Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-28
Washington's Guests.

Every household. save among the very
poor classes. has guest room. Ii may
be used by the family when there are no
guests but 1t is nevertheless set apart IN
the domestic mind as the place for the ac-
commodation of visitors. In some establish
ments it is sacredly kept ready for them.
whenever they may appear. The principle
of hospitality rules the house. The guest
has the best of everything. His convenience
is consulted, his tastes are studied.
Washington elways has spare room for
a guest. Just w it is putting 1t in order
and is making great preparations for en-
PERTAINING the country at large, represented
by perhaps a quarter OF million visitors.
While these people are here the hosts must
adjust themselves to the pressure and give
way for the accommodation of these thou
sands upon thousands of sightseers.
There will be a great deal of crowding
and some discomfort for all hands during
the next week. The streets will be packed
with pedestrians and the cars will be taxed
10 the limit. The family must double up"
and make the best of the situation while
the house is full of visitors. There will be
a general spirit of holiday making. 1t will
be necessary for the hosts to entertain
their friends, to escort them about the city,
point out the various places of interest per-
haps find them vantage points from which
TO view the spectacles of Saturday.
1t is probably unnecessary to remind all
Washingtonians that the incidental dscom-
fort and sacrifices are part of the citizens
duty. 1t is a penalty they pay for living
at the capital of the country, a pleasur-
able penalty indeed and one to be dis
charged gladly. There is a certain obliga-
ton on the part of every resident of the
District to take part heartily in all projects
which have national significance. Just as
the individual householder seeks always to
maintain the credit of his own establish
ment and make his guest feel at home and
speed him homeward at the close of his
visit with the sense of having been well
come and having had delightful time, so
the whole city of Washington approaches
these quadrennial national jubilees in the
same spirit. with a sense of responsibility
for the welfare and the enjoyment of all
Corners.
There are many ways In which the visit
of the Inauguration guests can be rendered
profitable and enjoyable, apart from their
mere housing and feeding. Every Wash
ingtonian is. in fact, an entertainment COM
mittee of one, to answer questions, to give
advice to direct and explain and suggest
ways and means of extracting the maxi
mum of pleasure out of the brief sojourn.
1t is always to be borne in mind that these
thousands of people who are due to arrive
this week are fractional partners In the ma
. tional capital. They stand for the federal
side of the corporation. They help to main
tain the city. For many years the broad
thinking resident of the District has been
trying to arouse their interest in the CAPT
tai and to make them understand that 1t is
to the national interest to bring the seat of
government up to standard
Every little courtesy shown to the guests
this week and next will be we'll worth
while, viewed from the standpoint of en-
lightened selflshness. 1t will spread the
fame of Washington as the great national
resort of all classes and set in motion forces
that working eventually through the rep
resentatives of the people in Congress, will
result in the enactment of the laws neces-
sary for the evolution of the model city
upon which all local hopes are centered.