The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-03-24

t
Mr.. William Edgar Sackett in his Wash
tngton letter 10 The state Gazette" un-
dertakes to give some points tc June
brides who intend making Washington
the scene of their honeymoon, He says:
This letter Is written for the benefit of
those exceedingly interesting young
creatures commonly designated as June
brides. and for the purpose of giving
those cf them who propose passing their
honeymoon In Washington some valu-
able suggestions. 1t seems 20 be the
ambition Of all persons in this country
to at least once in their time visit the
National Capital, and see through their
own eyes some or all of the many in
teresting things observed by others and
reduced to cold print for the benefit
of the less Fortunate. OF the vast number
of persons who annually visit Washing
ton for pleasure and sightseeing only. the
greater number by far are young married
couples; and there is no month in the
year SO prolific to these interesting
visitors as June. and no month in which
the National Capital City looks so ex-
tremely beautiful. for it is by long odds
the most beautiful city in America, and
many who have trayeled extensively
abroad say that in beauty and cleanli-
ness it surpasses any city in the Euro
pean countries.
Without attempting to describe the city.
l will simply say that Washington is
purely a residential city. almost destitute
of factories of any sort; is fourteen miles
in circumference. covering gill acres, and
contains about nine and one-half square
miles. 1t has $50 miles of streets, which
are from 50 TO 120 feet wide and sixty
five miles of avenues. which are from 100
to 100 feet wide. About so per cent. of the
streets and avenues are paved with
asphalt, shaded by over 10000 beautiful
trees. and these streets are kept sc
csean that a lady's handkerchief would
not be soiled if 1t fell upon the pavement
anywhere in dry weather. 1t is impos-
ssb.e to walk in any direction a half
dozen squares without e~ncountering a
beautiful little park. of which there are
twenty-three of Importance, and a large
number Of less interesting ones. These
parks are fiower-beds from May until
November, and pieces of statuary and
large ornamental trees bound in them.
The city contains twenty-n:ne first class
hotels and scores of apartment houses
with cafes attached. and is well able to
supply all who visit it with first class
accommodation at reasonable prizes. There
are also four arst-class theatres in
Washington
As to the places of interest to be visit
ed, they are SO numerous that the blush
ing bride and happy husband. if his
p~ocketbook is plethora. may go to diff
ferent places each day for a month. and
accumulate a knowledge and pleasure
that will give them food for converse
ton for any years to come.
The first place usually sought by the
stranger is the Capitol. in. which the
United States Senate and House of Rep
resentativss and the United States SUI
preme Court are situated. When these
historic halls have been visited. debates
listened to-, the visitor examines the
sculpturing in Statuary Hall, where in
marble and bronze are the figures of the
inustrious Richard Stockton and the gall
lant Phil Kearney. From there the art
gallery. in the rotunda, is visited. and
finally the ascent to the top of the ro-
tunda is made, from which a view tina is
only exeelled by the Washington Menu-
ment may be had of the city. 1t will take
a day to thoroughly see the Capitol, and
a page OF the Gazette to describe it.
The next place of interest that is sought
is the White House. the official residence
of the President of the United States. 1t
Is a trifie more than one mile from the
Capitol, and one part of it is always open
to the public. This is called the East
Room 1t is a spacious apartment, richly
upholstered, and contains some fine paint
ings of former Presidents and other
statesmen. The Presidents public recep-
tons are generally held Mondays, We'd
nesdays and Saturdays. during which any
respectable person may shake his hand.
The Treasury building is just east Of the
White House, and is open to inspection
from Q a. m. to 2 p. M. Guides, free of
charge, escort visitors through all the
departments, and in the tour one may see
a hundred million dollars or more. The
visitor will also be shown to the depart
ment where mutilated and retired paper
currency is destroyed, and in an hours
time he may see several millions of dol
lars cut up, pass through a score of
hands and ultimately reach a huge vat,
where it is deposited and ground up and
boiled ito a pulp. Visitors generally leave
this room feeling sad at the complete dis
appearance of millions. The Treasury
pullulHg occupies a large DlOcK.
sss
The State. War and Navy building, to
the west of the White House, is the
largest building in the city, the Capitol
excepted. It covers an entire block and
contains the official offices of the De-
partments of State, War and Navy. This
building is open from > a. m. to 2 p. m.
for public inspection, and New Jersey
visitors, SO inclined. may shake hands
with Assistant Secretary of the Navy
William McAdoo. formerly of Hudson
County. The building of the Bureau of
Engraving is well worth visiting, for
There may be seen every step in the
manufacture of legal tenders and gold and
silver certificates. 1t looks curious to see
millions OF dollars roll from the print
ing presses, the same as the "Gazette's
rolls from its press, and handled in the
sanee nonchalant manner by the EN-
pioyes.
The Smithsonian Institute and the Ma
tional Museum must always be seen by
visitors. for they contain treasures that
money cannot buy. The Agricultural and
Botanical gardens are and to
the lovers of flowers and plants furnish
4 feast that is ~unequaIled in this coun-
Try.
In the patent office all men having a
taste for mechanics find enough 70 oc-
$3.50