The Yale expositor., 1896-07-24
A VISIT TO WASHINGTON.
An interesting Sketch of the
Trip as Enjoyed by one of
Yale'S Citizens.

CtiO .
A trip to Washington ID. &. is quite
an event i'll mans life, and as 1t was
very much enjoyed by the writer, Il
few incidents and sights are jotted
down, hoping they may prove interest
ing to at least some of the readers of
the Expositor. The 18th Annual Ma
tional Convention of the Societies of
Christian Endeavorers convened in
Washington, commencing July Sth,
and ending the 18th, was the principal
object Of our trip, incidentally we were
looking after some real estate and
other interests, in which with others
we hold Il joint ownership.
Leaving home with Mrs. Brown on
Monday 9Th, we were joined on the
way by Laura Baxter, Maggie and
Annie Black and Miss McKernon, who
were also delegates. 1t was the in
tention of the party to take what was
| styled the official route, by boat to
Cleveland, thence by rail- to Washing
ton, but on arriving at Port Huron we
| found Il cheaper route by Niagara
Falls, which we took. We arrived at
the Falls Tuesday morning at eight
O'Clock, where like all visitors for
the first time our liyes were made
miserable by the clamor of the
cabman who evinced II determination
to take forcible possession of us any
way. However after considerable hig-
Cling bargain was struck, cabby
agreeing to take the party to all points
OF interest for $500, laughing IN his
sleeve all the time, knowing what we
did not know theng that nearly all the
points of interest required u 30 cent
tip to get within range of them, and
that we would not be likely to take in
all the side shows, and he reasoned
wisely. However we got the worth of
our money out of the cabby. The
first piece of Information volunteered
by lcabby was when he pointed out the
place where Captain Webb jumped in
the rapids for his fatal swim through
the whirlpool.
lovely ride OF two miles along the
bank of Niagara River brought us to
Queen Victoria Park which was laid out
by the Canadian Government ut ali eX-
pense of over u million dollars. and is
a charming place, and was designed to
retain the pristine loyliness of the Cam
adian bank which faces the falls, quiet
retired hooks, accommodated with rus
ticseats, flower beds of great loveliness,
shady trees and velvety lawns make it
a place the tourist longs to linger in,
and the longer he fingers, the majesty
and awful grandeur of the great cat,t-
ract grows upon him. Those capable
Of appreciatlng such things, who have
fingered and feasted their eyes on the
splendors of the scenes, say it takes Il
week to drink in a full realization of
its magnitude, and what stranger
emotions take possession of nearly
every one who visits the Falls, a
strange calm, and feeling of peace and
littleness, rs we stand ON Table Rock
and look out on the great wilderness
of water, rushing .hilariuusly to its fate,
and then pauslng, staggering, and
pushing backward, as if to avoid its
fate, and then slipping quietly, des.
\ pairlngly i'll the most emotionless way
over the .precipice. Mans petty am
bltions, worries and strife appear very
insignificant i'll presence of natures
mighty works.
/ Encasing ourselves in rubber suits for
i the loan of which we had to pay fifty
4 cents each, but which did not add
4 much to. orr beauty. our party descend
Il ed the shaft to the foot of the Falls .tC
j get u view from beneath. Sitting OH d
Il fragment of what was once II part OF
~
! feet, and we're overwhelmed with awe
at the wildrush of the great world 0t
water pouring over the preCipice, and
4 we wondered, rs we listened to the
strange weird story that it tells, as II
.roars and rushes and boils In the ter
rible abyss at our feet and fends its
! spray like the. smoke Of.incepse up to
| heayen. We.then entared the grotto
cut,Out of the solid rock and passed
under and behind the fall of water.
This is a magnificent sight, and one
| long to be remembered. 1t is xain to
attempt to describe it. 1T has to be
seen to be appreciated.
We arrived in Washington ut 10
o'clock u. m., and went immediately
to Michigan headquarters III Presby-
terrain church ON n. str@et, where
everything was provided for the Mich
| igan delegation In first class style.
Badges, programs and maps of the
city were furnished free to the dele
gates, writing material. stamps, and
messenger boys TO post our letters and
wait on us, made Lille pleasant while i'm
| headquarters. We were all assigned
to very comfortable quarters, for
which the average price we had TO pay
was 70 cents each for beds, and % cents
for each meal. About 800 delegates
were enrolled from Michigan, which
was Il good showing, considering the
stringency OF the times and the great
distance.
Washington ia said to be II city of
magnificent distances, OF beautiful
streets and avenues, stately palatial
residences, statuary, etc. a visit To
the capitol confirms all and more than
is said of it, and the writer would also
add this tribute of praise, for bospitali-
ty, kindness, courtesy to strangers, IL
desire to please and impart informa.
ton, and conspicuous absence of
sharks that infest most of our great
cities 10 prey upon strangers, Wash
ingtOn bears the palm, at least in the
experience of the writer.
There were enrolled 81 900 delegates
from abroad, and over IL 900 city del
egates, making grand total of $4,000
in attendance. Three large tents hold
ing ten thousand people each were
erected on the White House grounds
for the meetings, which were in ses-
sion four times every day, commencing
$3.50 ~. III. Besides these there were %