The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-10-30
SEEN in WASHINGTON
Trials of Ten Tramp Veterans at
G. A.. R. Encampment.

Having been initiated" the next
day early, our squad headed for the
capitol. In all this beautiful city
are but two names-Washington and
Lincoln. Washington did everything
well grand and great. We often doubt
this. But it is true, and the more we
know of him the greater he really is.
For eXample-Caught by the cures of
slavery, he fatty declined to ever sell
a slave, and at mis- death ordered all
free!
But our own Lincoln. why he ranks
right up with Washington. Honors
are even. Parks, Pictures, statues,
medallions, monuments! Washington,
Lincoln. We always think of Lincoln
not only as good and great, but as a
friend and well to do uncle-ready
and able to help fellow, in bad luck
He to-day is surely first in the hearts
of his countrymen." All of which re-
marks our crowd Seconded" with
many words Of emphasis. Even Nc
Glumphy, hearing and seeing the
many good deeds of Lincoln, said he
didn't think that he could ever vote
the democratic ticket again!
Just east Of the capitol some twenty
rods stanus "Alladdin's Palace" the
Library of Congress building. In
front Of the building is a great foun-
tain containing bronze "busts" of life
sized gay sea nymphs riding
spirited sea horses. In the water are
huge bronze swapping" turtles-the
enemy of every boy--hissing small
jets Of water all over each mermaid.
We all stopped TO gaze on this sight,
Prime can't see very well, so he said,
''Golly what are those "snappers"
doing?' "ScOOting water on the
gals" said Zolly. With that Prime up
with his cane and "Swipped" one of
the turtles on the head, saying that he
would not allow any mud turtle to
trouble a woman while bathing. Then
we went within thegreat temple which
! indeed seems like the wonders of
solomons beautiful palace and there
! being no one of us who knew how
to tell of the wonders, and thereupon
we met a guide" of bronze copper
color," whose curly locks essayed to
! be split in the middle-called Fred"
| Tin honor of our Friedrich Douglass,
a t2acher of no mean repute among
his people,) This Fred counted off
to us seventeen great granite columns
like unto the King aforesaid, from
| italy; twenty-seven from the Caspian
! sea- thirty-one from the "black for
ests" of Germany; forty-three from
Vermont and Tennessee, and fifty
from Iowa! POSSIBLY in our wonder
we missed his count. Will Shaw kept
g'the account Fred explained that f.
w. Mccall of Oskaloosa, sent in bid
\ for thirteen, but Col" Clayton re-
I fused his o. K) Thereupon he led
us up to the inner court, a great cir
cular balcony, from which at times
/ one may look down o the high chief
/ priest, by the vulgar called clerk"
and while our awe stricken eyes look
| ed down, 10, behold! he cometh
within Clothed in a suit of Joe
| Blossoms hand-me-dOwn, $9.9S) and
did walk to a diYan from Mesopota-
mi, and having had words and smiles
from an handmade typewriter he did
lift his head and gaze at our dis
| turbed spirits, still in the flesh, and
he spake, Il thank the Lord that l am
not as other men-cOTn huskers!"
(Remarks by Zolly.) Then this Fred
took us into other ports and pointed
out tons of life-size paintings by Eli
| Vedder, many by A. G.. Simmons, Will
Berkey, Frank McGlumphy, limerick.
Charley Perry and Ed Dobyns. Fred
explained to US that every painting
in the temple was by home" artists
and while we could not see the names
the paintings looked just like the
home" boys work. Then he took us
down to the tunnel-GXG feet-COn-
Meeting the Library and Capitol
used as Sam Smith explained, to
send books quisldy when congress
was in a row, throwing ink stands,
'flasks," etc, they call for 500 or 600
vOlumns Of Congressional Records
thro the tunnel! Seriously this build
ing is a wonder of wOnders-cOst
$4,000
On our return from the Library to
the Capitol we stopped ten rods east
of the great dome and looked thru a
field glass at Armed Liberty" After
looking long and steadily, there APP
pears around her garments from head
to feet a delicate blue halo or border
like the border of the rainbow. This
is the grandest signt in Washington. !
There she stands firm and fixed with |
beautiful strong face, ever looking |
nncEI A - al 4 |