Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-01
YE ANCIENT HORSE CAR
Something About Lingering Feature Of Old:
Time Washington.
An Over-De1iberate journey to the
Making of Which Much Pa
thence IL Essential.
To tn. Editor Of The Evening Star.

Co.'S recently published illustrated Handy
Guide to Washington and Its Neighbor-
hood" the author invites suggestions from
It's readers which will enable him to i'm
prove future editions of the book or to cor
rect any errors the present one may con-
tain.
AS everybody reads The Star, perhaps
this communication may catch the. eye Of
the writer of this volume and contain sug-
gestions which he may deem of sufficient
interest to incorporate in the next edition
of this guide.
OF all the places and things described by
the author of historic and general interest
in and about this attractive city, no men
ton is made of what seems to visitors In
these days of INCONSISTENCIES to be, juds-
ing from their overheard comments, one
of the greatest curiosities of the nations
capital, exceeding as a source OF open
mouthed wonder even the famous acoustic
properties of statuary hall, with its mys-
teriously whispered echoes, distinctly heard
at a distance.
The stranger entering Washington by
way of the Pennsylvania railroad and
passing out of the 9th street depot
through the north doorway of that building
will observe standing side-tracked short
distance to the west, a cumbersome-look-
ing object of a faded yellowish hue, resem-
bling in color the washed-out shade of a
smallpox flag. with a prefix. which. upon
close inspection. will prove to Re the frame
work Of all that Is left Of two Of mans
noblest friends in animal nature, the an
Gent horse. The interior Of this appendix
will be found to contain seats, upholstered
with stuffy reddish railroad plush, with
q summer covering of a grayish material
of dust. dotted over with numerous f1ies
attracted from the Center Market close by
by the more alluring crumbs of discomfort
which daily drop, and remain where they
fall, from the monday meal Of the under
0vdrW0Tkad ptnnS
beasts Of burden to which this object Is
appended
The thing described is we ancient horse
car, the property Of that famous retrogres-
sive corporation, with a promising national
reputation. the lexington and Soldiers
Home Railway Company.
Rapid as has been the transformation of
modern Washington and Notwithstanding
as are the old landmarks, there still re-
mains to be seen, upon many of its most
fashionable residence streets in the favored
northwest the imposing mansion of the
mil onaire, model of architectural
beauty, standing side by side in striking
contrast with the time-worn, tottering
frame of the day laborer
So, too. will this characteristic be found
IN the onward march Of other improve
ments in this capital city of the republic.
II the visiting stranger will board the rep
resentative of antiquity above described
by walking down to 1t instead of waiting
for 1t TO come to him, and retain a seat and
his patience in 1t long enough for it to get
in motion. he will find this characteristic
of Washington's development exemplified
in the fact that this time-honored method
OF transportation parallels, for the distance
of a square, side by side, as 1t lazily rolls
along, the finest and most modern system
OF rapid transit street railway service In
ms or any other country. the underground
electric system Of the Metropolitan Rail-
way Company. 1t Is only during the sum-
mer months. however, that this box said
TO be similar In design and contents to the
one presented by Jupiter to Pandora, can
be utilized as an observation car, as the
view during the winter season is obstruct-
ed by the closed Stained glass windows
with which its sides are ornamented.
Rounding the corner at 9th street, this
representative of the past parts COMPANY
with its modern sister, to the great delight
of the latter and it's occupants and starts
alone on its weary journey northeastward.
Inc hrSt point of interest reached after
turning this corner is Pennsylvania ave-
nue., or the backbone of Washington" as
the writer of the guide book terms this
broad and magnificent thoroughfare Here
another modern system of rapid-transit is
encountered, the underground cable of the
Capital Traction Company, across whose
path the tracks of ye ancient horse car
company i1e Funeral professions in Wash
lhgton nave the right of way and in recog-
milton of this municipal edict traffic is fire.
quently suspended on the cable line at the
intersection of the past with the present TO
allow this Notwithstanding object to SOL
EMMY go by.
Proceeding a square further a steen
grade Is encountered. at the foot of which
this pageant Is reluctantly Joined by two
mere animal air motors of the Same 70 ,niIy
OF those heretofore described These mo-
tors are not of the Hardie breed that are
raised around Rome, N Y but belong tn
stocks that have been evolutionized into
their present emaciated condition whose
pedigrees, if ever written, Is the secret of
their present owners. They are said to be
considerably less expensive than the Har-
ole type OF motors proof against explosion
and Christian Endeavorer is authority for
the statement that they will exist even on
transfers when everything else falls
After considerable of a struggle and
consumption Of time the summit Of the
hill Is reached, to the great relief of the
almost exhausted wind motors and the
sympathetic nerves of the newly arrived
visitor. and the journey Is then continued
on dead level until G. street is reached,
where junction is made of this ancient
and ornery line with its counterpart in an
tiquity and member Of the same system.
with which 1t lavishly exchanges little
| merous holes, indicating the place of meet
Ing and the time of day, called transfers.
These are what the Christian Endeavorer
had reference to at the foot of the hill.
They are issued for the purpose of per-
hitting the passenger to change his course
to a right or left angular direction, IL he
Is tired OF the ills he has thus far borne
ard wishes to fly to others he knows not
souvenirs by visitors to show their friends
at home. the time of the recipient of the
corporations gracious generosity in Wash
ington beirg too limited to permit of his
waiting long enough at this point to avail
himself OF it's use.
At this corner an enterprising druggist
with a keen eye to business opportunities
in these days of sixteen failures to one
success has recently opened a store, in
the window of which appears the following
card:
Your transfer is good for ten minutes
Let me cool you off with glass Of our
delicious soda water while you wait for
the next car"
1t is asserted that the industry which
he has esta blished at this corner. of keep
ing transfer passengers cool, under all
the varying conditions Of the four seasons,
although in its infancy and started since
the passage of tine Wilson tariff bill, is
rapidly accommodating for him a fortune,
as the business is thriving one at this
point, not only during the summer months,
but throughout the entire year, and the
| more disc greeable the weather the greater
the demand OF transfer passengers for
| something to keep them cool.
At this junction 1t Is advisable for the
stranger who has never gone over the
route before to hold fast to himself to pre-
vent being thrown from his seat. because
of the sudden activity displayed by the here
tofore seemingly spiritless motors which
Ii @1@