediately cast from
the Agricultural Department, are the
smithsonian Institution and the Smithso.
nian Grounds. The former is specimen of
the most graceful architecture In the city,
and the latter form the most beautiful
landscape. garden In the country. These
grounds of themselves are worth a visit to
memorial urn to the artist who designed
the park, Andrew J. Downing, and the
bronze statue of Professor Henry, the first
secretary of the institution. The latter Is
at the northwest corner of the building; the
Downing Urn Is In the centre of the grounds
two hundred yards north of the east wing
The Smithsonian is. filled with the most
varied and interesting objects connected
with science. u Is reached by the Seventh
Street, the Ninth Street and the Belt Line
of street cars.
The National Muscum.
The National Museum is in the Smithsonian
grounds, q few yards east OF the Smithso
nan building. 1t contains thousands of the
most interesting curiosities. samples of the
life, customs and history of all nations; 1t,
as well as the Smithsonian is open daily to
the public from a. m. to 4 p IN.
The botanical Gardens.
Passing eastward from the Museum, over
the railroad bridge that spans Sixth street,
and through the pretty park lying between
Maine and Missouri avenues. the visitor
comes to the entrance on Third street, Just
south of Pennsylvania avenue, of the Bo-
tanical Gardens. These interesting grounds
are open daily from, in the morning to
G in the evening. They were established
30 years ago. The conservatories arc filled
with the choicest and rarost foreign plants.
Around the gardens are extensive collec-
tions of trees and shrubs. In the centre of
the lawn facing the centre conservatory is
the famous Bartholdi Fountain that at
tracted so much attention at the Philadel-
phia Centennial.
The Peace Monument.
Just half way across the Avenue from the
northeast angle of the Botanical Garden.
And at the west foot of the Capitol Grounds
is the Peace Monument This was de-
signed by Admiral Porter In honor of the
dead soldiers and sailors of the late war.
1t Is of marble and cost, with PEDESTAL and
platform $4,000. 1t is proposed to remove
this monument to one of the squares on the
northwest section.
Retracing our steps we find
The Printing ana Engraving Bureau
The great money mill OF the Government Is
located at the corner of Fourteenth and B
street southwest. southeast from the Monu.
ment and southwest from the Agriculture
Bureau. IL Is reached by the Belt Line
Cars, and is opened to visitors every day.
Davy Burns Cottage.
One of the curiosties of Washington Is old
Davy Burns Cottage, on Seventeenth street,
near the river II may be reached by the
drive south Of the Presidents House or by
Next door to u is General Van Ness once
stately mansion, where he brought his
bride, Marcia Burns one of the original
heiresses OF Washington.
COrcOran Art Gallery.
The Corcoran, Art Gallery is AT the corner Of
street, opposite the War, Navy and state
Department. 1t is open Tuesdays, Thurs
days and Saturdays free on other days Tex
cept Sundays n small admission fee Is
charged, This gallery, although not to be
compared with the great Old World gal
lerics, is nevertheless a very creditable in
stitution for so new country us the United
States. IL contains among other original
objects Powers great statue OF the Greek
Slave"
| The Louise Home.
| The Louise Home is beautiful building at
the corner of Massachusetts avenue and
| Eiffnnnfh hul
| extensive grounds, beautifully ombellished
and is. unique establishment. 1t is II
memorial to the wife and daughter of Mr..
w. w, Corcoran and Is intended as a home
for ladies of education, birth and refine
| ment, who have been reduced to poverty
| from ailuonce
The Columbian University.
Coming down Fifteenth street from the Louise
Home, at the corner of Fifteenth and IL
streets, the visitor sees the Columbian Uni.
| versity, which occupies the site of the old
Griswald mansion This university : was in
| corporated as Columbian College In 1921,
| and IS under the special supervision of the
| Baptist Church II Is an institution famous
for the discipline and thoroushness of its
| instruction.
| The Weather Bureau.
The Signal Service, or Weather Bureau, is
| about one hundred yards west of the state,
| Wal and Navy Departments on G street, IL
| is one of the most interesting places in
charge, when at leisure always take
| pleasure in showing visitors how they
| manufacture weather"
| The POstOfiice Department.
The General Postoflice Department Is on the
square bounded by Il, +, seventh aud
Eighth streets. II Is a handsome building,
although It's proximity to Its larger and
bolder brother, the Patent Oflcc, some.
what obscures It's great size and tends to
| lessen its beauty. Its different bureaus
| urpnt iutprpgt a tln visitor hut tlp
Dead Letter Onice is particularly the one to
be observed. Tho collection of curiostles
taken from the mails in transit, as speci-
mems of the uses to which the Nations pos
| tai conyeyances are put, Is both varied and
| unique. Everything unmailablo from an In
dian tomahawk to a stuffed kangaroo, Is to
be seen In this collection, and II Is still
| growing
The Interior Department..
or, as II Is popularly termed, the Patent OF
flee, occupies the two squares between Sew
| enth and Ninth and II and q streets. IL Is
| built in the Dorlc style, and is an admirable
Greek styles. 1t contrasts finely with the
| General PostOiiiCc, which Is COrinthian, the
most ornate of the pure Greek modes of
architecture. The curosities of the Patent
| Oihce are the model rooms, where many
| thousands Of Ideas have been materiuliZed
and exhibit themselves TO the gaze in every
stage of invention. This building, like most
OF the Government offices, is open to the
visitor from 0 a. IN TO II. m. Tho Libraries
| of the Interior Department are well worthy
Of n visit. The great Inauguration ball at
Lincoln's second term took place in tho
| Patent Office.
Masonic Temple.
| Westward from the Patent Office across Ninth
street at its intersection with Il
| street Is the handsome Masonic
| Temple, erected in 1893. This build.
| ing Is one Of the most complete in its ar.
| rangements of any building conseerated to
Masonic uses in The country.
The Bureau OF Education.
The Bureau of Education Is in brick building
due north Of the Patent Office. Tho visitor
| with scholarly tastes and instincts will not
| fail TO visit this bureau, which contains a
| complete collection of objects illustrating
| the progress and condition Of education