Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-04
ANCIENT WASHINGTON
Description Of the City as 1t
Was in 1916
AND AT LATER DATE
PAPERS READ BEFORE THE OLD
EST INHABITANTS.
Straight Road Intended to Be
Street" Leading From Capitol
to White House.
AND AT LATER DATE

AT the meeting OF the Association OF Old
est Inhabitants Wednesday evening two
papers were read on ancient Washington.
The first was an extract from a story of
the travels Of Lieut.. Francis Hall. an Eng
lish officer, published in 1918, and the
second description of the city about the
year 1920 Mr.. A H. Raglan read the first
and Mr.. James Croggon the second.
The extract from Lieut.. Halls diary was
as follows:
The traveller. having passed through
Bladensburg, on the east branch of the
Patuxent, where the action was fought
which the Americans have nicknamed the
'BladenSburg races, crosses a sandy tract
| interspersed with oak barrens and pine
woods, until suddenly, mounting a little
rise, close to poor cottage with its Indian
corn patch, he finds himself opposite to
the Capitol Of the federal city. 1t stands
on an ancient bank Of the Potomac about
eighty feet above the present level of the
river, the course of which it commands,
as well as the adjacent country as far as
of two wings, intended to be connected by
a center, Surmounted by a dome or cupoia.
The design Is pure and elegant. but the
whole building wants grandeur. Each
wing would not be a large private man
sion, and the interior has consequently
contracted appearance, kind of economy
of space disagreeably contrasting with the
gigantic scale of nature without, as well
as with our ideas of the growing magni-
tude of the American nation. The stair
| case, which is kind of vestibule to the
impression to be produced by the whole
building, is scarcely wide enough for three
persons to pass conveniently. The chamb-
ers of the Senate and Representatives are
of very moderate dimensions, and the judg-
nent hall, with its ow-browed roof and
short columns seems modelled after the
prison of Constance in Marmion.
Now Pennsylvania Avenue.
Co. Of fha fnl
runs straight road Gntended to be street)
planted with poplars for about two miles,
to the Presidents house. a handsome stone
mansion. forming conspicuous object from
the Capitol Hill. Near it are the public Of
fees and some streets nearly filled up.
About half mile further is a pleasant row
of houses in one Of which the President at
present resides There are a few tolerabIe
houses still further on the road to George
Town and this is nearly the sum total OF
the city for 1916. 1t used to be a joke
against Washington that next door neigh
borS must go through wood to make their
visits, but the jest and forest have vanished
together. There is now scarcely tree be-
twixt Georgetown and the navy yard, two
miles beyond the Capitol, except the pop
lars have mentioned, which may be con-
sidered as the locum tenentes of future
houses.
Land and houses are rising in value, new
buildings are erecting, and, with the aid of
the intended university, there is little doubt
that Washington will attain great an ex-
tent as can be expected for a city possessed
of no commercial advantages, and created
not by the natural course of events. but by
a political speculation. The plan indeed
supposes an immense growth, but even if
this were attainable, it seems doubtful how
far an outgrown, luxurious capital would
be the fittest seat for learning even leg
islation.
Divisions in Boarding Houses.
At Washington, during the sittings Of
Congress, the boarding houses are divided
| into messes according to the political prin-
ciples of the inmates, nor is a stranger ad-
| mitted without some Introduction and the
consent of the whole company. 1 CHANGED
to join democratic mess and name a few
Of it's members with gratitude, for the
pleasure their society gave me-Commodore
Decatur and his lady, the Able Correa the
great botanist and plenipotentiary of Por-
tugal, the Secretary Of the Navy, the secre.
tary Of the navy board, known as the au-
! thor of a humorous publication entitled
John Bull and Brother Jonathan" with
| eight or ten members Of Congress, princi-
pally from the western states, which are
generally considered as most decidedly hos
| tile to England, but whom 1 did not on
this account find less od-humored and
courteous.
! The President, or rather his lady holds a
| C-awing room weekly. during the sitting of
G .ngress. He takes by the hand those who
are presc nted to him. shaking hands being
discovered in America to be more rational
and manly than kissing them. Nothing in
these sembiies more attracted my notice
| than til extraordinary stature of some of
| the western members; the room seemed
| filled with giants. among whom moderately
| sized men crept like pygmies. l know not
| well to what the difference may be attrib-
| uted, but the surprising growth of the in
habitantS of the western states is a matter
| OF establishment to those of the eastern and
of the coast line generally. The only per-
sons to be compared with these goliaths of
| the west were six Indian chiefs from Geor-
| gia, Choctaws or Chckasaws, who. had
come to Washington on public business, and
| were presented at Mrs. Madison's drawing
| room. They had still greater appearance
of muscular power than the Americans; and
while looking on them I comrrehended the
| prowess Of those ancient knights, whose
single might hold army in check, land
| made all Troy retire
| The American Congress.
The sittings of Congress are held In a
temporary building during the repair of the
| Capitol 1 attended them frequently and
was fortunate enough to be present at one
! interesting debate on a change in the mode
of presidential elections. Most of the prin-
| cipal speakers took a part in it: Messrs.
| CASTOR. Calhoun and Western In support of
| 1t; Randolph and Grosvenor against it. The
! merits of the question were not immedia tely
| to be comprehended by a stranger but their
| style of speaking in the highest degree
| correct and logical particularly that of
Mr.. Western Of New Hampshire whose
| argumentative acuteness ,extorted a COM
| pliment from Mr.. Randolph himself, "aIbeit
unused to the colnpiimenting mood" Mr..
| Grosvenor. both in action and language,
| might be considered a finished orator, as
| far as our present notions of practical ora
| tory extend. Mr.. Randolph, whose political
| talents, or rather political success, is said
| to be marred by an eccentric turn of
| thought which chimes in with no party.
| seems rather a brilliant than a convincing
| speaker. His elocution is distinct and clear
| to shrillness, his command of language and
| Illustration seems unlimited; but he gave
| me the idea of a man dealing huge blows
against a shadow, and wasting his dexteri-
| ty in splitting hairs. His political senti-
ments are singular. He considers the gov
eminent of the United States as an elective
| monarchy:
| Torture the Constitution as you WILL s.
| said he. In the course of the debate, 1.-THE
| President will elect his successor, and that
| will he his SON whenever he has ono old