Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-10-08
Interesting Letter from Washington.

/ interesting Letter rom washington.
There is no place In the United States
in which tho average citizen can feel
greater pride than tho "City of Magni.
hcent Distances" Besides being the
Citations that cluster about Washington
make it intensely interesting to every
patriotic American. It was appropri-
ately named for the man who was not
only first In peace, first in war, and
first In the hearts of his countrymen,' y
but one who actually had more to do
With its selection than any other person
George Washington was pre-eminently a
patriot. He showed this in his whole
life, and q most admirable proof of il
lies in the fact that when others sought
to have the Capitol City located at Alex.
andria, General Washington objected
strenuously, giving as his reason that he
was the owner of much real estate in
and near Alexandria, and it might be
said of him that he was acting from per.
sonal interest.
Our party left Seneca at a D. M, and
arrived in Washington at 10 p. m. The
scenery in portions of North Carolina
was fine. In Virginia wa saw the large
tobacco fields and drying houses, and al
Danville many large tobacco warehouses
and factories.
Lynchburg, on the West side of the
| James river, Is q picturesque city "set
| upon q hill" Charlottesville is noted
| for its great University, founded by
Jefferson. and also as being near the
home Of the "Sage of Monticello" Be-
yond the RapPahannook we passed di.
Station, one of the hardest cavalry fights
of the war. We passed in sight of the
battlefield of Cedar Mountain, where
Stonewall jackson won splendid vic
tory.
At Manassas junction we were near
the. battlefield of Manassas, immortal
lied rs the scene of the first great battle
of the war.
The famous Bull Run, though slug
gish stream, is a reminder of the stam-
pede of the Federal Army at the first
Manassas.
On the morning after our arrival in the
city, as we were leaving the hotel din
ing, room, guide presented himself,
saying he would show us over the city
that day for three dollars. We made
him distinctly understand that we were
not seeking guides, and without the
aid OF this wise man, we were able to
visit the Botanical Gardens, Ford's Thea
tire and the house in which President
Lincoln died, National Museum and
National Matt Park, Postoffice, Navy and
War Departments, Smithsonian Insti-
tute and the $780," with its great va
riety of birds and animals. The Capitol
Is the most splendid specimen of archi-
lecture on the Continent. The Senate
Chamber, the House of Representatives,
md Statuary Hall were objects of alb
sorbing interest. Statuary Hall is the
old Senate Chamber in which Webster,
Calhoun and Clay electrified tho country.
The hist orical paintings in Rotunda of
the Capital are among the finest speci-
mems of art. Among them we noticed
particularly the Landing of Columbus"
Baptism of Pooahontas," "Signing
the Declaration" Surrender of Corn
wallis" and the "Resignatio of General
viewed with interest the celebrated
double bronze doors designed by tho
American artist, Rogers, at Rome, in
1858. The panels are filled with scenes
relating to Columbus. These doors
cost Uncle Sam the sum of fifty-six
thousand dollars.
"Whispering Gallery" on floor of
Standing at certain point the faintest
whisper can be heard IS feet away.
The Congressional Library is the most
attractive and inviting place have ever
seen. The reading room is circular
hall 100 feet in diameter and 1875 feet
high, lighted by eight windows 80 feet
wide. This hall will comfortably seat
25O readers with desk for each. We
were surprised to see less than half
dozen readers in this delightfully."- quiet
retreat. OF its kind, it is said to be
among the finest buildings in the world.
The decorations and paintings would re-
quire the skill of an artist to describe.
For the basement are rooms fitted up in
which the blind read.
The Corooran Gallery was closed up
for the summer much to our regret. The
White House was also closed. We did
not care, however, so much about enter
Ing the portals of the White House since
Teddy has had Booker Washington to
dine at his private table. 1t is but fair
to say that the President might have
been conscientious in this, but anything
that smacks of social equality among
the whites and blacks "won't go'' south
of the Potomac. On the White House
grounds, however, we were delighted to
view the fine trees, shrubbery, grass and
flowers.
The Treasury building is one of the
most interesting in the city. 1t stands
at the end of Pennsylvania Avenue oppo-
site to, and one mile distance from, the
capitol. 1t was built during the admin
istration of Preside Mt Jackson. There
were six women and one lone man in the
reception room, whose duty it was to
show visitors around Some of the
women were reading light literature and
remarked that they had but little time
to read. 1t is said that 1900 people
visit the Treasury building daily. Women
are not expected, in general, to know
very much, but the female employees
here do know how to count money. 1t
Is marvellous to see them. Their fingers
fly through rolls of bank bills like ma
ohinery, and 80 skillful are they that
mistake Is almost unheard of. There
are $500 employees in the Treasury
Department and most of them command
good salaries. This building contains
sad memento of the assassination of
Abraham Lincoln. 1t is the flag which
caught the spur of John Wilkes Booth
when he jumped from the box in
the theatre to the stage. The
rent made by the spur Is seen, and this
flag was the cause of Booth falling and
breaking his leg, thereby making his
final escape impossible.
We went up into the Washington
Monument, which, as every body knows,
was reared in honor of the "Father of
his Country" and is 555 feet high. 1t is
lighted within by electricity, 80 that the
memorial stones set in the inner walls
may be seen. We could see them very
we'll from the elevator. These stones
were sent from various places in honor
of Washington. I noticed that some of
the women looked 80 frightened going
up that they were doubtless unable to
"read readin'," to say nothing of read
ing names on memorial stones. People
sometimes faint in the ascent, some can
not breathe freely, while others cannot
hear for awhile. We were blessed with
our usual senses and enjoyed the scene
immensely. Twenty-Five persons can 90