The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-08
AS THE DAYS PASS
By FRANCES JAY.

The couple in the Union Station waiting
for the announcement OF the train which
would take them from the city they had
viewed with such zeal were tired. and
looked II. But they were happy in the
knowledge OF duty thoroughly performed:
: therefore. feeling righteous. they were a
little caustic In their comments on those
Of the Capital who were less conscientious
in making acquaintance with the many
things OF interest in this unique spot
One of the strangers declared she had
heard there were many natives OF Mecca
who had never seen the sacred stone that
foreigners Travelled over land and sea
TO kiss and wondered If Washingtonians
were not about as careless.
The other stranger also hourished her
little hammer, declaring that the city was
so rich IN historic and curious things and
places. but that did not seem to interest
those who could see them any time. The
thing that most unfavorably impressed
her was the lack OF knowledge as 20 the
resting place Of the Lincoln flag. the IA
nous one that draped the box at Ford S
Theater on the fatal night
The guidebooks say II is IN the Lincoln
collection in the Tenth street house. but
II is not Carefully framed IN good
position in the Treasury It hangs safely.
but rarely do the guides mention It. and
only the clerks that walk up the stairs
see H. When the new elevator service
is installed even this class will be
whirled past
or all the things. old or new. in this
great city is there one that Is more thrill
ing or strange than this flag Of our coun-
| try that in a moment was lifted from the
use OF decoration in a playhouse as indi-
eating the presence Of the Chief OF the
nation 20 an instrument Of destruction
I 10 the murderer-for. though Booth was
mad. ne was no less a murderer-of quick
/ retributlon for the death OF one who was
/ trying TO hold the Union Il symbollzed
/ intact? By clinging 70 the spur. II threw
| Booth 20 the floor; otherwise doubtless,
/ his escape would have been successful
There may he a bit OF truth IN the
/ charge that we do not visit our exhibits
/ bun the real Washingtonians are the
/ splendid army Of clerks that keep the
7 y
they cannot get away from duty long
enough TO sightsee unless they lose
money by IL.
I Some day a paternal Congress will have
/ buildings open at night; then It is a safe
! guess that the natives viii be as much
( In evidence where things are TO be appre-
/ ciated as they are In the Library, which
/ each evening and on Sunday. too, is
I crowded with the citizens. eager 70 learn
When we hear that 100000 cubic
yards Of soil have been moving into
/ Culebra Cut since the work Of excava-
/ ton was begun. and that this gradual
but none the less actual shift OF founda-
/ ton has caused the necessity Of the
moving back TO unaffected area Of the
/ post-ofhce. clubhouse hotel. and some
/ private houses. the question arises. Was
/ Mrs. Semple right when she prophesied
| long ago that the god OF nature himself
/ would check the divorce Of the CONT
nents OF the Western hemisphere?
This brilliant daughter OF Presiden,
/ is still remembered here FOR her clear
mind and the wisdom Of her deductions.
! Though for years she was blind and
chained TO her chair. she kept In touch
wonderfully with the movement OF
/ events, and having Travelled much I'm her
youth. when it was really a feat to get
| from home, what she then saw made a
lasting impression on her brain. She had
been on her husbands vessel on both
side Of Panama, and declared that the
mountain chain that forms the backbone
l from circle TO circle Of the Americas was
not intended to be severed. unless one