The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1898-07-21
A VISIT TO WASHINGTON, d.
C., OUR COUNTRY'S CAPITOL.
(BY H. X. RoUsE,)

MOI tai Declaration of Independ-
enee was given TO the world the
Fourth OF July has been a day filled
with other events that will, at least,
live through our day, If not
throughout all coming ages but we
shall mention only one.
"There comes the trainl" rang
out the voice of one, ooh, dearl
where's my ticke?" cried another,
s.all aboardw shouted the conduc-
tor, Tell Bill Mckinley that | said
remove old Ssmpson'-and the
train moved off, carrying on it
Prof. and Mrs. W. / Thames and
children. Misses Mabele Scott,
Mary Haney, Marietta Thornhill
Lula Carver, LIZZIE Willis, Addie
Stewart and Eye SCRIBE all off to
attend the National Educational
Association which convened In
Washington City, on July 9th.
Arriving at Chattanooga, at .
O'Clock a. IN. July 9th, we proceed
ed to take in the city, passing
among its citizens with the utmost
freedom of care and dlstrust, prom
enading it's thoroughfares in peace
and safety, gazing upon its mag
nifcent buildings, It's towers and
spires and massive foliage; but as
we gazed the city faded, rising
above the surrounding country en-
crcling the city in proud success
sion, there lowered in imposing
grandeur Lookout Mountain and
Missionary Ridge, on whose sum
mits and rugged sleeps was fought
one of the tiercest battles OF our
civil war, We soon found our
selves seated in an electric car and
whirling along at rapid rate to the
foot of the steep incline that leads
to the top of Lookout Mt. Stand
ing upon the summit of that noun
tain, placed there by the Architect
of the Universe, we looked down,
down upon the beautiful city that
spread out before us, one OF the
most fortunate and prosperous re-
gions on Gods footstool-a center
OF progress in every sense; as we
gazed the vision. 'widened, and,
looking beyond the encircling hills,
even to the dim horison's rim, we
viewed, though dim they were,
mountains in seven of our Southern
States. Not yet satisfied with
what we had seen, and having
three or four hours to spare, We
determined to visit Chlckamauga,
at which place are now stationed
nearly forty thousand soldier boys.
On our arrival there we were ill.,
formed that our train would leave
in thirty five minutes; SO, walking
upon the hill near by where now
rest the mortal remains of several
thousand Confederate soldiers, we
took retrospective view of the
old battlefield upon which, on the
10Th and goth of Sept, 1868, the
North and the South we're en- gagged
in one of the deadllest conflicts that
ever tried the souls Of men in de-
Tense of their country. Looking
upon the graves Of those who died
that their country might live, our
feelings might have best been de~
scribed IN these measures from
"The Blvouac of the Dead"
Crest on embaimed and sainted dead!
Dear as the blood We gave!
No impious footsteps here shall tread
The heritage of your grave.
IN or shall your glory be forgot
While fame her record keeps,
Or honor paints the hallowed spot
Where valor proudly sleeps.
"Nor wreck, uor change, nor winters
blight,
Nor times remorseless doom,
Shall dim one ray of holy light
That gilds yon glorious tomb"
But we shall never get to Wash.
ington at this rate. For great
part of the distance from Cha:ta
| uOOSd w w deulb Jun GuO eiaNCiCi
sees nothing but mountains and
gorges aud rivers and rocks and
chasms and cliffs, -nature's art
galIery-beautlful scenes they
afford. Upon either shore of the
French Broad River the charms of
nature were never more prodigally
lavished. Her mountains, tower.
ing above her, with their bright
aerial tints; her gorges, teeming
with wild feitility; her banks, waving
with spontaneous yerdure; the
river itself rolling on in its long,
weary march, among the jagged
rocks, to the ocean,-no, never
need an American look beyond
his own country for the sublime and
beautiful of natural scenery.
About 10 o'clock p. M, Wednes
day, July 9th, we heard the voice
of the porter ring out, "all out for
Washington", and we got off, rye