The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-01

the United States until tho Singer
Building. with Its forty-one stories,
reared Its head. on Manhattan. III the
immediate foreground, Us one looks
westsffrom the Capitol esplanade, are
tile Botanic Gardens, at the foot of
the hill. Several hours are In
terestingiy spent there by tourists,
seeing the varieties of plant growth
from under every sum-. growing ne
kindly and sturdily as if at home
And 1t may be that Mr.. Smith. the s,i-
man, who has Occupied his position for
upwards of fifty years. MAJ be induced
to talk and show the visitor SOM of
the historic trees. historic In that they
were given the gardener by men Who
have written their names in capitals
on the pages of their conntry's his
tory.
vi. all these. nothing lis more dear
to Mr.. SmithBthan the Crittenden oak,
which he set out with his W hands
about half a century ago, when the
shrub was given him by John j. Crit
tenden. of. Kentucky, whom he regards
as the ablest man he has ever known.
a Bunch OF Museums.
Beyond the gardens some distance
is the National Museum, the Army.
Medical Museum, the Smithsonian In-i
stitution and the Fish Commission
MUSEUM. 1t takes but asline8to give the
names of these institutions but 1t
generally. takes the visitor at least a
day at each to gain anything approach
.ingSa comprehensive idea of the things
there are to see In any one of, tn m.
The National Museum probably appeals
most strongly to the popular mind. In
a N--AM a -E-A - at L. - IL to- --a, ,l.l "A
represent the Physical activities OF
the people more than the exhibits in
the others. For instance, suppose the
visitor is Interested In the subject of
transportation; he will find in the Ma
tional Museum a specimen Of every
form OF transportation ever used by
man, from the EsuuimauX sledge to
the automobile; from the kayak, in
water transportation. to models OF the
first. steamboat and the latest
Among the most interesting of the
thousands of exhibits are the presents
made to President Grant on his trip
around the world after his rettrement
from the presidency, and3t the household
articles of George Washington. In
Guiding articles of apparel, as well rs
furniture. A II entire day is never suf-
ficient to satisfy the desires of the
visitor to the National Museum, or
the Smithsonian.
Making Our Money.
Just n little way beyond the Smith.
soniang is tho Department at Agricul-
tura, and close byAare the propagating
gardens, the latter In some respects
duplicating whattthe sightseer saw In
the Botanical Gardens. Over the way,
that Is. across Fourteenth Street, is
ltl.c Eltreau of Engraving and Print-
ing. where is made thefmoney or the
nation. Tile engraving aud much OF
the printing Is done there, Some OF
the notes. are actually printed IN tho
hasement OF the Treasury building
(which will be visited by the sight,
Esger,, after haI has stopped for an as
cent Iof the monument on his way
from the Bureau of Engraving and
l9Printing.S And he will have to waltz In
iline In order to make the ascent, for
there is always a&crowd ready to get
in the big elevator to go up in the
World hlghSrfthan is possible anywhere
else, forgetting that Singer Building,
When the Treasury has been visited,
and the millions stored In the subter-
.ranenn vaults have been seen nnl
handled, W the oflcial guides provided
are In II good humior.&the visitor steps
across ogthe White House. and is al
lowed 10 30 through The state rooo,,nss
3and nuke Just as free comment as it
Fchooses onfSthe fIurnlture, the pictures
on on nnNthing which may fall. uniei
his eye. But III he should desire 10 SCI
tie gpresident he WsA have 2 SO y