The Washington times., 1913-08-23
"WaShingtOn An Ideal Sumner
Resort" Says Mrs. W. p. BOrland
Wife of Missouri Congressman
Tells Why Capital Ranks
as Resort"
Bv MRS. WILLIAM P. BoRLAND,

Wky is il wien 7 cornfeid Congress
man comes to Washington-and nobody
made him come and some even ex
pressed a willingness to come IN NE
stead-he Immediately poses as mar
tyr and complains OF the climate! Mos'
Cf the members who complain the
loudest come from climes that are not
ter than Honduras.
When ono, was reared on farm
wh,re they thanked heaven when II
was only 102 degrees in the shade, and
whan one has hoed potatoes and pitch-
ed hay with a handful Of grass In the
crown Of his hat to prevent sunstroke'
why Is II so unbearable TO sit all day
in a shady office FURNISHED by the Gov
ernmentO on the shady summit OF Cap
itol hill, famed by breezes from the
Potomac as well as from an extra
large electric fan furnished by the
Government.
Is there too much hoc air on Cap
itol hill? Do not blame the climate.
II We would open our hearts TO the
truth and shut out prejudice. we wouio
acknowledge that washington is an
ideal summer resort. There are some
hot days here. but Washington's Their
mometer has been in no wise as aspir-
ing as that at Atlantic City, nor its
people so perspirIng.
Where is the summer resort to be
found where there are no hot days!
Here we have always the parks TO cool
off in with the Marine Band playing
here. there and everywhere for the edi-
fication of the multitude. There Is Po-
tOmac drive by sunset and by moon
light. equally popular with autolsts
and pedestrians. and those young
couples who walk on air. At night, II
ia a fairy paradise with the lights
around the basin and on the Long Bridge
reflected in glimmerIng streams of light.
Further up the river the canoes and
the hOuseboats with their many-tinted
lanterns and their banjo and Victor
music and their young people singing
in chorus, make scene not to be sur
passed except in Venice. If, instead of
being a crouch about the weather one
were to join a boat club. what endless
pleasure one could have on the river
and at the small shirtwaist dances at
the boat clubs.
Another point of vantage occurs 10
me where Washington scores. II Is
not the AIamless Eden that most sum-
mer resorts are. There are men b.,
the hundreds-eligible bachelors, real
men-not the sort who masquerade IN
fiannels on the summer hotel veranda.
Washington is rich in good places to
cat in the summer time, from the most
fashionable roof garden to the tea
houses in Rock Creek Park and on
both sides of the river at Great Falls.
For those who drive gas cars there are
lovely chicken dinners on almost all
the good roads out OF Washington
within the radius OF a Sunday drive.
Then there IS the river down stream,
where one can be exclusive In small
chartered boat or democratic for q
latory exhibitions thrown IT. gratis, anC
dancing.
What summer resort can boast the
joys OF our national Zoo? One cannot
be misanthrope' nor long contemplate
suicide If one takes frequent doses of
CCmmuning with the monkeys. They
restore balance and a proper point Of
view when nothing else can. The swim
ming pool must not be omitted, nor the
riding academy. You can get the pick
of horses al this season, and such
bridlepaths.
Then bOOks-What is a vacation with
out books?
But the complaining Congressman do
rot need to buy themselves poor: they
have only to telephone the Congress
sional Library and any number Of
books. be they scientific treatises or
yellow novels. are delivered at their
door before night and left for day OF
q year.
When all else fails there is the
National Museum almost cool
enough for coat any day - with
something to interest even the most
Unintrresta hle. everything from
skeletons and bugs to impressionist
pictures. And on a hot day defy
anybody this side Of Rome to offer
anything as cool as the Catacombs
at ErOokl1nd. | shiver at the reCol-
lection.
Taken al! in all. Washington can
hold its own with any summer resort.
For those who must gamble there is
plenty "t bridge. For those who
would gambol there's plenty Of green.