The National tribune., 1899-11-23
YESTERDAYS
In WASHINGTON.
Pen Pictures of Celebrities OF
the Past Generation.
By NARY S. LOCKWOOD.
Copyrighted. 1899, by THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE

copyrighted. 1899, by THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
THE WASHINGTON TRAVEL CLUB.
There is hardly State in this Union in
which there does not live somebody who
has sometime been member or visitor OF
the Washington Travel Club. This is a sort
of news letter to the rank and file of the old
regime, while at the same time it will con-
vey to others the modus operandi by which
they can organize clubs of like import.
1t would be impossible in a paper like this
TO even touch upon all the topics that have
been brought before the Club in the is
years of its life, or even give the names OF
all the women and men who have been
identified with the work.
The organization was most unique.
1t was consummated one stormy Sunday
afternoon in the parlors of the Strathmore
Arms in January, 1881. Judge Lysander
Hill, Miss Emily Brigham, Mrs. Sara
Dean, Frank Eastman, and DR.. Knight,
so long a representative coterl of this lit
erary household, assisted in the founding
of this Club and in the forming of the con-
stitution, which provided for officers
a Guide, Courier, Dragoman. a Jour
nalist a Correspondent, and Treasurer.
There were special committees upon Geog-
raphy, Biography, Government, Religion.
the Arts-ornamental, practical, and mill
tary, the Common People, Literature, and
Science.
The countries TO be visited and inveSti-
gated We're selected by the Guide, assisted
by the Courier Correspondent, and Jour
nalist. The Committee on Geography were
10 provide maps and charts appropriate TO
the subjects of each meeting. The rela-
tive committees were either 10 provide the
matter 10 be presented to the meetings, or
10 invite some well-knoWn traveller TO fill
the place on the program.
A notable feature of the Club was a
determination 10 have no exercises of IA
miscellaneous nature, in the way of recita
tionS, readings, or literary fireworks" OF
any kind. Other clubs were achieving
distinction in that line, and it WIS thought
best to leave that field to them. This
CiuO has always adhered to the purposes
for which it was organized. 10 this one
feature its success has been largely at
tributed. 1t is difficult thing to maintain
club or organization through Il series oi
years, with changes that come liiat tends
TO scatter membership, that removes active
members, and necessitates new clements,
and When it is done successfully IL is be-
cause the foundations are good and the
means attractive.
The Club first started upon its travels in
Egypt, and after a Winters work. going
through the programs of the different
committees by well-written and well-di-
gested papers, and the charm of personal
narrative, with talks from different people.
III ii. -.
was obtained lnat many travellers fail 10
grasp.
Since these journeyings were commenced
in 1881 this Club has travelled from near
and from far without carriage or car"
1t mas been up the Nile. over the hills of
Judea, through the plains of Palestine,
among the pyramids OF Egypt. into the
buried cities OF Persia, through the Jungles.
mountains, and cities of India, and among
the masters OF chop-sticks in China. Its
members have explored Greece, studied its
history. its art and literature. They
have lourneyed through sunny Italy, and
become familiar with her poetry, song, and
classic story. They have learned some
thing of the old Etruscan gold-spinners,
whose art is the despair of modern gold
smiths, and they found q sad, tender grace
hanging over her departed people They
have sailed over the Mediterranean, en-
tered the Straits of Gibraltar, traversed
the mountain ranges and broad piateaus
Of Spain.
the old Alhambra revealed TO them pic
lures of the past They have seen the
sunset as the Moors saw it when poor
Boabdel looked for the last time upon the
fortress his ancestors had made historic
for centuries. They have seen pictures of
the Christian Cross that fioated over the
Alhambra, and the war-worn veterans of
the Christian army with Ferdinand and
Isabella at their head. They have become
familiar with the grandeur of old Spain,
magnificent Grenada, lovely Toledo, Sar-
ragossa the abundant" Valencia the
beautiful" and Saville the golden"
They have Travelled through Scandi-
navia, studying the habits and customs
OF the people, and they have heard the old
Skalds sing again the songs of the Edda.
They know the coming and the going out
Of all the Cars Of the Russias from Peter
the Great TO their petering out in Peter thu
Small, and learned enough OF Catherine
IL 10 know that under her reign Russia
made rapid advance in power and in civili-
zation; that she protected commerce, ex-
cited industry, cultivated the arts, en-
couTaged learning, promoted manufactures