Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-03-28

III lItUL VI the diJdI ulflut Tic rbhLs
into three divisions, those in the
piddIe being separated by four
rows. Taxing the left aisle as we
eIter, we pass up nearly to the cross
aisle on the left where is a square
pew; this In the one in whicn the
great Gen. George Washington used
to sit aud worship. Across the aisle
is a seat of ordinary size with a
plate in the top rim Of the door in
scribed "Robt f. Lee" la the
corners are marble tablets, the one
on the left in memory of Washing
ton, that on the right in memory of
Lee. In the yestry we saw the old
communion table from which the
great man received the Sacrament.
We Of course sat awhile in the
Washington pew, dropped coin in
the box, aud left. The seats are all
shut IN by doors ia old style. We
leave this old edtice with memories
crowdng our brain Of two indiyid-
uas, oue great in building up, the
other great IN tearing down the
structure Of freedom. AS we pass
through the streets in going to the
boat we notice the large building
used As a hospital during the war,
aud in which some Of my old neigh
bors suffered. 1t is now hotel,
The Braddock House. noticed
also a monument to Gen. Lee in the
street. We no ascend the river to
Washington city, and think We have
spent Sabbath well.
Monday. To-day we repaired to
the Patent Office and spent the fore.
noon in passing through its halls
and galleries filled with models of
all the machines ever invented in
the United States, to the number Of
200, 900 This massive structure is
453 feet by 33l, aud cost $4,000, 900.
We next cross the street to the gen.
era Postoliice where we spend
couple of hours; but were most in
terested in the Dead Letter Office,
looking at the things that had been
sent through the mails, among which
were live raLlIesuakes, toads, spiders,
I taranIuIa, aud things too numerous
/ 10 mention. About dozen clerks
were busily engaged in cutting open
/ letters, exc mining the contents, as
sorting them in different piles, tying
up and throwing item on the floor
from where they are gathered up by
boys aud car, le2 to other parts to
be further examined. How aston
| ishIng that SO much carelessness
should, on the part of letter senders,
render it necessary to open $4,000
each day that are misdirected; yet
we were Informed this is about the
average number. One lady was en-
gagged in FASTING envelopes in a
large scrapbook for public spection
by visitors. Some We're utterly un-
Ineligible. One was directed to
"The first house in America au-
other requests the postmaster to give
''rhis to my son, he drives yoke
of red oxen aud the railroad runs
/ through his place"
Next we went to the Agricultural
Department aud passed through the
conservatories containing an i'm
mense number of plants from all
countries and climates; through the
seed departments and Industrial
/ Hall where are grand exhibits of the
products Of agriculture in all its
| phases. We watched with interest
| the processes in the stlk house where
| the cocoous were immersed in hot
water until they open, then the silk
is reeled off in skeins. There We're
five or six girls engaged in this !
Remembered that this part of Uncle
/ Sans concern is run by "Uncle
jerry but he was not at home at
/ the time, so ! did not get a chance
to pay my respects and tell bum
what jolung | once saw him en-.
| Joy at Darlington on a hard-trotting
| horse while reviewing the g. \, Il,
| boys. But there is no mistake, he
/ has a "mighty pretty" garden here
| in Washington,
From here we went to the Smith
sonian Institution Here is col
| lection of live animals in the rear
of the building. The first floor
contains the exhibit Of btrds-S, 900
i'm number, also au immense mum.
her of fishes Gin alcohoD, marine
shells, corals and sponges, statuary,
panels; goo tiles representing the
genius of man utilizing the waters,
storms, fires of volcanoes, and light
ming. Next the National Museum
827 327 aud covering nearly =
acres is little world ia Itself, and
may we'll be called "Wonderland. "
70 attempt a description would be
supertluous, and therefore | will
take leave of TINS structure by say
ing in the language of Milton, here
are specimens from crooks, caves,
| lakes, fens, boys, deus, and shades