The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-18
A VIEW OF THE CAPITAL.
Western Notions Concerning the
GIOries of "a Grcnt City

tfrOm tit haiir3s lily Stdl.I
Washington is the only capital OF great
country that is capital and nothing else
Paris is the capital of France. but it is.
In many ways enc of the capitals of the
world. London is the capital of Great
Britain. and yet one might pass interest
ing weeks there and come away Without
having seen the Houses of Parliament
Berlin is the capital OF Germany, but it is.
also a considerable portion of Germany
itself. Washington is the capital of the
United States. but. like the primrose by
the rivers brim. it is nothing more. In
this regard it reminds one of those quarter
sections of land in the West. which. from
their geographical location or through the
chances of war have become county seats
and have never amounted to anything else.
George Washington, who was RESPONSE
bic. more than any other man. for the
present location OF the capital. was not a
city man. He was planter. and his
home was far from the madding crowd.
He never saw anything larger than the
provincial towns of New York and Phil
adeiphia and could have known very lit
tie of the meaning of the world metropo-
lis. He may have hoped that the COM
merce of the Potomac would give the
United States capital some commercial i'm
portance, but it is not improbable that
Washington's conception of.a seat OF Gov
eminent for the Republic was somewhat
enlarged Annapolis, or even Williams
burg. a place he was accustomed TO visit
with his wife wher he was a member OF
the Virginia House Of Burgesses.
As Washington was laid out so it has
remained-a eapitai-ail of its interests,
past. present. and to come. being govern
mental. The business that draws the
permanent and transient population is
official and with the Government Per-
sons find the place pleasant who are con-
tent to look at houses in which officials
live and do business, and to gaze upon
two large rooms in great stone palace
filled with politicians. Much effort has
been made in the way of putting down
asphalt and planting trees, to alter the
appearance of Washington, bat the
leopard cannot change his spots. BY a
singular provision of nature the govern
mental character of the town is annually
betrayed. Once a year the Government
gets up and leaves Washington. and
then it is perceived that there is nothing
left. Government subtracted from Wash
ington leaves no remainder
1t is in the contract with every person
who goes to Washington to work for the
Government from the President of the
United States down. that he or she shall
have at least an annual furlough. vaea-
ton. or leave of absence. Whether they
go to Canton or Skowhegan is inmate
rial, so that they go away from Washing
ton When this exodus takes place, the
departure of the Congressman for the
arms of his constituents being the signal,
Washington acquires the distinction of be-
ing the loneliest capital on earth. The
chiefs are fed and the council lodge is de-
serted The vast avenues are forsaken by
man and beast. The spacious pleasure
grounds which the Government has decreet
are left to ancient care-takers and garden
ers. who. amid the shady walks and leaf,
thlckets. remind one of fauns and satyrs
Then the craven images. both mounted ant
on foot. glare coldly at the infrequenl
passerby The heroes. in their bronze and
marble isolation. look as IL they would
give much for a few moments con7ersa-
zion and human society, while above all
Use white and chill the two highest OBJ
Iscts IN Washingtou-the dome of the
''apitoi and the Washington Monument
he latter raised to the memory of dead
ero and marking to the observer mile.
way the location Of a dead town.