The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-01-13

by the ownership of Commodore Decatur
where Dolly" Madison lived and reigned so
as President expired.
The Washington Monument.
Immediately south Of tho white House
stands the Washington Monument, the loft.
eat structure erected by man, and the most
Imposing obellsk ever constructed. IL Is 555
feet above Its base, which Is IA feet above
tide.water. Its cornerstone was laid July
was placed in position December D, 1854. II,
y are 1S1 blocks OF inserted stones or copper,
gifts from various countries and societies.
situated In what will ultimately be beauti.
full Park.
The Ndcal Observatory.
To the west Of the Washington Monument
on the highest elevation that borders the
north bank OF the river, between st. Eliza
beths Heights and Georgetown College,
stands the Naval Observatory. The hill on
the camping ground Of Washington and Brad
dock and the latter's army, when on their
march TO the fatal field, where the English
vanity. Tradition also points out this hill as
the decisive battle-ground between the Dis
trict Indians and the mysterious Susque-
hannas. This observatory contains the largest
refracting telescope In the world, next TO the
new equatorial Just built for tho Lick OBJ
servatory. BIZ It's aid that most interesting
II not greatest, astronomical discovery OF the
country was made, the moons OF Mars The
entrance to the Observatory Ia at and
Twenty-thIrd streets northwest. The Herdlc
cabs go to Twenty-second and q streets.
The agricultural Department.
This building is situated east OF the Monu-
ment. IL Ia inclosed bv the most beautiful
and glowing flower garden In the country,
and the grounds contain the most complete
Aiboretum probably In the United States.
Attached to this Department are the Expert
mental Gardens, whose Offices are imnedi-
ately west Of the main building. The Belt
Line cars 90 right past the grounds.
The Smithsonian Institute and National
Museum.
The visitor may obtain considerable enter.
talhment and instruction by spending several
hours In the Smithsonian Institution and
National Museum. These are two handsome
lying south 81 street, between SEVENTH an and
| Twelfth streets. There Is simply mammoth
free museum, owned and operated by tho U.
=. Government for the collection Of every.
thing In nature, science, literature, history
and art that Is rare, interesting and valuable,
one enters the hall Of the National Museum
the. personal effects Of George Washington,
including his clothing, family china and camp
| utensils. Beyond this stretch row after row
eoecions Of almost every asS ar
ucles The artist will find rare etchings,
| specimens OF the engravers art In Its perfec,,
Of keen and siistemins In Implements ts' Of his
calling from the smallest and most complex
to the largest and simplest. The numismatist
Sosr o. 10
copper cast that bears the stamp Of the
Casars. The geologist will find himself in
maze OF specimens dug from every section
for hours over the models Of the Clif houses
and the homes OF the AboriRines. The lover
| Of antiquities In general will have an I'M
tian mnmmies, q thousand years old. and
relies Of Pompeii 70 the arms and implements
| Of the early jewellers in America. The lover
Of ssrSen nns TSe Sa
TEST wares from Limoges, Baccarat, Hungary
and Germany will please the eye. and tn
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 OF
alcohol. Back OF the Smithsonian building
! Is 200" where are number OF live wild
| animals. Several bears. q cougar, a. 1aguar
and groups Of smaller animals and birds
| comprise the collection. The Smithsonian
Institution and National Museum buildings
are open from 0 a. m. TO- p. IN. to visitors.
| and may be reached by the Seventh street,
Belt line and Ninth street line Of street.cars
The Botanical Gardens.
the railroad bridge that spans sixth street.
and through the pretty park lying between
Maine and Missouri avenues, the visitor comes
Pennsylvania avenue, OF the Botanical Gar
dens. These interesting grounds are open
daily from In the morning TO 9 In the even
ing. They were established Atty years ago.
The conservatories are filled with the
choicest and rarost foreign plants. Around
the gardens are extensive collections Of trees
and shrubs. In the centre OF the lawn facing
hA nVfx .n iAn1n ep1 r<Npu a IN
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 Adj
miral Porter In honor of the. dead soldiers and
cost, with pedestal and platform, Sal 900. 1t
Is proposed to remove this monument to one
Of the squares on the northwest section.
Retraclng ours tops we lind
The Printing and Engraving Bureau.
The great money mill Of the Government Is
located at the corner Of Fourteenth and b
streets southwest southeast from the Monu-
Bureau. It Is reached by the Belt Line Cars
and is opened to visitors every day.
Dairy Burns Cottage.
One OF the curiosties Of Washington Is old
payy Bnrns sotIsse on Seventeenth street
| drive south Of the Presidents Hot SO or by
the Metropolitan or Avenue line OF cars Next
door to II Is General Van Ness once stately
mansion, where he brought his bride; Marcia
Burns, one of the original heiresses of Wash
| ingten.
Corc0ran Art Gallery.
The Corcoran Art Gallery is at the corner OF
Da,n ,ulx Ia and ua,sa ufr
| opposite the War, Navy and state department
II Ia open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Satur-
days free; on other days Except Sundays a
small admission feeis charged. This gallery,
although not to be compared with the great
Old World galleries, Is nevertheless a very
| creditable institution for so new a country
original objects Powers great statue OF the
| "Greek Slave"
The Louis Home.
The Louise Home Is beautiful building at
| the corner of Massachusetts, avenue and Fiji
| teenth street, near Scott Circle. IL has ex.
| tensive grounds. beautifully embellshed. and
| IL u unique establishment IL Is a memorial
to the wife and daughter Of Mr.. w. W,
COrcoran, and is Intended as a home for
| ladies Of education and birth and refinement
who have been reduced to poverty from af-
| huence.
The Columbian Unigersitb.
Coming down Fifteenth street from the
| Louise Homo, at the corner OF Fifteenth and
| ii streets. the visitor sees tho c Columbian Uni
| versity, which occupies the site OF the old
Griswold Mansion. This university was ln-
corporated as Columbian College In 1921,
and Is under the special supervision OF the
Baptist Church. IL is an institution famous
for tho discipline and thoroughnoss OF Its
instruction.
The P0stotice Department.
The General Postoilice Department Is on the
| I.... .1AA h.gE nd NtghN