Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-08-18

was to take us to the national apa- I
tai. S We passed Old Point Comfort |.
and Fortress Monroe on the left as
we steamed out through Hampton
Roads. Finally there came into view
In the distance and on our right a
point of land which we knew was
Cape Henry, but this low shore line
soon faded away as we turned north
into Chesapeake Bay.
About two o'clock p. M, the shore
line became distant, and an officer
Informed us that we were entering
the mouth of the Potomac river
Such river! We think our yellow
Missouri a great river, and when we
B compare the volume Of water carried
by It. with that Of other rivers we
T find that it is one Of the great
American rivers. But when we meas
ure its expanse of water with the
Potomac 1t loses much of its grand
eur. The Potomac for many miles,
from its mouth is from ten to six
teen miles wide. In fact the banks
B are so far away that it is hard to.
\ realize that you are on a river, anu
you begin to wish that the steamer
would approach the bank that the
monotony of the Journey Nigh be re,
lieved by some liyelier scene on the
shore.
But all things have an end, and
even the majestic Potomac must
grow smaller as we leave the Allan
tic further and further behind.
Towards evening the snannel became
narrower and for the first time dur
ing the trip it seemed like travelling
on a river. Now all eyes were turn
ed to the south shore for according
to our guide books we were nearing
u Mt Vernon, one of the most famous
snrines Of patriotism in America.
Just as the shadows Of evening were
about to fall the Vigilence OF the
faithful watchers we're rewarded
There on the south bank Of the river
which it overIooks, and only a lew
rods from the waters edge, we be
held the mansion house and we
needed no one to tell us that it was
Mt Vernon. 7 do not believe that
1T would be possible to see this place
under conditions more favorable
than those under which we behel6
lit. The rather unpreteutious house
peeping out between the stately
trees atGeither side, and overlooking
the lowlier ones in front, while the
twilight was gathering around i
made picture not soon to be for
4 gotten. IT. lis beautiful in itself, but
its associations are dearer and ever
more beautiful to Americans.
hope to carry the impressions / re
ceived on first beholding the home
of Washington through life. M
more fitting tribute can be paid eth
er to Washington or Mt. Vernon
than is given in the wodrs of Edward
Everett, No gi1ded dome swells
from the lowly roof to catch tht
morning or evening beam; but thu
love and gratitude Of united Amer
lea settle upon it in one eternal sun
shine. From beneath that humble
roof went forth the intrepid, unset
fish worrior, the magistrate wht
knew no glory but his country's
good; he returned, happiest when hi
work was done. There he lived ii
noble simplicity; there he died ii
glory and peace. While it stands
the latest generations Of the grateful
children of America will make tiii.
pilgrimage a shrine; and when i
i shall fall, IL fall it must, the memor.
Of Washington shall shed an eterna
glory on the spot. =
1t was late in the evening wheI
we arrived In the city Of Washington
and we at once sought our lod gings
But bright and early the next morn
ing we were abroad studying oui
National capital This city was once
the laughing stock Of the country
and was nicknamed the Wildernesi
81 City" the City Of Miserable Huts,'
4. etc, but it certainly no longer de
serves such epithets as these for /
is one Of the finest cities In thil
country, and thousands say it is thu
finest capital city IN the world
=
Volumes could be written about ths
u interesting things to be seen ii
Washington, but as our time thers
was limited we had to content our
selves with rather Superficial In
spection. In addition to viewing thu
exterior Of all the public buildings
we saw many buildings which have !
historic interest. Among these !
hotel once used as slave market
Also 4 hotel once used as police
headuuarters and into which Chas