The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-08
UP ON TOP OF THE DOME.
CONG RESSHlN CUMMINGS TAKES A
VIEW OF HISTORIC GROUND.
A GrsphIe Pen Picture OF Washington and
Its Surroun dInEs-LookinE Down Upon
Towers, SteepIes, Mansions. Public
RuIIdInrs, and & reat and Little Men.

vrovars, steepIes, Manaions, Public
buildings, and Great and Little Men.
WAsu1NGroN, June 7.-Let us stant above
the dome Of the Capitol and gaze upon the
most beautiful city on the continent. The sky
| is intensely blue and parks. buildings and
avenues a Q bathed In sunshine. Alter three
! days OF rain the atmosphere has become I'M
usually clear and objects miles away are dis
| tinctly visible. Broad avenues radiate from
the CAPITOL below us like spokes from hub.
| They run to the boundaries of the city. All
! are shaded with foliage. a cool and re-
/ freshing breeze comes from the west. Tho
| Potomac and It's eastern branch stretch
along the south flank OF tho city like n
bow OF silver The Long Bridge over which
millions OF armed men poured into Virginia
more than q quarter OF century ago. spans
| the river In the distance to the LETT OF the
! Washington Monument. Beyond 1t Arlington.
the homestead of Robert L. Lee glistens in the
sunlight like tho Aoropolis at Athens. Dying
Alexandria, with grass.grown streets, covers a
far away peninsula 10 the south.
The Mount Vernon boat is coming up the
river and three or four sailing vessels lie at
anchor miles away. You see the old signal
station to the right OF Arlington. 1t was Fort
Whipple when it was built Gen. Greedy has
command OF it now. The aaueduct bridge Is
hidden by the heights OF Georgetown.
From Georgetown around to Bennfngs
Bridge the horizon is iringed with foliage
Glimpses OF the Catholic University. the Sol
diers' Home. Howard University. the Deaf and
Dumb Asylum on Kendall Green, the Reform
School and other institutions are to be had
Pennsylvania avenue lies directly in 'front.' 1t
seems much shorter than tho other spokes In
the hub. The Treasury building cuts it from
sight above Fifteenth street The trees that
adorn il on either side are In full lear Tho
car tracks in the centre OF the street seem to
rob 1t OF its width. Landaus. hansoms, phae-
tons buck boards. and carriages OF all descrlp-
tions are rolling over its smooth asphalt pave
ment From the dome OF the Capitol they look
like small moving Rutomatons. Bicycles dart
hither and thither. but they are 30 far away
that Only an occasional CLINT OF machine
strikes the eye.
Both Houses Of Congress have Just adjourned
The members are streaming across the avenue
near the Peace Monument Although hum
dreds OF feet below us. and more than thou-
sand feet away. their forms are clearly defined.
At this distance they are verltable pigmies.
Speaker Reed can be distinguished by his Ill
bert-like form and sailor-like swing. A thin
gentleman strides at his side. He is 80 far
away that he looks like an animated Bhinglo
nail. An associate above the dome says that 1t
is Congressman stivers OF New YORK, but 1t has
the action of William G. Laidlaw. For ten
minutes the stream of Representatives crosses
the street and pours under the foliage Shading
the walks Of the avenue.
Tho view is magnificent. The city Is partly
engulfed in sea OF living green. Its immen-
sity is hidden Scores Of little parks can be
seen but the statues adjoining them are hid
den underneath the branches of naples and
towering chestnuts The grandest thing In
the city is the magnificent marble shaft recall
ing tho grandest figure in our national history.
1t looses its height when seen from the dome
OF the Capitol. which stands on much higher
ground. 1t seems to spring from the bosom Of
a park which runs from the Capitol to the left
OF Pennsylvania avenue and beyond the White
House. Within 1t are the minarets of the
Smithsonian Institute. the gables Of the Agri-
cultural Department, and the pressed brick Of
the National and Medical Museums. Beyond
these appears the Bureau OF Engraving and
Irinting beneath asnow-white cloud OF steam.
The White House is entirely hidden. but the
the sunlight ike q toy temple.
The Treasury. low. grim. and squatty. is lost
ing TO lhe right of the avenue, two low mar
Le buildings are seen. Viewed from the street
5hoy ho%svsr tSeg LOOK like
OF the olden time. on oan almost see the
drawbridges and portculis. They are the
baZaars. There are hundreds OF low, fiat oofs
around them-so low hat they are overtopped
ne moss striking 81 ali the sd 9 is the
aSoSs evergtSni esS MASSIVE pile Of red
brick. rising into the heavens. white band
Erts, its loins. 1t Is ribbon of stucco. in
which are carved regiments OF cavalry in
family and artillery -all on the move. A Con-
gresham once characterized 4 as g delinea-
ing upon the Treasury. Away to the left OF the
Pension ONCE stands the baltimore sun build
White wis sF Teasas she sunght aad 4 rises
Field building IN New York.
great gray shell known as the Government
rIintinG ONCE Is an old and dangerous
ger ger tho lives Of hHndTeds The greatest print
ing establishment in this country, 1t Is the
most poor eonstrueeSd I HrS GGHSr ratbsrs
and put up u tlre-proof STRUCTURE the De,
struction OF tho present establishment would
is an Immense structure with an arched ROOF,
i really the ee street SSanMf ar SsSi0n '' '
dome is that OF the, METROPOLITAN Church. 1t
stands between the Pension once anI pe he
the sV 5oHn NeWma now Snp Me&dd
HSh0R ans sTes fT Wol
OF The little church whore Dr., Sunderland
officiates. which PRESIDENT Cleveland at
tended President Harrison goes to church
a little more fashionable. 1t psrtakes OF the
new order OF architecture. and stands upon
Connecticut avenue. or Vanity Fair lane. rs
John Bunyan would call it. Its steeple is
barely discernible two miles away. to the right
OF the Army aud Navy building.
There arc historical reminders In sight.
Look to the east. At our feet you see what ap-
pears 10 be a shiDyard 1t is the foundation for
the great Government Library. The big cranes
used in moving huge blocks Of stone resemble
them in place are the rigging. Beyond 1t on
tho eft. ut MARYLAND avenue and First street.
is a cream colored hiding. looking like a dry
goods box. 1t faces the Capitol grounds ana
was the old Capitol prison; Il is now the resi-
preme Court. Now look to the southeast You
see. Il mile or more away, a triangular plot eX-
tending into the eastern branch If the Poto-
mac. 1t looks like park. but 1t contains the
old arsenal. made famous by tho execution OF
Paine, Harold;. Atzelodt. and Mrs surralt. At
this distance II appears 10 be one OF the most
charming spots in Washington. Thousands
regard 1t with horror, believing that hin it
an innocent woman was executed as u fe on.
Now walk around the cupola 10 the north
west. Ford's old theatre, whore PRESIDENT
Lincoln was sainAtoC. ALandS In tha lptt mi