The Washington critic., 1890-02-03


removed by relic hunters. AZ the northwest
corner OF the square, above the Commissary-
Generals O0cc. Is the House made famous
hy the ownerahip of Commudori Decatur,
wbcrc Dolly" Madison lived and reigued 50
long n social Queen after her husbands term
as President expired.
ThS Washington Monument.
INN, t.af.ly south Of the White House
stands tl,' Ws shingtOn Monument, the lofti
est structure erected by man, aud the most
imposing tciisk ever constructed. 1t Is h55
feet above It's base, which f. a. feet above
tidc.water. Its Cornerstone was laid July
4. 19Is, and the capstone, forming the apex,
was placed ~ position December o, 1884. In
it are 1S1 blocks of Inserted stones or copper,
gifts from various counties and societies.
Tho total cost will be over 81 $4,000. II Is
situated IN what will ultimately be beautt
ful park.
The NdcB Observatory.
TO the west Of the Washington Monument
on the highest elevation that borders tho
north bank OF tho river, between st. Eliza
beth's Heights and Georgetown College,
stands the Naval Observatory. The hill on
which II stands is famous for having been
the camping ground of Washington Brad
dock and the latters army, when on their
insrcbto the fatal field, where the English
General fell n victim to his self-conceit and
vanity. Tradition also points out this hill as
the decisive battle ground between the Dis
triet 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 Liok OBJ
servatOry. By It's aid that most interesting
II NOT greatest, astronomical discovery Of tho
country was made, the moons of Mars. Tho
entrance to the Observatory is at & and
Twcntythird streets northwest. The Herdic
cabs - TO TweDtysccond and G. streets.
Tie agricultural Department.
This building IL situated east of tho Mopu-
ment. II Is inclosed bv the most beautiful
and glowing flower garden IN the country,
aud the grounds contain the most complete
Aiborctum probably in the United States.
Attached to this Department are the Expert
mental Gardens whose offices are immedi-
ately west OF the main building. The Belt
Line cars go right past the grounds.
Tie Smithsonian Institute and National
Museum.
The visitor may obtain considerable enter
Il t1innent and instruction by spending several
hours in the Smithsonian Institution and
National Museum. These are two handsome
big buildings, situated in the immense park
lying south of d street, between Seventh and
Twelfth streets. There is simply mammoth
free museum, owned and operated by the o.
S. Government for the collection of every
thing in nature, science, literature, history
and art that is"""H interesting and valuable,
and the displaying of them to the public. As
one enters the ha of the National Museum
nj 4 Inf nat fs n M
the personal ef ects of George Washington,
including his clothing, family china and camp
utensils Beyond this stretch row after row
of glass showcases, in which are displayed
collections of almost every conceivable ar
ticles. The artist will find rare etchlngs,
specimens of the engraver's art in its perfec-
ton. The surgeon will sec whole cases full
of keen and glistening implements of his
calling from the smallest and most complex
to the largest and simplest. The numismatist
may revel in a collection of rare coins, from
the freshly coined dollar of the day TO the
copper cast that bears the stamp of the
Caesars. The geologist will find himself in a
maze of specimens dug from every section
of the country. The ethnologist may pore
for hours over the models of the Cliff houses
and the homes of the Aborisines. The lover
Of antiquities in general will have an un'
bounded range of subjects, from the Egyp
tian mummies, thousand years old. and
relics of Pompeii to the arms and implements
of the early dwellers in America. The lover
of bric-a.brac and fine china will discover a
paradise of earthen productions. The dain
tiest wares from Limoges, Baccarat, Hungary
and Germany will please the eye, and the
process of manufacture is displayed. In the
Smithsonian Building the student of tax
idermy will find case after case Of birds
beasts, fish and reptiles stuffed and in jars oil
alcohol. Back of the Smithsonian Building
is o $780," where are number Of live wild
animals. Several bears, @ cougar, a jaguaI
and groups OF smaller animals and birds
comprise the collection. The Smithsonian
Institution and National Museum buildings
are open from 9 a. m. to 4 p. m. to visitors
and may be reached by the Seventh street
| Belt line and Ninth street line of street-cars
| 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 Botanical Gar
dens. These interesting grounds are opeI
daily from In the morning to In the even
| ing. They were established fifty years ago
| The conservatories are filed with tht
\ choicest ard rarest foreign plants. AROUND
| the gardens are extensive collections of tree.
| and shrubs. In the centre of the lawn facing
the centre conservatory IS the famous Bar
| tholdi Fountain that attracted SO much at
tention at the Philadelphia 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 designed by Ad
mral Porter in honor of the dead soldiers and
| sailors of the late war. 1t Is of marble and
cost, with pedestal and platform, 81 900. II
| is proposed to remove this monument to one
of the squares on the northwest section.
| Retracing ours teps we find
The Printing and Engraging Bureau.
The great money mill of the Government 4
| located at the corner OF Fourteenth and
streets southwest, southeast from the Monu-
ment and southwest from the Agricultural
Bureau. 1t is reached by the Belt Line Carr
and is opened to visitors every day.
! Dayy Burns Cottage.
One of the curiosities of Washington Is old
Dsvy Burns Cottage, on Seventeenth street
near the river 1t may be reached by tho
drive south of the Presidents House or by
the Metropolitan or Avenue line of cars. Next
door to II is General Van Ness once statel!
mansion, where he brought his bride, Marcii
Burns, one of the original heiresses of Wash
irgten
CJrc01aR art Gallery.
The Corcoran Art Gallery is at the corner o
Pennsylvania avenue and Seventeenth street
opposite the War, Navy and State Department
1t is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Satur
dovs free. on other davS (pNeent SundaVsl
small admission fee is charged. This gallery
although not to be compared with the grea
Old World galleries, Is nevertheless Yer!
creditable institution for so new countr!
as the United States. II contains among othe
original objects Powers great statue of TIN
Greek Slave "
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