The Washington times., 1905-05-14
".

~ HE years SCu0 Ny win
silver when one is twenty-four-
shirnnering in the sun and lean
ing before the wind. Sometimes
the craft spins across the horizon 'i''o
mort with remnants flying and rigging
whipping Sometimes 1t is wrecked IN
mtd-ocean and sinks with no one by to
see. Sometimes. and this is most pa
tf.etic of all, its brisk motion and giis-
tening sails carry it on and On TO the
Dead SEA only 10 lie there Enodonless,
a dereiict.
For me this first year in Washington
few by before l realized it. was look
ing on the world for the first time. Yod.
for whom the gun has always risen pc
hind the dome of the Capitol and set
behind the Washington Monument, what
can YOU know OF the awakening WASH
fnston meant 10 a country boy OF the
middle SOS? Everywhere turned L
came upon some new and strange
charm. or some interest old in books
out new in experience. The Germans
call il living the life"
For Washington was city, city
with a mile of buildings for every dwell
ing in the little town l had left behind
in Indiana Along its clean, hard streets
bicvcies spun by the dozen-high wheels
Indiana with the little wheel in
front ana propelled by moving the feet
straight up and down. and one or two
SET close to the ground. Every point OF
the compass had historic association.
Here was the home of the late Chief
Justice Chase. whom my father had
known in Ohio. There, the building in
which Morse had operated his first tele-
graph instrument Out in the country
was the home of Jefferson Davis All
abaut the city were the ruins of fortifi-
cations; and of navy yards, museums.
arsenals, public buildings, and libraries
there were enough TO consume all the
time I could spare from my annual
leave. If no one else in my boarding
house shared this interest, that did not
lessen my enthusiasm In the least
When [ came TO Washington L looked
on at the swinging troops IN line Tor
sheridan.s funeral with as much boy
tsh pleasure In the flying banners, the
shining musketry, and the Gathering
cavalry as any coiored youngsteF IN
Pennsylvania avenue.
+ knew Shakespeare in those days as
a boy knows him who has studied his
long speeches by the hackwoods pro-
cess Of committing them to memory
and recitIng them 20 timber and pas
ture. In Washington I was able to see
his plays admirably acted. and once L
vent to Baltimore and saw the great
Booth.
had known music only as it was
aroned in church or performed by the
orchestra brought from indianapolis for
the annual ball OF the Odd Fellows.
Here I heard bands by the dozen, great
organs. beautiful operas, and once a
svnphony orchestra, which made me
gIeepy. though it was delightful. Who
that has not been a country boy and
starved for music can tell with what a
cold feeling In my stomach l heard
the Marine Band play in the open air
al the Barracks and saw the flag fiut-
Ter down as the bandsmen stood and
performed 1.-THE Star-Spangled Ban
ner?.'
And I went often to church and heard
great preachers, 10 the Capitol and
heard great statesmen, to the art gal
leries and saw great pictures. and 10
the libraries and read great books.
Each Of these general interests was
educational, although L did not know
., at the time My conception Of edu-
cation was knowledge gained from
books. Accordingly kept driving my
self TO stated study.