Evening star., 1897-11-02
IN TOWN
From the View Point of the Profess
sional Guides.
BUSINESS Is VERY DULL THESE DAYS
And the Cash Receipts Are Cor
respondingIy Small.
SHOWING THEM THE SIGHTS

The guides for the White House, depart
ment and bureau buildings claim that the
autumn bride and groom-iE fact, visitors
in general-are not as liberal in days
gone by, and that the business of guide is
dwindling in profits and prominence. There
are four Of these guides who have been in
the business for a number of years, and who
are to be found at or near the White House
grounds, waiting for visitors who want
to pay for being piloted around. They are
| not official guides. like those at the Capitol.
They are self-appointed. but are recog-
nized in a way by the police officials. They
have an understanding as to how much
they shall charge by. the hour for plotting
visitors and explaining things to them.
They are reg sonably fair in these charges.
If they had been guilty of extortion they
would have been run cut of the business
a good while ago by the police, but, as
they are known to be honest, they continue
| in business. Many have started in the
work, but have fallen by the wayside. The
Older guides knew how to kill them off.
Usually they were killed off by the police,
who discovered that they were guilty of
extortion.
These guides probably know Washington
| better than any other set of men. At any
rate. they know Official Washington, be-
cause it is that portion visitors want TO
see and learn about when they come here.
One of them was standing in the White
House grounds waiting for customers.
He Looked gloomy. He eyed g. couple
which had passed him. and then he mused
business is Dull.
well. that felier didn't ray any atten-
ton to me, but can s:ze him UP by his
face Anybody can see he is just married
| and that the lady with him is his wife, but
she can't read him like can. He thinks
| mere of himself than Of his wife. He be-
| lieves he knows it all, but if he had a
| chance he would break a paddock to peer
into something around these buildings He
| is stinsy, and without much brains. 1 am
sorry for the bride. L asked him if he
wanted guide. He didn't even look at
me-"
why, what's the natter" asked Star
reporter. lis business dull? Aren't the
prosperous times helping out the guides?"
business is worse than ever sax it. A
lew years ago people came into these
grounds pell nell in search of guides. We
made lots of money. L worked all day,
went home at night tired but had the
greenbacks to show that l had been up
against somebody. Now, it's different. 1
haven't made penny in two days. and it
doesn't lCok as il l will catch anybody to-
day. Why. yesterday l struck a newly
married couple just entering the White
House. 1t was fifteen minutes to l.. What
do you suppose the fellow said to me
he claimed to be from Boston, too? Why,
he said he would give fifty cents 20
pilot him and his bride around until the
Presidents afternoon reception, which is al
} O'Clock. 1 didn't say anything except
that l hadn't seen many Boston people
like him.
DO you know Boston people when you
see them?"
Certainly. can tell them quickly.
can tell where most all visitors are from.
Boston people appear to be so intelligent,
but about lunch time they always ask me
IL know place where they can get some
| nice baked beans. we haven't had any fit
to eat since we left home That's the way
they talk. and then they talk about nobody
knowing how to cook beans outside of Bos-
ton. L run 'em up against the first good
restaurant can think of.
Victims of Composition.
But, 1 was telling you, it's the hard
luck we having that's giving me this
far-away look. The railroads are to blame
Several years ago excursions were run here
and the people were turned loose to go
where they pleased and see what they
wanted. They hustled here to the White
House and engaged US. The excursion
managers run it differently now. They
sell tickets which include the furnishing of
| a guide in Washington. When the party
gets here it is put in charge of inexper-
fenced guides, who rush the visitors
| through. The excursion managers have a
stereotyped schedule of sightseeing for the
party. and don't give them time or chance
to get away.
Another thing is the Congressional Ii
brary. It's the best advertised building in
the world today. Up to two years ago the
first place visitors made for was the White
House. We caught 'em and piloted them
around through the bureaus and depart
ments and ended them up. as the last thing
to see, at the Capitol Now, when they
come here, the first thing they make rush
for is the Congressional Library. After
they get through that they go to the Capt.
tol. Next is the Smithsonian and its en-
vlronments' ,I and the monument; By that
time it is o'clock. and all the depart
ments, including the White House are
closed for the day. Well, you know half
the visitors who come to Washington Just
pass through here to remain day. and ex-
pect to see 1t all in that time. The next
day they go away without seeing the bal
ance of the public buildings. They go
home and say they saw it ALL"
How long ought 1t to take?"
A Line of March.
ITO do everything right would take
weeks, but L could give visitors a good
glimpse of the best things in two days
III person was in a dead hurry could
rush them through everything in a day.
To accomplish this you must start early
at the patent Office. going west through the
other government buildings and passing by
Ford's Theater, which all of them want to
see. On your way to 10th street you show
them the alley through which Booth escap-
ed. You quickly cover the treasury. White
House, state, war and navy. Making q
circle, you commence at the Corcoran Art
Gallery, then on to the monument bureau
OF engraving and printing. Smithsonian and
to the Capitol. leaving the Congressional
Library for the last. That is open until
late in the afternoon. fhe Capitol is also
late-closing establishment II a person
commences at the other end, as said, they
get to the White House and departments
after o'clock, too late to see them unless
they remain here another day. But it's
better to take time. ] generally take an
hour to put visitors through the White
House and grounds. exp,aining to them
things of historical interest. There is a
pretty view from the White House portico
of 10th street and the fashionable part of
the city,
But about the newly married couples?"
"Oh. yes; they are plentiful. This is the
fall season, and brides and grooms are here
In abundance. / see 'em until 1 get tired
looking at them. because know how soon
NIL that honQv l,1,oipoes Will x.yaor or