The critic., 1891-02-04
THE VISITORS GUIDE.
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
Parks, Squares, Statues, Gardens, and
Other Points of Attraction.

Washington is fast becoming the most at
tractiye city of the country. As the Capital of
the Nation IL presents more objects of interest
to the visitor than any other on the continent,
and brief directory Of its prominent points
will be Of service 70 tho vast number OF por.
metropolis. For Il is estimated that over three
hundred thousand strangers pay visit every
year to this city TO behold the varied objects
Of interest which SO thickly stud tho historic
Ten Miles Square"
The System Of Numbering Houses.
Numbers are displayed over the entrances
to all houses, and the decimal system. as
adopted In Philadelphia, Is used--one hundred
numbers being allotted to each. square or
block--commenclng at First street west. rum
ming west. First street east, running east, A
street north running north. and street south
running south. The odd numbers are always
on the right-hond side going from tho Capitol,
and the even numbers ON tho lett hand side.
The city Is divided into four quarters or SEQ
tions northeast and northwest, southeast and
southwest, the streets being designated ac-
cordingly; those running north and south nu-
merically, and those running east and west by
the letters OF the alphabet, the dividing lines
being North and sSnthcap,,ol streets, running NJ
and East Capitol street, and the continuation
on the same west of tho Capitol, running due
east and west.
The Capitol
This great building is the central point Of
the original District, and is the largest edilce
In the country. Its centre marks the Me-
redian OF washington. The middle portion,
built. II was partially destroyed by the
British In 1914, but was completely restored
by 1927. II incloses the ''crypt"-where the
remains q Washington We're inteuded to be
Representatives Hall, now tho Gallery OF
Statuary, and the old Senate Chamber, now
the Supreme Courtroom. The old supreme
by the Law Branch Of the Library. The
cornerstone Of the Capitol extension-the
north and south wings,was laid July. 4,
1861, Daniel Webster delivering the Grafton
q the occasion from the balcony Of the
Library. The south wing contains the House
OF Representatives and the north wing the
Senate. Chamber. The Rotunda Is distin.
famous bronze doors, with their alto rellefs,
and for Brumidis frescoiugs In the Hall OF
Statuary are the natural pictures In Potomac
marble. representing faces OF certain Ameri3
can statements picturesque freak of nature,
From the little rotunds, Immediately north Of
the great rotunda, the staircase to the top Of
the dome begins its winding way. From the
top Of the dome. or as far as the visitor can
ascend. the viewof the surrounding country
Is magnificent. The Capitol grounds, which
formerly were homel >. and formal in appear.
ance, have been transformed Into a beautiful
park and ore nov, most exqulsitely beautiful.
above ordinary low tide in tue Potomac Tho
total height from east base to the top OF the
statute OF The Goddess Of ii6orty, ,ST feet o
making tho total height TO the crest Of tho
statue 3O7x feet. This crest Is $50 feet
higher than the west cato Of the grounds, and
307 ieet above low tide In tho Potomac, or 2fS
feet lower than the apex of the Washington
Monument. which II Immediately west. The
building is 751 feet long nv 324 wide, and
covers 31f acres. II ia the finest and largest
n m n ma " rp-
spects he costliest and hahdsomest. II Is
moreover tho growth Of less than century
Q fact which adds to its beauty and interest.
The original Capitol, or centre building, Is AN
Imitation. though not slavish one, OF the
Maison Care at Nismes. The view from the
west p0rtico at night. when the lamps are lit
in the public grounds and the lights Of the
city illuminate tne darkness, IL one of the
most beautiful and picturesque In the
world and is well worth q Journey of a thou
sand miles to sec.
Tie White House
From tho west balcony Of the Capitol, look.
Ing down Pennsylvania avenue. the White
House Il seen rearing its snowy.hucd walls
above the dense mass OF foliage that en-.
bowers = IKE gigantic csa ny sp5jnsing
not for the partly Intervening Treasury
building the view Of the white House from the
Capitol would he full and complete The
White House Is the center Of "Up-town," as
the Capitol Is the center OF "Down-town."
1t Is beautifully located, the view from the
south windows covering tho whole southern
up sixteenth street west exhibits tho best
part of the Northwest section TO the gaze
Ibe White House is copy Of the palace of
the Duke of Leinsier at Dublin, with the
addition Of large porch on the north front,
which was added during Andrew Jackson's
administration. The reservation In which It
STANDS embraces nearly NJ acres. The main
entrance Is on the north rcnched by the
ptnne " au ~ Ia fuyn AZ
high on the north, is built OF white free.stone
40 feet long by 30 wido. II contains on the
first floor the famous Green, Rod, Blue and
East rooms, the State Dining Room and the
great conservatorios. The Blue Room Is the
Presidents Official reception room and the
drawing room OF the ladies of his family. The
East Room, originally designed for banquet
hall. and so used as late as 1887, and in the
latter part OF the century used as q drying
room for clothes by Mrs. President Adams Is
the, largest and most noted room In the
building. II Is % feet high, 50 feet long and
40 feet wide. II is open to visitors ever.
day. except Sundays. Upstairs are the
Cabinet room, tho private Offices the Presi-
dents office., the library and family apart
are open to visitors, by special permission. at
uitable hours
Lafayette Square
puv north from thewhite House Is Lafayette
cuiestrian statue 81 Andrew. Jaekson. nv
Clark Mills. Many OF its trees ara old
in part specimcp OF he Old formal @ iandsoans y,
gardening SO fashionable In England Two
hundred years ago, q style that was Imported
into this country. Lafayette Square was, ono
hundred years ago, part OF q graveyard that
enclosed the square north, on which st. Johns
Church In built, and the square east on which
are situated the Attorney. Generals Office
Gormerly The Freedman's Bank. the Surgeon.
building formerly used as the United States
Bank), Commodore Decntur's house, corner
fifteenth aud a-half and II streets. and the old
Club House, near which Philip Barton Key
was Killed by Daniel ". Sickles, Member OF
Congress from New York. The last bodies
from this graveyard wero not removed until
1919.
n, ro,
81. Johns 4. ~ Church.
st. Johns p. E. Church, which has often
been peen called @ the State Shnrch because sem more