The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1907-04-11
TRIP TO WASHINGTON
Miss Lucy Davis Writes Entertaininsly,
Describing the Trip Taken by
Detroit Teachers.

teachers who were to take the excur-
sion to Washington last week. More
coaches were added later to accommo-
date the Toledo party.
7 We reached Pittsburg at 6 am, Sun
day, passing through the district that
had so recently been flooded. Many
houses were still empty and the yards
were filled with water-soaked logs and
other debris brought in by the flood.
We also saw several of the Carnegie
steel plants here.
The Johnstown district was watched
for with great interest, because of the
floods there several years ago. 1t was
plainly evident that the water had every
chance to do its work. for the stream
lies in valley between very high hills.
AS we entered Harrisburg the new
Pennsylvania capitol was plainly visible
at our right and looked much like our
own state capitol. Baltimore was
reached about p. m, and then we
were but 40 miles from Washington.
The station of the Pennsylvania
lines is near the. main thoroughfare,
Pennsylvania avenue, and so we had a
good view of the capitol as our train
was pulling into the city. Three
Sightseeing Automobile" met the
Detroit party at the station and we
were taken at once to the Rigg' s
House, which was to be our home while
in Washington.
After breakfast next morning we
visited the capitol. Usually, the con-
ductOr let's you off at the rear of the
building as that is the side you come to
first, but our conductor, with true
Virginian courtesy, asked us to stay on
and ride around. In leaving the car we
crossed the plaza where the crowds
assemble every four years to witness
the inaugurations. Here, too, stands
Greenough's statue of Washington,
which cost 500, 900 and took eight years
to complete.
The capitol building is $50 feet long
and about half as wide. The dome is
of iron and weighs 5000, 600 pounds.
1t is 288 feet to the crest of Liberty
Statue. The dome rises from the exact
center Of the building and is reached
by staircase of 376 steps, not an easy
climb on hot day, but we made it.
In the center of the grand central port
leo are the celebrated Rogers doors, in
the sixteen panels of which are por-
trayed the principal events in the life
of Columbus and the discovery of
America. On the frames of these
bronze doors and set in inches are 80
statuettes of patrons and contempor-
aries of Columbus, The doors are three
times mans height and weigh several
tons. The Rotunda is octagonal and sc
feet in diameter. Each of the panels
carries painting 18x24 feet, depicting
an event in the early history of our
country, no picture costing less than
$4,000.
! also carries out the historical idea. 1t
was begun by Brumidi, and continued
after his death by one of his pupils,
but is still unfinished. The canopy Of
the dome was also done by Brumidi and
is called "The Apotheosis of Washing
ton" Washington is the central figure
and the 13 original states are repre-
sented by as many female figures ar
ranged in circle. Six emblematic
groups o. fg1fes are Oh the 5ofder..
The House and Senate chambers are
in the two wings, 500 TT. apart, and yet
the President of the Senate can see the
Speaker of the House when both are
occupying their respective seats. The
doors are of plate glass.
The Supreme Court occupies the
room at first designed for the Senate
and court convenes here every day at
precisely 12 o'clock.
There are many other fine rooms and
grand staircases whose walls are
adorned by costly paintings of impor
tant events and of distinguished men
in our history.
In the afternoon we visited Wash
I D..
down the Potomac. Here every one
rail- and 200 acres of an 5000
memorial. The rooms here have been
restored and many relics are in the
mansion. One room is furnished as it
was when occupied by Lafayette and is
called the Lafayette Room" Mrs.
Washington room was over that of
the Generals" she choosing that
room after his death because it over
looked his grave. Like all other south
ern houses. wide hall extends through
the center of the house, and all the
rooms open into it.
| Among the relics found there is a
harpsichord presented to Nellie Curtis
on her wedding day, and which cost
Mr.. Washington $1,000 in gold; the main
key of the Bastile, presented to Wash
ington, by Lafayette; and Washing
ton s flute and spectacles. Adjoining
the mansion are the smoke-house, laun-
dry, coach-house, and barns on one side,
while on the other are the business
office, carpenter shop, spinning house,
and servants quarters.
The gardens are most beautifully laid
out. 1t was custom of the Washing
ton family to ask distinguished guests
to plant something in this garden as
Keepsake.
The whole stands on rise of ground
commanding fine view of the Poto-
mac, near the banks of which is the
tomb where rest the remains Of George
and Martha Washington. Many mem
bers of the family and servants of the
estate are buried near the tomb.
We went to Mt. Vernon by boat but
decided to go back by car so as to see
Arlington, the home of General Robert
f. Lee, and the honored resting place
Of 16, 600 union soldiers.
To the south of the mansion, which
in itself is more elegant than the Wash
ington mansion, is the Temple of Fame,
an open octagonal colonnade with
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