River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-04-05

the sun must be useful as well as orna-
mental! The useful without the orna-
mental is found in mans work, Of
which many houses in the same region
furnish striking examples. The main
part consists of a fire place and chin.
ney-the latter sometimes oTnamented
with a barrel empty of heads-and
against this fireplace a wooden room
is built for the accommodation of the
family and part of the live stock.
The Baltimore and Ohio railroad has
more miles to the distance than Yer
mont has surface to the square acre.
Its curves are an object lesson To a
base ball pitcher. In respect to tun-
nels it is paradise to lOvers-on a
train. And to eyes on the alert for
natures lessons in geology, the dips,
curves, and folds in the strata, produce
much pleasanter and more abiding
effect than do the comparati vely small
curves of steel made by man.
Harper's Ferry has several points of
interest. Without leaving the train
passengers can see the old fort where
John Brown with his few followers.
took his stand for human rights and
went OUTPUT not to die. 1t still goes
marching on in its journey of song and
in all great conflicts of right against
wrong.-Of truth against error. The
hills overshadowing the fort on both
sides of the Potomac could tell many a
hard contest for or against the cause
precipitated by John Browns brave
and impetuous spirit. Extremes meet
across the river beneath the rugged
heights. for here the swift.traveling
iron horse crosses the placid waters of
the Cumberland and Chesapeake canal.
Along this canal even now some Gar
field in embryo and in training may
follow the towpath and the two mules
driven tandem, while the captain
stands hard by the helm partly hidden
robe as is flung TO the breeze on wash
ing day.
Washington was reached after a
twenty four hours ride from Chicago
and the welcome given the party by
hotel agents left nothing-except, per-
haps, rest-to be asked for. On the
following day the sights were to be
seen and enjoyed. To facilitate in the
first and add to the second a guide was
secured. If these guides are alike
and this one claimed the right of third
determined by competitive examina-
ton, although he did not say he was
third-rate-they form a class of the
genus homo not indigenous to the wild
and uncultivated West. He could dis
course with equal ignorance on war,
politics or religion. A guide to the
nations capital, he solemnly affirmed
that the thirteen feathers in the head
dress of the figure surmounting the
dome. represented 1.-the thirteen Origi-
nal states before the Revolution.
Able to speak in four languages, he
explained gatling gun, by showing
how the barrels could be discharged
singly, or how it could be arranged to
discharge all simultaneously.
1t may happen that extremes meet
sometimes on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Not far from the stylish turnout of a
rich Western senator, with its well
groOmed horses and prim cOachman,
appeared the antiquated OK team and
attachments OF a descendant of son
of Africa. -Four made up the COM
pany One kept the unequally yOked
oxen from spending all their strength
at right angles to the line of progress;
another sat on the wagon while the
others followed leisurely in the rear.
III more is needed to complete the
surroundings let the imagination pic
ture coats with elbows mot at home"
and brOken-handled, dust colored
umbrella tied with the regulation cot
ton string two thirds OF the way from
the zenith end.
After visiting the capitol and vari-
GUS department buildings, of course
the trip would prove failure without
a piece of the original stone from the
Washington monument and a hand
shake with President Cleveland.
Both of these were secured, but there
is less doubt about the genuineness of
the latter than the former.
Mt. Vernon is reached by boat from
Washington down the beautiful, and
sometimes foggy Potomac. 1t is ro-
mantle spot and is itself a strong
proof of the sound wisdom and good
Judgment which possessed its owner.
Descriptions of the place are far too
common to need repetition. Although
visitors are not shown the cherry tree
and Ratchet so closely associated with
the father of his country by chlld-life,
yet there are sufficient points of inter-
est to those who have put away child
ish things. The estate is in good
degree of preservation, thanks to the
ladies of the Mt. Vernon Association,
and relic hunters fare poorly. as they
should. It is for fear OF these that
more rooms in the White House are
not open to the public, that the car
pets and furniture are not put into the
halls of Congress until about a week
before the session opens, and the ele-
vator in the monument is closed at
present. To illustrate this vandal
spirit, an oil painting is shown at Mt.
Vernon from which corner was torn
a few years ago and carried away by
relic fiend. The parties in question
here contented themselves with chest
nuts and pieces of the original % wood
from the door of Washington old
tomb. They were secured of a color
ed man who appeared to be not more
than one step removed from the numer-
Gus and renowned generaton,--no
about extinct which builded better
than it knew in giving good care to an
ordinary baby by the name of George
Washington.
Alexandria. Va. seven miles from
Washington, and at one time its rival
for national honors as the center of
still bears many marks of
its royal founders and of its CONNER !
cial and political advantages. Here
are old buildings of brick with roofs
sloping towards the street, and old /
" arehouses and wharfs ABOUND which /
are seen ex.slaves, the last OF their /
kind---or the young progeny of these
who give but dark outlook as far as /
regards the future intelligent colOred /
citizen of America. Somewhat back /
from the main village street stands |
the old Braddock House where the /
general, from whom the building was
named, planed bis unfortunate cam
paign against the Indians. Near by |
IS Alexandria Lodge where Washing
ton was Master. as in SO many other |
positions. aud where his chair, the |
candles borne at his funeral and other |
interesting relics are kept. And here |
too in Alexandria is Christ church /
with its pew where Washington sat !
and had the gospel come DOWN &c
a Nr.tN