The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-07-03
WASHINGTON CITY.
A Travellers Report of a Visit to the
Capitol City OF the Nation.


A Travellers Report OF a visit to the
Capitol City OF the Nation.
Dear Wannetta:
| according TO promise I will attempt q
second letter on on my trip TO the far famed
city, Washington.
Ht my last writing we had reached Mt. Yer.
non, and II was just after sunrise OF the loV'
! liest OF May mornings
Well, we moved slowly ON anxiously await
ing the appearance ofanother place OF inter.
esL, and we were not kept 10 suspense great
while, until far away In the distance we saw
US was the city Of Alexandria, Va, and upon
our arrival he pointed out the house, (the
Marshall house, where Ellsworth was Killed
by the brave Jackson in the Inning OF the
civil war. He also called our attention TO
the church " where Washington and Lee wor'
shipped, but, Of course we coald only form a
vague Idea OF the appearance OF the 6ullolng
as we were long distance from 1t. We were
desIrous Of returning to the city and worship
Ing In the grand old church, but our time was
entirely consumed by other places OF inter.
est.
forts Foote and Washington. but AZ you
know, they are dismantled now. Between
seven and eight o'clock on Friday morning
It was announced by some one that we, we mad mad
must admit the contrary. as had grown ac-
cuslomed to the boat and my many friends
both old and new, and ! was loth 10 ex.
had pictured. as being one Of confusion.
I'm glad TO say failed 10 realize my expecta-
tlops, as we found that most excellent
boarding place had been secured for US by one
of our friends. and we were kindly greeted
by our charming hostess, who, during our
entire stay, did everything possible TO make
our visit 10 the city one OF long TO be remem-
Fortnnately ior US, the baggage was deliv.
cred promptly and after a short rest, those OF
INV party who had sufficiently survived the
effects OF travelling, donned our best outfits and
set out to find the Calvary Baptist Church as
that was the one opened to the women for
their meetings. We did not have any trouble
in finding the way, and when we reached
the door was most cordially welcomed oy the
uern rhe session that day WAS devoted to foreign
missions, which was illustrated on q black.
board by six gospel BELLS, !, one each for Chi.
ma, Africa, Japan, Italy, Brazil and Mexico.
there is zone billion yet to hear The
church or Sunday school house was beauti-
fnlIy DECORATED with palms and roses, which
made us feel all the more welcome.
coe H5loas ays Extended 2; % by the Washington Ia.
dies. In the reception rendered at the Ebbitt
House. which was enjoyed by all. On the
same afternoon, but at different hours, Pres
ldent Cleveland gave the com mittee recep-
lion. and must admit that for me, II was q
RECEPTION, minus enjoyment. know have
never been In so dense crowd. We assem-
bled in front Of The White House d, ana march, en-
entrance the people began pressing forward,
each one seemed desirous OF being The first to
see the President.
Now picture me there on just such day
wrote his poem midsummer" You remem-
her he said, -
Drop by the sun.stroke ip the populous town,
As IL the Day OF Fire had dawned and sent
It's deadly breath into the ornament"
The heat was very oppressive and was rem
dered more so by our being TOO much crowd
ed TO use umbrellas. Finally after being
hacked like sardInes In box for seemingly
half an hour, we reached the President, who
va, vas Standing near she rear entrance to the
East Room. He seemed almost exhausted,
and l think was anSlously awaiting the last
Misunderstanding" =,
The room was beautifully finished and all
the surroundings were grand, but do not
Imagine would enjoy living In such style.
Oh TO think OF the useless expenditure OF
money. From the White House we returned
10 our boarding place, and aftersenjoying a
an m ntuous dinner we started to the lst Bap-
lief Church, but upon our arrival found that
we were too late TO get seats IN the church:
However, we went into the Sunday school
room and II was not long until the room was
we'll Allied. and we spent the evening very
pleasantly chatting old friends and making
Unjust hurry on, or will make this letter
too long. Saturday morning our program
for the day was very varied. must admit
thai played truant and did not attend the
convention exercises that day. The hrst
places We visited were the Smithsonian In.
stitution and National Museum. wish you
could have been with me In the National
Museum to have seen the idols from the Eas-
Ter Islands In the southern Pacific. They are
said to be the most Interesting OF archaeong' M
canic ufa In the crater OF an extinct volcano.
The Russian art castings from Urals. Rus
sia, were among the things which most a.
and pretty. The tiny vehicle with horses
beautifully harnessed and with driver, al
done In iron, surpasses anything have ever
seen.
By request of friend, I examined closel,
the stump from which The large oak was Gu
by musket ballsat Spottsylvania Court House
| May 18th, 1864. Near the stump, In another
glass case, was the rifle with which James p
| jackson was shot by Ellsworth's men a
| Alexandria, Va, May 24th, 1861.
| The Japanese kago was curiosity TO me
had often tried TO picture one IN my imag
| ination, but am now convinced That nat
| formed correct idea of IL. The figures rep
resentlng the different racee OF people seem
ed TO be the center of attraction.
| In the Smithsonian Institution l saw th
treasures of the deep, which were suff1cien
| 10 cause anyOue W cACldl" Will rdISld AhC
mans
"What wealth untold,
Far down. and shining through their stillnes
lies"
It Ia useless to attempt description of al
that saw, as II would consume TOO mucl
time and space
From here we went to the Agriculture
Department and Botanical Gardens, but dlt
not spend any time there except In eXamin
Ing the palms and some OF the flowers.
The next place on the program was the
Washington Monument, which is 555 fee
high, weighs Sll20 tons, and cost Sl,lH,7lC
The corner stone was laid July 4th. 1878 ant
| the cap stone set Dec. Gth, 1854. Only two o
our party went up In 1t, We ascended on tn
elevator and walked down In order that W
might see the memorial stones. Ere we reach
ed the base we decided that we had distance
OF 5000 feet instead of 500 to make. We had
perfect panorama OF the city from the mon
ument.
1t seems that can never find closinl
point for this letter, however will not writ
more just now but may write again ere long
| sincerely, Christina.