The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-05-25

the point Of view Of social enjoyment 10 In perhaps
fortunate that our national capital has not been
placed In any great commercial city. Leisure IN,
indeed, quality which could hardly coexist with
the immense energy Of these populations But
leisure may be found In Washington Just % IL may
be found at O watering place.
whether Washington, for social purposes, Inn
proves with time In disputed question. In former
days one OF the great charms of the place was tn
simplicity. The best Washington society used TO
60 to parties on foot Tea and chocolate would
attract as good company as canvasback duck and
champagne do In other places But old Washing
tonians now complain that the easy going socialty
of former times no longer exists Rich strangers
have come and built fine houses and have cot o
standard of living to which the old residents are
not able to conform Perhaps the older people
feel that they are being pushed to one aide. One
of them was heard recently to complain that they
had been spoken of as "nativesn 1t 10 to be hoped
that the fears of the old Washingtonians exag-
gera'ed.
"Of course the fact that Washington Is not COM
mercial place must prevent its being one Of the
doubt that place of winter residence for IN idle
man, or as the scene of q visit of few weeks, II
has advantages to be found scarcely anywhere else"
Mr.. Charles Burr Todd CHATS his baptismal and
not unsymmetrical nance may regard himself -
supremely happy because know positively MOTH
ing about his originality and freshness as a writer.
| His latest published volume is entitled "The
Story of Washington"- meaning the city, and not
the immortal man.
The book, very attractive one In letter press
and pictures, contains four hundred duodecimo
pages, and have read them all. They embcdy
twenty five chapters, none of which are dull or
commonplace. There are valuable appendices, and
the highly proper index which in such works Ia
often conspicuous from not being where 1t is natu-
rally looked for
| Mr.. Todd has well searched the local history of
| ID. G..
These initials have in this case, peculiar double
Specification, namely divers chronicles and Dis
trict of Columbia
Washington City was Gas Mr.. Todd shows in his.
first chapter) the result of a compromise So was
the war of 1s6l-ls65 which environed the capital
with forts and guns and armed sentinels The birth
of this accidental city is described in chapter two
and the romantic, sad story of Pierre Charles
(major) LEnfant, designer of its snowy broad
thoroughfares, parks, fountains and memorial tenn
Piles, is re-told with sympathetic fervor. Then
Mr. Todd affords us insight of prospected splen-
doris never realized. We learn how the capitol was
begun and gradually, magni6cently reared. Sub
sequent chapters devoted to the cityssponsors,
to its early days. its destruction by vanda Britons,
its scenes of fierce political battling, and its mill
tary investment, defense and imminent peril twen-
weight years ago.
Chapter twelve is thrilling series of faithful
word pictures. In it the worn, torn and SCARED
volunteer battalions march for two bright May
days. before the nations chieftains home and into
history.
Peace has dawned and Alexander Shepherds
plans for municipal improvement are now given
full sway. The modern, elegant, costly city Of
Washington stands unveiled; worlds wonder,
kaleidoscope SURPRISE and the special CORES
pondent's richest quarry of scandal.
All of this and more quite interesting Charles