Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-13
ELDER BOTKIN'S LETTER.
From the Arkansas to the Hudson and
By the Historic James.
sos broadway

NEww YORK, May z, 'SS.
To the Editor OF the Eagle.
A few words concerning some of my
experiences in this city and while en-
route to it may be of interest to your
readers.
l left Wichita just two weeks ago and
tarried few days in Washington, pass
ing through Kentucky, West Virginia
and Virginia. l was everywhere greeted
with historic scenes and names. Rapi.
dan, Culpepper, Rappahannock, Manas-
sas junction, are names of places that
called me back in thought quarter of a
century, when hill and vale all through
those regions trembled under the tread
of contending armies; when the life OF
the nation hung in the balance and thou
sands of brave men went down in sea
of blood in defense of the old flag.
While in Washington | was in the
| special care of DR.. j. P. Newman. the
pastor of Grant and Logan the last years
of their lives, and at present pastor OF
the Metropolitan NJ. E. church in the
capital city. To him l am greatly in.
indebted for many valuable suggestions
and facts of interest. In company with
Rev. DIR. Pendleton, of Topeka, spent
one day at Mt. Vernon, the old home
and burial place of George Washington.
President Cleveland's wife and sister
had the honor of making the journey
thither on the same boat with US. and
hod -
to get good square look at US, which,
for aught | know, they greatly enjoyed.
Mt. Vernon is wonderful place,
both on account of its his
toric interest and its enhancing beauty.
The Judgment exhibited in the selection
of the location was equalled only by the
taste manifested in all the plans of
buildings, gardens, orchards ana fields
The residence with its old furniture Just
as the Father of his country left it. IN
GLIDING among many sacred relics a
chair brought over on the May Flower.
the suit in which he delivered his fare
well address, the sword that hung at his
side, the bed on which he died; the brick
barn built by the great president-father
in 1888 OF brick brought from the old
country, the green house arranged Just
as he left it, with plants still growing
which he and Lafayette planted with
their own hands, and a Sage
palm brought To this country
in the same ship from which
the tea was thrown into Boston harbor:
the tomb holding the caskets, seen by all
visitors, which contain the remains OF
Washington and his wife; the broad ex-
panse of the Potomac river-such a river
Notwithstanding on either hand until
the eye wearies, bearing on its placid
bosom boats of steam and spreading sail;
and the hills and wales of Maryland be-
yond, altogether furnish theme of med
itation that awakened in my mind the
most patriotic and sacred memories. A
visit to Mt. Vernon intensified my love
for our country and our flag
We reached this city on Saturday
evening, April %. On Sunday morning
we heard DIR. Talmage IN his terrific
denunciation of modern spiritualisrn.
-Four thousand people shown to
their seats by forfy-seven ushers;
lead in the singing of old fashioned
hymns, such as salvation, O. the Joy
full sound, and Am / soldier Of the
cross by the great pipe organ and
cornetist; lthe simple, earnest, compre-
hensIVe prayer, anu the fearless ana con-
vincing sermon, are parts OF service
never TO be forgotten. at p. ia. we
heard DR.. John Hall in the Fifth avenue
Presbyterian church In this magnifi- |
cent edifice with seating capacity of /
1900 were gathered about 500 people to |
listen to an old fashioned Methodist SER
mon without the fire, delivered by one /
of the greatest Presbyterian divines On |.
the continent. At night we heard Bishop 4
William Taylor. of Africa
General conference opened On /
Tuesday. May !. at 9 n m Most 1
of that day was spent ia organizing for |
work. This done tie fight on the woman 1
question began. Miss Frances E VII /
lard and four other ladies had been
elected lay delegates and the debate was
upon their constitutional night 70 seats
in the general conference. All last week
and until 2 p. M today Monday the
battle OF the giants went on IL IS con-
ceded to have been The greatest debate
since is44. when tbs slavery question
severed the church IN twain am hap
pv 10 say. however, that In al thss con-
est not an unEind word has beer spoken
n bitter feeling exhibited on either
.ids. By very close vote the women