The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-04-13

and Navy Building. He showed us
the points of interest about the beau
tiful grounds of the executive man
sion; and promptly at 10 O'Clock con-
Quoted us through the stately en-
trance TO the most famous residence
in the Western hemisphere. which
has been the home of every President
since the British burned our capital
in the War of 1872
That this is a democratic country
was indicated at once. There were
no gold laced buffers, or highly uni
formed flunkies surrounding the
President, even though he is probably
the most powerful ruler of any civil
lied nation, except the Gar of Rus
STA. A kind faced old darky ushered
us into the spacious but simply fur
nished private Office of the President,
who arose from his desk when we
entered, and very cordially spoke to
Mr. Peters. The Congressman said
to the President that it gave him a
very great deal of pleasure to i'll %
duce to him the members of che
Senior Glass of Skowhegan High
School and their friends. Mr.. Peters
undoubtedly told the truth because
his face and his actions showed that
he enjoyed the whole proceedings
quite as much as the rest of us did.
Each member was then presented 70
the President by Mr.. Peters. and the
President had a pleasant word of
greeting for everyone as he shook
hands While the whole thing prob
ably last not over ten minutes, ney-
ertheless, to most of us at least il
will remain in our minds and our
hearts as one of the great events in
our lives.
After leaving the executive man
sion. we sat for our pictures with
the beautiful building for back
ground. We insisted that Congress
man Peters be in the center of the
photograph, and he is seen in the cut
above From the White House
grounds we went to Mr.. Peters Of
fee in the House Office Building
where he made us thoroughly at
home, and as stated above took us over
to hear the House and the Senate in
session at the Capitol.
We did not see Mr.. Peters again
until Tuesday evening, when we met
him and his charming wife at a very
enjoyable reception given by our
former classmate, Charles Coburn
Smith. at the beautiful residence of
his father. DR.. George Otis Smith,
Director of the L. S. Geological Sur
vey. There we also met Senator Ed
win G. Burleigh, who came over par
ticularly to meet us, in spite OF the
fact that he has been very ill practi-
callv all winter. Major and Mrs.
John w. Foger. who have been
spending several weeks in Washing
ton. were also at the reception.
Charlie Smith is attending school in
Washington.
This account of our trip began IN
the middle of it. There was so much
to be seen and so much TO do that we
forgot how we got to Washington.
The most important fact is that when
the ever-g genial Conductor Hopkins
finally got us all aboard Friday morn
ing. March oath it was in the face
of one of the finest gales of the win
ter which made us late into Boston,
and necessitated a tremendous rush
to catch the steamer train for Fall
River. We had a fine and very calm
trim on the providence to New
York. and met students from all over
New England bound for Washington.
At New York our High School party
had been so enlarged that they gave
us a special train to Philadelphia.
Our bunch must surely have wakened
old Philadelphia up for we did most
everything but ring the Liberty Bell.
We all got freshly coined dimes or
Mint and
| learned how easy it is to make
money.
We arrived at the New Ebbitt
| House in Washington just in time for
supper Sunday night. We began on
sightseeing at once and took in the
! Congressional library before we went
( to bed. Words cannot express the
beauty and grandeur of this building
! We reluctantly began our return
! trip Wednesday morning at $40. We
saw everything that could be seen in
/ the time at our disposal. 1t would
make serial of this account if your
correspondent described half that we
/ saw. Suffice to say that among the
/ beautiful places visited were the two
/ National museums, Smithsonian In
! StltlltP, Mount Vel Hol' = - 4N"N a.
/ Academy. Pan-American Building
Navy Yard Geological Gardens, Treas
i ury Building. State. War and Navy
Building and the spot whore Hans
Wagner stood when he caught the
baseball thrown from the top of
Washington Monument
/ We had wonderful time and
know that We learned a very great
deal that will remain in our mem
cries as long as we live. We appre-
ciate the thoughtfulnes and kindness
of Mr.. and Mrs. f, f. Greenwood
who chaperoned our party, and of all
the friends along the way and in
Washington. who added to our pleas
ure but most of all are we grateful
TO Congressman John A. Peters, for
his Kind hospitality and courtesy
which contributed more than any
other one thing to. the success oil our