Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1912-06-19
WASHINGTON, 2. c., ii ENVIRON
MENTs, ETC.

a MENTs, ETC.
III ! am sensitiyely conscious OF ;. tn
TACT TACT that . sojourn to the Capitol
no new thing under the sun an
r. rather hackneyed theme for writin
about. however, Is take take up m
Pen rather reluctantly to expatiate o
some OF its familiar features, trust
ing | may interest the readers Q
B The Manchester Democrat in my ma,
4 rative: a II:
s'esS: It Is difficult to mention a more at
tractiye and interesting city to tn
american people than the city o
Washington. AS the Capitol CT tn
nation which is the realization O
he highest .1ea that human intelli
\ sence has evolved in the matter 0
4 governmental practical antonomasy-i
lis the heart Of the grandest countr,
II the sun has ever shone upon. II
X see that great hearts action, to watcl
q II as It throbs with the life OF tho
ration is one OF the most instructive
and one OF the most interesting
4 sights to be witnessed and one feels
lit is indeed privilege, an exception
al sopportunity as visitor to famil
tarize themselves with the nations
capital and environment. Our start
ing point for Washington is Norris
town, Pa, where we had been so.
1ourning for some weeks. Our way
sia over the Pennsylvania railway by
express passing through Philadelphia
making short stops at the following
places: Chester, Pa; Newark, N. y;
Wilmington. Delaware; Haure de
Grace. Maryland, and Baltimore,
Maryland, in reaching the Capitol.
Our journey is varied by glimpses OF
#o'. ocean, the railroad skirting. the
shores Of New Jersey and Delaware
and the tonic air Of the salt water
that came in refreshing breezes into
our hot coach was like drafts Of
vine. Two tunnels enroute mark the
little unpleasantnesses encountered
@ofttimes in railway journey.
When the lady from the state
Of Maine and myself arrives
In the city Of magnificent dis.
tances at the new union station
which is, said to be the largest in
the world. perhaps barring New York.
mammoth union depot, Our first i'm
pressions as we board the electrics
for the st. James hotel on Pennsyl-l
vania avenue: were not favorable or
a. least hers WAC not. In the street
car We had taken for our hotel in
looking about we discovered the &C.
cupants were all darkies. A look OF
disgust came over the countenance
OF my companion. thought II
might have been Jim Grow car
anA we had made mistake. but ]
guess not for Washington, as we af-
terward learned, is quite indulgent to
the Freedmen, since the war, and we
were informed that $1,000 Of the
city's population, one, third. are OF
the black persuasion and could not
doubt it after seeing such swarms Of
them everywhere. We discovered
our hotel was quite near the capitol
building and is 50 situated no matter
In what direction you enter the city
the capitol is always in sight espec.
tally the dome. Like the Washing
ION monument In the city OF Wash |
ington which is also conspicous from
every point Of the compass. The cor
ner stone Of this towering monument
was laid on the 4th OF July 1S4S, the
construction Of the monument went
Forward SO slowly that it was not
completed until the year 1884. II
may be surprising to know that II
cost @I,1s7,71O and that it is still
The highest monument in the world.
+ The next day after our arrival, We
went with party from Chicago to
Mt. Vernon. Washington's famous
home, the mecca dear to all Amer
leans. Took the car line few
steps from our hotel where the site
u tn. old union station had been
and the Identical spot where Presi-
Dent Garfield was shot. Twelve
miles ride on the trolley brings US to
The dock Of the Marshall Hall steam
boat company where we take the
for Mt. Vernon. The sail on
he Potomac was delightful, the day
being an ideal one, fine stretches Of
green groves and hills on citizen side
covered with verdure lent q peculiar
charm to the scene especially the
blue and purple hills Of Maryland
'een in the distances, dipping their
hazy shadows ever and anon in the
liquid sun. The Virginian hills and
meadows are also seen on the right
dotted here and there with peaceful
groves and villages. We pass Fl.
which looms up on the
side. it's grey old walls
picturesquely testooned with English
Ivy which very nearly covers the
since the strife Of arms has
ceased it remains only silent monu-
ment, reminding the passing throng
e our country's past warfare. We
pause at old Alexandria, ancient city
where the Father of his country was
wont to worship at 'Christs Episcopal
church which is kept as original as
possible. History informs us Wash
ington was a devout churchman and
i regular attendant while living on
hia estate in Mt. Vernon. which is
about five or six miles from Alexan-
dria. Well our good ship or steam
pr anchors off dock in the, little har-
Dor Mt the foot Of the Mt. Vernon
rktatas and we 20 forth with rs or