The times., 1899-03-19
Spring GREEN IN
Winters wake
Scenes in the Country Ada
cent to Washington.
Heath and Romance Seekers Use
the Trolley Cars.
A Picturesque Period for Pilgrims
nEes to the Nearby Hills
and Woods.

There is always beauty in the country.
1t has its winter beauty-the beauty of
desolation. 1t has its summer glory-the
glory Of green foliage. rhythmic brooks.
and radiant skies. There is peculiar
charm about the country now. There is a
meeting of the season. The aspects of win
ter and summer are gently blended by Nat
ures magic.
Just now soft breezes blow through
stretches of woodland that has been swept
bare by winter. The winds that played
wild and weird phantasies through the
naked branches of the trees are still, and
The skies are of summer blue and the fields
OF winter brown.
Here and there in the vegetable world
are bright touches of springtime color. In
spots sheltered on the north, sprigs OF
grass grow green. Along the water cours-
es, and warmed by dead leaves, a ventIr
| some violet peeps forth. Little anemones
| manifest themselves on the southern and
western slopes. In a few localities trailing
arbutus, pink and white, may be gathered
from its hiding place. Some buds are
showing on the early maple, dogwood, and
spicewood trees. The sassafras evinces
symptoms OF returning animation. The
brooks have wakened from their winter
sleep and are ripping on in the old fa-
miliar way.
Thoughts of the Country.
People already feel a longing for the
country. They want to feel that rest which
comes to them when they leave city
sounds behind. They want the scene to
change from brick red and concrete gray
| to rural green. They want to hear the
notes of birds and the rustic of leaves in
stead OF the rumble of traffic. The trolley
brings the city and the country into close
communion. II once was that city man
required thoughtful preparation for a trip
Into the country. 1t was not then a mat
ter of a moment. but Of days. 1t is not
so now. A man needs simply to think of
the country, pay one fare, and he is there-
All this is due to the trolley.
| The springtide OF trolley travel has be-
gun. With each bright day the number of
trolley pilgrims to the shrine of Nature
grows greater. An hours ride through the
| pure air of the surrounding country is
more invigorating than weeks work in
gymnasium. 1t brightens the eye, paints
bushes in the cheeks and fills the mind
with cheerful thoughts. 1t is better than
d
ger views landscapes colored by the Mas
| ter.
Picturesque Scenery.
Along the upper Potomac between Wash
ington and Great Falls there is scenery
which no artist has recorded and which no
canvas holds 1t is strikingly picturesque
at this period of the year. No foliage OBJ
seures the view. The Washington and
Great Falls Electric Railway passes
| through cuts blasted In mountains Of blue
stone, over high bridges under which rush
and swirl mad waters that seem frenziei
| in their haste to join the old Potomac in
| its journey to the sea.
One Of the first points Of spectacular in
terest is the distributing reservoir. Only
small percentage of the citizens OF
| Washington have looked down into the
| depths of the city's drinking fountain. 1t
| is peaceful place whence good view Of
| the region round about may be had, and
| whence flows the water that supplies many
| thousand homes. From the reservoir it is
not far to Chain Bridge. The railroad
runs along the bluffs at a great height
above the river and one looks far down at
| the old bridge and the historic stream that
| it spans. Beyond this is the Palisades.
| This is one of the airy, scenic, healthful
subdivisions where man who seriously
| wants a home may get one. 1t is per-
| haps the subdivision of greatest altitude
contiguous to Washington. The view is
| sublime. The windings of the river may
| be traced for miles. and all around roll
| the hills of Maryland and Virginia. Here
| the landscape is wild and rugged; there
| ii is green and wooded. 1t is always pic
| turesque.
To the east, rise the domes and spires
of Washington, and to the southeast halo
| Of smoke marks where Alexandria lies 1t
| is one of those rural places where one
| does not altogether live on quinine and
work for doctors. From the Palisades it
| is not far to the Bicycle Park. This is the
festival ground of the yotaries of the
| wheel. Here men compare their strength
| and speed and here men become conquering
heroes for moment.
Southern Beauty Spot.
Beyond this is one of the beauty spots
of the South. 1t is bit of territory
| around Powder Mill Run, stream OF
greater volume and more riotous habits
| than Cabin Johns Run. 1t is just across
| the District boundary and directly on the
line of the Washington and Great Falls
| Railway. Capital has discovered the grand
eur of this spot and Is converting it into
| picnic chase Down into the depths of
| the woods around this stream spring has
| not yet come, but her harbingers are there.
| The tawny tassel of the sassafras will
| soon swing and sway, and wild honeysuckle
| will light the place with its burning buds.
| Poplar, elm, and birch will soon unfold.
and little later the stern old oak will
yield to the leating mood. Some graceful
willows along the stream are already tax
| ing on their gowns of yeilow-green. The
| ivy, pine. and cedar have shaken off the
white of winter and are taking on lustre
as though glad the blizzard season has gone
! by. Some bleak old gum trees still stand
| unmoved by the caresses OF warm winds
| and sunshine, ard the rough-barlsed rer-
simmon trees have not yet evinced n will
ingnesS rauSa ihems elves from thai,