The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-01-08

cept the government machine The
iOudest noise that assails the ears is
from PERFECTLY decorous street cars.
The visitor coming from any other
American city to Washington is al
most stunned by the quietude. If he
blows in from New York. for example.
1t is like the change from lower Broad
way to upper Fifth avenue. Indeed.
should call Washington the Fifth ave
nue. of the nation. The simiIe is true
in more ways than in the quiet and
dress parade. for be it known that
this capital of the land of the free is
swiftly becoming Mecca of fashion.
By the way. the social season will
soon be in full swing here, and the
debutantes are in a fiutter of excite
ment. The diplomatic corps will con-
tribute number of society buds this
winter, among them being the daugh
ters of the Norwegian minister. Miss
Sigrid and Miss Ingeborg Guide, both
highly accomplished and attractive
young women.
Not only does President Taft stroll
about the streets of Washington like
any other individual. but Mrs. Taft
follows the example At least she
walks when going shopping on F
street. One day last week she and her
sister. Mrs Laughlin. trudged cheer
fully from store to store on that shop
ping thoroughfare and just as blithely
fro hon he n in
time for luncheon. This may shock
some of our near" ariStOcracy. but
will warm the cookies of the true
American heart wherever 1t beats. Or.
rather, it is so much as 1t should be
that it need not cause even thrill.
but should be taken as a matter of
course
The new executive Office is chiefly
notable for the wide expanse of terri
tory it occupies. 1t looks for all the
world like one of those churches that
the congregation is too poor to build
all at one time and so finishes the
basement and uses that until the pros
porous hour when 1t can add the
superstructure. The presidents Office
annex is not without dignity-a sort Of
one story dignity, as 1t were-but it
has the appearance Of not being done.
1t is low. rakish structure that re-
sembles a sawed off edition of a
worlds fair building To one accus-
toned to skyscrapers 1t seems not only
squat. but positively fiattened and
smashed out
There is a certain fountain beside
Pennsylvania avenue. about midway
between the capitol and the White
House. that has been erected to the
cause of temperance. 1t is more than
fountain. being deliberately carved
and doubtless beautiful withal. say
doubtless" for | am not sure. never
having seen it all at one time. When
ever | have passed by there has been
a crowd packed around it listening to
some street orator. Evidently 1t Is
free forum. this temperance memorial.
and is dedicated to cold water and hot
air.
Despite the hum of conversation In
both branches of congress and espe-
cially In the house. despite the empty
chairs and other like things equally dis
orderly and unconventional. there Is
something decidedly impressive about
the sittings of the American congress.
At least that is the way it strikes me.
To catch the power and dignity OF the
thing one must look behind these mere
surface conditions. To my own view
1t is all the more impressive because
of these outer appearances Of freedom
and lack Of form. 1t has thrown aside
the mere trappings and insignia OF
state as the playthings Of children. 1t
does not need them. 1t has the sub
stance of power Why care for the
show? But the congress itself. seen
truly and as whole. is the symbol or
the sovereignty of mighty people.
As such 1t Is more tremendously Inn
posing than all the feathers OF kings
or the hollow decorum OF courts.