The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-08-28
National Capitol Worlds City of Wonders;
Visitors Find Beauties Unseen by Popuace
Sghtsee Enjoy Sights that Residents MFok from Europe Derive Most Pleasure
from Sou Hereby and Surrounding Country Offer Unsurpassed Oppor
tuniie Traveller Seeking Spots of Historical Interest.

sightseeing is an art. Anybody can
go into a public building. look over its
contents and say he has seen that struc-
ture and all it contains. But has he?
The chances are ten to one that he hash t
if he is a resident of city and three
to one that he has failed if he comes
from a smaller town. Should he live in
village or the country, the chance mar
rows down considerably. If he comes
from another country, the odds are two
70 one that he sees everything worth
seeing"
This opinion was expressed years ago
by the head of one of the biggest tour
ing agencies in the world He contended
that people who live in the midst of
beauties miss them almost altogether.
That was one of the reasons he maintain
~ his agency and secured a big fortune
by directing people how to get about
Europe when he. himself. contended that
;her. We're MS beautiful spots in the
United States as there are under the
sun.
know less of the beauties of this city
than those who came here for a few
lays, drank in its sights ana then re-
turned to their homes to talk OF them
Tor Weeks months. But there are so
many Of them hereabouts that ii would
require At least a month of careful en-
p!oring TO get even slimmer of the
hcautI,s to bc seen in Americas most
picturesque city
OF course. the National Capitol and
White House the center of all visit
ing eyes. But the mistake most people
make i that they allow their enthusiasm
for these two magnificent structures to
run away with their desire to go else
where.
The majority of them take a run over
TO Mount Vernon and see where the
Father of His Country lived They
miss seeing the National Museum. which
is the best in this country; they do not
recall ever having looked into the Cor
"Uran Art Gallery and if one wds to ask
them if they had been to the Pan-Amer-
lean Union Building they would probably
have TO pause and think moment be-
fore they could even remember if that
building was in Washington.
The National Capital owes it beauti-
fully arranged system of streets to the
French revolution. That seems strange.
doesn't it? Just recall the fall of the
l:astile and the mobS that fought the
of ha inc ha
If Paris; then recall that Maj L'Enfant
had lived in France during that siege of
aroused anger al the King. and then re-
member that it was this same officer.
Who had likewise served in the army of
the Colonies during their war with Eng
land. who drew up plans for the Amer
lean Capital City.
Maj. L'Enfant's idea in shaping Wash
ington it is Was that there would
never be occasion where mob could
arise and defeat the American soldiers.
Therefore he created the wheels within
wheel" AS the streets of this city have
been termed. If. at any time a mob wer,.
t" arls". soldiers and cannon could ne
placed at each one of the circles and
in ten minutes the streets could be clear
I'd ~ its members. His plan was chang
81 slightly by his successors. hut to HIN
must he accredited the plan of the city
in general
I'll, capitol has been conceded the most
I.''IurcsUue structure Of its kind in the
void Its commanding situation and
m'aIe,tI, proportions. combined with It's
dignity. grace. beauty Of design and
td"rnmcnts are ideal Built on Capitol
Hin. NINETY seven feet above the level of
tho Potomac, one can see from its ma rbie !
terraces the amphitheater OF tn, river and
The country for miles on every side
Those who planned the building thought
the city would grow eastward and there
lily grew the other way and from this
SIDE the Capitol is usually approa ched. !
The corner stone of the building was laid !
Ivy President Washington in 1898 and the |
central building completed thirty years
later. The extensions we're formally be. |
gun in ISL and occupied in ISlS and 1860 !
What is considered the crOwning glory |
Of the building is its dome. which arises !
from a peristyIe Of fluted Corinthan !!
columns above the central building ard