Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-28


business and who combined with a mind
of more than ordinary acuteness, a com
pendulum of facts that wasi apparently.
inexhaustible. As he led us from one
point OF interest to another he expatiated
upon them with an eloquence and ele-
gance OF diction, strongly suggestive of
the best work Of "a successful book agent.
Perhaps he saw that we mentally dues-
toned the spontaneity of his descriptions,
for he remarked, with laugh, after one
rhetorical flight Of almost Olympic
height. you see this is all stereotyped
with ine. / wrote it out ard committed
1t years ago when 1 commenced but
don have to think about it now. | let
1T come along in the channels that seem
best suited to the occasion. / always like
to show reading Tooplo about, however
for they take an intelligent interest in
what they see" All 4! the power Of II little
delicate ilattc"yl If any people are
ignorant Of its efficacy they are certainly
not Washington guides.
The course mapped cut by cur director
general began with visit to the botanical
gardens. and among the many points OF
Interest in Washington none presents
mere delights to the lover of nature. All
OF the plants i'll the hot houses of these
gardens are Of foreign variety, and most
OF them from tropical climates. The col
lection OF orchids alone, which Is said to
be the finest in the world, would almost
repay trip to the national capital From
the gardens we visit the old district
prison where Gutcau, the assassin of
President Garfield, was confined during
the days of his trial. He was only one
OF large army of cranks who perpetually
infcst Washington, said our guide.
There is scarcely day when Congress Is
in session that new cranks don't come
here inspired with firm belief that they
have heaven appointed mission to regu-
late the wheels of government They are
closely watched, however, and rarely sue
csed in accomplishing any mischief. They
arrested one this morning-a woman
from out West who has been here once
before. The Lord has intrusted her it
seams with the task of strai tightening out
Congress. No wonder she is insane.
What did they do with herr
They placed her in the insane asylum
until her people could be communicated
with
From the old prison. and the cell of
Gulteau, we took our way to the pension
building, a structure that must certainly
take rank with the finest at. the capital
Indeed in its architectural beauty, there
are few that can compare with it, Run
ming around this building is a broad terra
Gotta facade illustrating in relief the
various branches of the military and
naval service at the time of the Civil war.
The continuous nature of these designs
gives something Of the effect Of march
ing army and our guide told Us that he
had once heard Western farmer inform
his wife that it represented Shermans
march through Georgia.
The pension department is a fairly busy
one even in these days Of Democratic rule.
and the large cases full Of filed docu-
ments and claims, vera being industri-
ously oyerhauled by large force Of en-
ploycs. In this building is found the
nearest living relative of George Washing
ton, in the person of +. B. Ball, and il
must be said of him that he bears strik-
Ing resemblance to the father Of his
country. A photograph of MIR Ball. in a
Continental uniform, might readily be
mistaken for one Of the old commanders
Of the Revolutionary forces. The pension
Is 400 feet long, and 200 feet in
width. 1t contains Is. 500, 600 bricks cost
when completed $500, 600
From this interesting building we make
our way to the city post office. This at
the present time is in a building rented
by the government. 4 new building.
however, is in process of erection and
when completed will give Washington one
of the finest local post office structures in
the country. The upper stories Of the
present rented building are used by the
government for the storage of patent
models Large as the collection is II
merely selection of the total
designed to show the best
earliest, and most characteristic efforts in
oil the leading lines Of Yankee ingenuity.
What blasted hopes are COMMUNICATED in |
this exhibit Only about one in a hun |
dred of these inventions. il Is said, has |
ever brought financial reward to its orig
inator. The way to success along these |
lines is peculiarly thorny ono, and yet |
hope keeps the ranks of the aspiring con
stantly full each one hoping to he one Of |
the exceptions that prove tho rule. One |
might spend many profitable days in the |
study of this exhibit, for here may he |
traced, in successive object lessons, the |
mechanical progress of our country from |
the foundation Of the republic
a visit to the dead letter office in the !
general post office building is the next
move on the programme Here, too. a |
great deal of time might be spent to |
advantage watching the skilled force OF
openers and experts as they deity solve
he mysteries that have proven too much |
'or the efforts of LEGAL postmasters in
various parts of the country So success
'ul is the work of this department that
{ is said that more than So per cent of
Ill the letters that come to it finally reach
heir proper destination 1t is interest
ng, too, to see IN the exhibit cases, tie
'arious things that are sent through the
nails. The collection is an extensive
me, and among its curios we noticed a
human skull, and ear, an extensive collec-
ion of daggers and revolvers, variety of
makes and lizards. and thousand other
Kings equally out of place in one of
Jncle Sans mail bags From this de
'artment we visit the old Ford theatre
where President Lincoln was assassinated
This building is still used by the govern
nent, the floors that collapsed with such
DISASTROUS results, a year or two ago, hav-
ng been replaced in most substantial
manner. Across the way is the plaio