Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1902-05-30
JOseph BurehenaI At the CanItaI.

NesOph DNNOHOAaA a. tHO Sdpltdls
The following personal letter from
Mr.. Joseph Burchenal to Mr.. James
B. Anderson, Of Frederica. will be inter-
esting to many who remember Mr.
Burchenal, aside from its general in
terest. After some personal commu-
nication he writes
AS you VIII see, am still here in Washing
ton. lind much here to interest and enter
tain my many leisure hours; not having any
business, of course my time is mostly spent
in trying to find something to do that viii
give me pleasure and happiness-so look
the papers over and see what is going on in
the Halls aud amongst the lecture world, so
as to spend the evenings. During the day 1
have the time somewhat systemized / read
the papers in the morniHg;igo up to the lobby
Of the Senate at little after p noon, and stay
Iii they have anything on hand that is
worth listening to-until ~ or O'Clock. II
the go into executive session and turn as all
out earlier-then 1 take trolley ride; and at
this time Of the year when all the trees are
out in full foliage.and the grass is so green, It
is real delight to take trolley ride; there
is so much OF beauty in Washington. One
can scarcely turn their head in any direction
at this time OF the year, but you see picture
that is sufficiently beautiful to be framed and
hung in any art gallery in the nation.
Washington is indeed a beautiful city. In
nifty or sixty years, when they get all the inn
provements that they have now in contem-
plation finished, and get million Of inhabi-
tants, believe it viii be the finest city in the
world. The old saying is F.: "see Paris and
beautiful "see Washington and die will
be the saying at the close OF the 10Th century.
stood a few days ago on the high eleva-
ton, or parapet, Of the Capitol, and looked
out on the city, with its many public build
lngs, beautiful circles, handsome parks, the
big Mall with its monuments and wide
streets and avenues, and 1 thought what q
magnificent view it was, and 1t was not sur
passed by the grand view one has from the
Ethel Tower in Paris, where you go up over
nine hundred feet. But it struck me more
like the grand view there is, when on the
high elevation OF the Anti-Lebenon Noun
tains in Syria, and look down oniDamascus,
the Oldest city in the wOrld-and see the min
arets and domes as white as chalk as they
appear above the green foliage that seems to
III and surround that old city. II is said
this high elevation, refused to 60 into the city
because he said ii was beautiful enough to be
heaven, and he would seek another heaven
that was not on EARTH but really, my fine
view from the Capitol reminded me much Of
some OF the beautiful scenery have looked
upon in Europe and In Oriental lands.
This present Congress has already voted a
portion Of the money to build the most mag
nihcent boulevard, and when completed
there will not be any where in the world any
thing to surpass it, II win start from the
west side Of the Capitol and run straight
across the Potomac river to Arlington, a dis
lance OF three miles-its width will be, I I'M
derstand, over two hundred and fifty feet; It
will go so that Washington Monument will
stand in the middle Of the Boulevard, and the
bridge across She Potomac will be one OF the
finest in the country. There is a full and
very complete drawing ofthe whole improve
ment IN the Co Congressional Library, and theFa
are other things that will greatly improve
the 0ityl the expenditure for the whole will
take more than ten millions Of dollars. SO
Washington is to be the Imperial City; cen
ter Of the world; the hub around which all
things transitory are to revolve.
I feel that ! have lived too soon, that !
ought to DO about ton years old, so that
could see the marvellous things that are in
store for the human race in the next nifty Of
sixty years, All Of the great advances thai
have been made, have come up in my life
time; railroads, telegraphing, teleph cleo
tricity, trolley cars, oil, gas and electric
lights, and many other things have all COM
to help and bless man in the latter part o
the Nineteenth Century,so feel that woull
like to live fifty years longer; or be able t.
come back and see what are the great thing
that are IN store Tor the race in this Twent
9th Century. Wen, who knows hut we ma!
be able to see and know although living fl
another and a different state. No one ca
tell, as the life beyond so far as we are con
cerned, is one OF faith-as no one has ever re
turned 10 tell US OF the deep mysteries OF til
beyond.
Wen, have wandered away around Rot
inhood's barn in writing this letter. I had
letter from Jim few days ago, in which h
stated you was up and took lunch with Meni
but that he was away on the road and di
not get home but a short time before you lef
Jim seems to be kept busy, and it is goo
; thing for him for having something to do
as nothing TO do is about as useless a life as
man can follow-I know by experience.
have not yet fixed any time TO leave Wasl
J., ingtOn, 1t is so beautiful here and much I
! entertain and amuse, perhaps ! shall stay III
til the weather gets warm; or until a week {
two in May,and then make my way down I
; Asbury Park, the real garden spot in sun
mer.
Hope your health continues to be good AN
that Mrs. a. Is fully holding her own, If ii
deed she Is not ilnproving-I mean her ey
sight, and that her general health Is impro'
: ing Ireceived through Walter Carrow y
thanks your official board for my little col
tribution toward paying your preacher.
did not expect, neither did desire, that yo
should go 10 that trouble.
see by the papers that old Captain Ma,
T. son has gone to his reward. He lived to
y good old age, 81. Am always glad to hei
y from you. have had no news nom Del
ware by the local papers; for two weeks N
Z paper, the Index has not come for son
cause