The National tribune., 1899-09-28

tension of the north wing, bat the granite
monolitils lying quietly stretched along
the curbstones, encased in wood. 1t was
of these Bull Run Russell wrote TO the
London Times: There they are lying in
their wooden cofiins, with their heads as
near heaven as they viii ever be-"
Capitol Hill. dTcary, desolate. stretched
away into moccupied space. Most Of the
real estate was held by the old regime of
conservative owners because Of the taxes
which they alone had to bear. Congress
helped out only in forced positions; then
with meagcETcss.
The water supply was by pumps and
springs. Tic streets We're in darkness,
except Pennsylvania Avenue. The police
mans whistle was not Heard in the land;
a mere constabuiary confronted the evil
doer. A bucket brigade handled the fire
engine without department. The streets
were unpayed, and mud was monarch. !
well remember attempting TO Cross Four
and-a-Half street At the Avenue with my
little 10y We 10th were stuck fast in the
mud. and when pulled out bodily ly two
soldiers we left our rubbers in TIE place
where we were rescued, as a sort Of under
tow TO the river from which We had escaped.
South Washington was divided from the
city ty wide shallow canal fed by TIE
River Tiber. which ran TO the northward.
All the filth Of tie city here cmPtied itself.
There was TO sewerage, no street cars-an
omnibus line numbered its way from the
Capitol 10 Georgetown.
When the boys in blue entered the city
for its protection, the parks and circles were
given uu TO weeds and there they pitched
their tents and stacked their guns. Forts
5ristled on every hilltop, and soldiers
sentinelled every gateway. Hospitals en-
compassed the ground; churches, art-rooms,
private homes, were filled with the sick,
wounded and dying from the army. The
air was filed with the tramp Of troops as
regiment after regiment glittered in the sun
light in their march down the Avenue.
The rumbling of artillery, the tramp of the
cavalcade, the beat Of the drum was each
moment bringing the boys nearer TO a fresh
baptism OF loyalty, and when they looked
at the great dome of the Capitol rising in
purity into the blue ether they realized fol
the first time that is my Capitol. and | am
ready 10 die for it,
When the letters began to go back TO the
homes from the boys, this was no longer
the meeting place of politicians, where the
shuttle-cock is thrown for place and power
it was the focal point of the heart Of the
Nation, and with every pulsation it was
sending its life blood into the great arteries
Of the Nation; every town, city and hamlet
had its boy here.
Washington. the Capital of the Nation
put on new significance; every father and
mother had a hailowed interest in theil
Capital, for their boys were the guardians
Of these hills, and they alone knew wher
'ft was quiet on the Potomac tonight.
With steady tread they watched the long
night through over the Nations Treasury
and the Capitol WAS secure, for the rotunda
was their camp and their Capitol was thei
home.
Never till this sacrifice was made did tn,
city loved of George Washington becom,
known to the great human heart of tn,
Nation as truly its Capital; thus has it be
come sacred TO the people who made tn,
sacrifice of blood for the love of country.
There was refined and social element il
the city, but its influence was not thrown IL
the direction of civic improvement and goot
Government. The work of improvement
was begun during the civil war. TIL,
dome Of the Capitol was finished; tn
2 Treasury, Post Office and Patent Ofic
were completed. The first street car lin
on Pennsylvania Avenue was opened 1882
After the war the evolution of the ney
city began. The form of Municipa
Government of Mayor and Council wa.
abolished and Territorial Government TO