Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-02-09


Ten Days Trip to the Nstionai
Capital.
EAST SULLIVAN, Jan. 81.
a.. Editor of The American:
cousin from Berkeley, CAL, who had
Ian in Maine since the first OF June,
.,piop her first acquaintance with East
relatives, was joined by her father,
=, came TO return with his daughter and
iii, his native town after an absence Of
,~.ntv-nine years. They were to stop In
w,s,;neton, d. c., on the homeward trip,
nd invited me to 60 that far with them.
We left Maine Jan. ia beautiful win
..v,s day. which magnified the prosperous
,,ot of the western section Of the State
;, marked degree. Our Maine crop was
,.;no harvested on the Kennebec. We
arrived at Boston promptly At s.o6 p. m.
ws we're to start for Washington in the
,norning from the South station. Not be-
=, familiar with the hotels or elevated
,,a;ns. Mar. Durney inquired Of . gentle
van in the "smoker,n who directed him
- the Essex hotel, just across the street
from the station, and went out OF his way
- Get us on the train--and this from a
Rostonisn, whom some would have us be-
lieve are too busy to be courteous.
We left Boston Friday morning, in what
seemed mild snow storm. Things
looked rather wild along the Sound, but
we did not realize we were in blizzard
until the evening papers were bought on
crossing the ferry. Startling headlines
told of damage done by the great fall OF
snow and high winds. What we did
realize was the delay at Harlem waiting
for the ferryboat, and the delay in Jersey
City waiting for, we knew not what.
The delay was taken very resignedly by
most of the passengers.
Arriving in a strange city at LBS a. m.
instead of 935 p. M, or four hours late
gives one sort Of wish-I-had- not come
feeling. The new Union station at Wash
ington is a magnificent building, with
grounds not yet graded. While we were
talking OF the possibility ofa carriage at
the late hour, before-the- vehicle,
ditto horse, ditto coat OF driver, came
rafting up, apparently after our belated
party. The streets we're icy, the horse
smooth and opinionsted. We tackled and
halted, until we almost thought we were
back in Jersey City, until finally, with one
grand burst OF speed, we reached the
hotel in better humor for this Southern
touch.
Saturday morning we were rested and
eager-a beautiful morning with October
crispness in the air. Washington has
had an unusually cold winter. A young
man from Berkeley, CAL, living in WASH
ingtou more than year attending medi-
cal college, met us at the hotel and Joined
us in as many OF our pilgrimages as his
studies would permit, adding much to our
enjoyment, while he visited many places
with us for the first time. He told us
strangers in the city were easy marks,
as they were always looking up with an
expectant look for what they might see.
We soon noticed strain on the muscles
OF the back of the neck.
Our hotel on Pennsylvania avenue was
midway between the capitol and White
House, which made good starting point.
We first went to the capitol, where a
guide took us in hand in the rotunda.
We found these guides to be wonderfully
well informed; one is sure not to miss a
point OF interest, and time is utilized.
was glad to find Maine represented in
statuary hall, though i was not quite
sure OF my acquaintance with the statue.
The Senate was not in session, but we
driited into the House in time for the
opening 1t seemed to me the Speakers
gaVel was charged with the spirit OF in
surfeetion, and all the members insur-
gents, Judging by appearances.
We went to Washington's monument
after lunch. The elevator moves so slowly
one does not realize the height OF $50 feet
un'u, looking from the windows, one sees
tne city in miniature, and skaters looking
IKE ehessmen on the board. The air was
nos very clear, SO we could not see far
Gown the Potomac, but across t. Airing
Ton heights and where used to be the his
toflc Long Bridge.
FROM the monument we went to the
congressional library. This building is
100 beautiful for attempted description.
one is simply still, in awe OF what the
mind OF man can conceive and execute.
cue picture in mosaic, we were told, cost
s0ouo, and took one man eleven years to
complete.