The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-04-08
EasTsETlvS AT THE CAPITAL.
Tho Time To See Washington

pIc-Lrnlen season. ='.1
S,t.iai Bpqa!tb 10 The Inieltgeuetr.
WASHINGTON, D. G., April 1.-The
time OF the year par excellence to see
the Capital is during the Easter tide.
For one does not visit Washington
wholly, nor even primarily, to see the
city itself, but its people; and Easter, OF
all seasons OF the year, is the time when
Washingtonians arc on exhibition.
Washingtonians, unlike the balance OF
mankind, neither eat to live nor live TO
eat, but to be seen. Other cities at this
festal season may turn out larger crowds,
very many other cities certainly do fur
nish greater attractions as far as the at.
teudaut religious exercises so. But in
none other will the general character
and appearance ofthe people who throng
the streets compare with those OF the
Capital. Nowhere else are the people
30 uniformly well dressed, prosperous
and, as Max O'Rell would say, intelli-
gen,,looliag. This is OF course to be ex.
pected, but nevertheless the newcomer
is invariably impressed as the truth is
made plain to him. II he is fortunate
enough TO obtain q seat in any Of the
fashionable" churches, or even il he
stand outside, on n pleasant Easter
morning, such rs this one was, he will
aee such congregation rs no other
church in tue country contained.
Wealth, beauty, brains-probably in
The order giyen-he can study tho lead
ing representatives OF each to his hearts
content, and he will SEQ very little
which does not acknowledge allegiance
to one Of the three estates, and having
fairly good claim to be so conceded.
Each individual representative fully re-
allies that he is helping to make up the
most attractive part OF the show, each Is
aware that he is doing his share toward
sustaining the city's reputation, and
each plays mis- role quite acceptably.
on DRESS PARADE. HHl
Later in the day the visitor will be
still further impressed by tho appear
anco which the same company, its
regalia somewhat changed, will make on
dress parade on Connecticut avenue.
There with the added ornaments OF
spirited horses, snowy carriages and
livericd footmen, the upper four hun
dred or ten thousand, or whatever the
number may be, is perhaps at its best
for general exhibition purposes, aud the
crowds which throng the sidewalks fur
nish an excellent accompaniment. Con-
nec,icut avenue after o'clock on such
an afternoon is well worthy Of q sight.
secr's closest attention. lie will search
in vain in this country for its counter.
part or It's equal. The nations OF the
earth and the different. classes and
ranks OF its people which arc not there
represented are so few as to be scarcely
worth mentioning. On great state oc.
casions he can sec q more brilliant
spectacle, but at this one time and in
this one place alone will he see fitting
examples Of everything human which
the city contains.
Westinghouse churches might, with
considerable show Of justice, DO held to
be 4 striking commentary upon its re-
leious lie, II it can conscientiously be
Haid TO have any. 1t is certainly a de-
baiable question. Crane, in his excel
leat take.oil en- Washington life, "Tho
Senator" declares that he would ret
mar,icd -''if he had time" It is rea.
sonable to suppose that the busy states.
men and their coadjutors and attendens
satellites come to tho same determine
ton with reference to religious duties
Naturally the churches have suffered
in the midst Of magnificent public and
pr,vatc buildings Of ait kinds, except re-
reiis,Sns, the churches are insignificant
They would be so in city OF ione.tentt
.hc population and hund:edth part o.
the wealth. Wheeling has severa
churches more Imposing both ontwardlJ
and inwa.dly than those that Washing
ton c,u offer In the same line. Yet ont
never hears " complaint nor PROPOSE
ton to improve the supply. Neither II
It to be expected. People come here u
ahiue in political or social lite, some
times in both, oitcrner in neither. They
can 70 to church at home or while OF
vacations. The present accommodation
are ample. 5
scASrY FACILITIES For WORSHIP. "a
Nevertheless the visitor is again i'm
pressed by the scantiness and the poor
ness OF Tho facilities offered for divln
worship. Within square Of each othe
are the principal churches Of the RomS, =,
Catholics and tho Episcopa!ians, 81
Slatthew's and St. Johns, which ar
perhaps the two churches best known \
The city,. Both arc small, dingy, anti
pnated, poorly lighted and worse ven
Slated. Each is liable to be crowded =
puilocation upon any special occasion 9
interest, each sells every pow for fanc
prices, and every once in q while, jug
when other people want to see what
going on, the pewholders turn up an
claim their own. Among tho few real:
respectable church editlces in the city
4h,, one which President Harrison at
aeads, called the Church Of tho Cove
nant. Built OF stone, it is of a NOR
."modcrn5 lyre than an, the Fourth Stree r, 9
M. E,.church In Wheeling though o'Sp l ne
so large. !,
BY tho way, the Presidents Of lat
,years have followed most lcomWent