The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-03-11
The Nashinaton Monument.

long " Social Quecu tlLeT neT nuSDuuu ttTln
as President expired.
The Washington Monument
Immediately south Of the white House
stands the Washington Monument the lofii.
est structure erected by man, ana re most
feet above Its base, which Ia AZ feet above
tlde-water. Its cornerstone was laid July
4, 1sds, and the capstone forming the apex,
was placed In position December u, 1884. In
II are 1s1 blocks OF inserted stones or copper,
gifts from various countries and societies.
The total cost will be over 81 100000. IL Is
situated In what will ultimately BIO a beauti-
full rark.
The Napal Observatory.
TO the west of tho washington Monument
on the highest elevation that borders the
beth's Heights and Georgetown College,
stands the Naval Observatory. The hill ON
which IL stands is famous for having been
The camping ground Of washngt9n ,a ana Brad ,,.,
march TO tho fatal field, where the English
General fell q victim to his selfconceit and
vanity. Tradition also points out this hill as
trct Indians and the mysterious Susque-
hannas. This observatory contains the largest
refraoting telescope in the world, next to the
seryatory. BY It's aid that most Interesting
II not greatest, astronomical discovery OF the
country was made, the moons Of Mars. The
third seels rhe Heaa
cabs go to Twenty second and q streets.
The Agricultural Department.
This building is situated east Of the Monu..
ment; " is inclosed BY the most beautiful
and the grounds contain the most complete
Arboretum probably In tho United States.
Attached to this Department are the Experii'
ately west Of the main building. The Belt
Line cars go right past the grounds.
The Smithsonian institute and National
Museum.
The visitor may obtain considerable enter
taihment and instruction by spending several
National Museum. These are two handsome
big buildings, situated In the immense park
lying south Of b street, between Seventh and
Twelfth streets. There is simply mammoth
free museum, owned and operated by tho U.
s. Government for the collection Of every
thing in nature, science, literature, history
and art that Is rare, interesting and valuable,
ns enters mt s Sa Of Of Inc NSosa S&S Museum
the first object OF interest Is a collection OF
the personal effects OF George Washington,
utensils. beyond this stretch row after row
Of glass show cases, In which are displayed
collections OF almost every conceivable ar
ticles The artist will find rare etchings,
ton. The surgeon will see whole cases full
of keen and glistening implements of his
calling from the smallest and most complex
may rcvel in a collection Of raro coins, from
the freshly coined dollar Of the day TO the
copper cast that bears the stamp OF the
maze Of specimens dug from every section
for hours over the models Of the Cliif houses
and the homes Of the Aborieines The lover
| Of antiquities In general will have an un-
bounded range Of subjects, from the Egyp.
| tian mummies. a thousand years old. and
relics Of Pompeii to the arms and indictments
of brlc.a.brac and fine china will discover a
| paradise Of earthen productions. The dain
test wares from Limoges, Baccarat, Hungary
m w peass eys and the
Smithsonian Building the student Of tax
idermy will find case after case 81 birds,
beasts fsh and reptiles stuffed and In lara OF
alcohol. Back Of the Smithsonian Building
| Is 200" where are number OF live wild
animals. Several bears. cougar, q. Jaguar
| and groups OF smaller animals and birds
Institution and National Museum buildings
| are open from 0 a. m. to.4 y. m. to visitors,
and may be reached by the Seventh street,
Belt line and Ninth street line Of street-cars
| Tie 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 entfance on Third street, Just south OF
Pennsylvania avenue OF the Botanical Gar
dens. These interesting grounds are open
daily from In the morning TOT Ia the even-
Ing. They were established iifty years ago
| The Conservatives are filed with the
choicest and rarest foreign plants. Around
| the gardens arc extensive collections of trees
| the centre conservatory Is the famous Bar
thOldi Fountain that attracted so much at
tenton 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.
miraj Porter in honor Of tho dead soldiers aud
cost, with pedestal and platform, si1 900. II
IL proposed to remove this monument to one
Of the squares on the northwest section.
Retracing our tops we ind
Tho Printing and Engraving Bureau.
The great money mill OF the Government |!
located at The corner OF Fourteenth and I
streets southwest, southeast from tho Monu.
ment and southwest from the .; AgrionltTr aa.
and is opened to visitors every day.
Dary Burns Cottage.
One OF the curiosities of Washington is ole
Davy Burns Cottage, on Seventeenth street
drive south Of the Presidents House or BY
the Metropolitan or Avenue line OF cars. Mex
door to II Is General Van Ness once stated!
mansion, where he brought his bride. Marcii
Burns, one Of the original heiresses Of Wash
ingten.
Corcordn Art Gallery.
The Corcoran Art Gallery is at the corner o
| In N War M and State m n
1t Is open Tuesdays, Thursdays aud Satur
days free; on other days teSoept sundays |
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. 1t contains among othe
original objects Powers great statue OF tn
TIE Louis Home.
The Louise Home is a beautiful building y
the corner OF Massachusetts avenue and FIJI
teenth street, near Scott Circle. II has ex
tensiye grounds, beautifully embellshed. an,
is a unique establishment II Is memorla
to the wife and daugn,cr OF Mr.. W. "
Corcoran, and Is intepded as q home 70
ladies of education and birth and refinement
who have been reduced to poverty from al
iuence,
The Columbian University.
Coming down Fifteenth street from tn
ii streets. the visitor sees the Columbian I'm
versity, which occupies the site OF the oil,
Griswold Mansion. This university was In
corporated as Columbian College In 1921
and Is under tho special supervision of tn
Baptist Church. It's an institution famou
for the discipline and thoroughness OF 1t
instruction.
The POstctice Department.
The General Postofiice Department Is on tn
square bounded by Il, II, Seventh and Eight
streets. IL Is handsome building, althoug
its proximity to its larger and boldor brother
the Patent Office, somewhat obscures It's grea
size and tends 10 lessen Its beauty. Its dife
ent bureaus possess great interest to IN
visitor, but the Dead Letter Ofilce Is particl
lary the one to be observed. Tho collectio
of ouiiosites taken from tho mails In transi
us specimens Of the uses to which the Nation
postal oonveyanoes arc put, Il both varle
and unique. Everything unavailable. from a
| Indian fnInulaANk 10 "a sfnflel knnrnrOn. Ii 1