Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-09-28
CaroIine's Letter to Peggy.
st. Joseph, La, Sept. 23rd, 1917.


DEAR POLLY:-All travellers return
penniless, and yet many are mentally
rich, for memory under the tabled
touch of Midas Oft unlockes the door
to golden thoughts and draws them
again to places that are precious in
fields of travel. So into the warp and
woof of my letter to you and weave
and spin fabric of visions and turn
the wheel of fancy back to Washing
ton, the glory of our nation, as it lies
stepped in its summer sunshine.
AS a city it is unique, Mecca for
the bride and groom; paradise for
tourists, who flock to it as pilgrims
to hallowed shrine. Its magnificent
buildings amaze and delight them: its
columns and statutes appeal to them:
its wonderful speedway with its thou
sands of cherry trees, gift from
Japan, blazes trail of scarlet flowers
that grow above the somber stone
which protect the precious soil from
the waters careless touch. And, Pol
ly, who can resist the shadowy lovli-
ness of Rock Creek park, where i'm
the heart of this sylvan solitude one
can motor for miles beneath the shell
tering arms of the trees they love,
soOthes by the soft music of the
streams as they gurgle and murmur
o'er their rocky.beds.
Yes, it is all beautiful, and speaking
of monuments brings to mind one of
the most beautiful i'm the world the
Washington memorial. An imposing
shaft of pure white marble that tow
ers against the sky, proclaiming the
love and gratitude of the American
people. The plan for it's erection was
made in 1888 and Washington is said
to have selected the site. 1t was not
finished, however, until 1885, at cost
of one hundred million, three hundred
thousand dollars! The interior is light
ed by electricity, which affords op-
portunity of seeing the memorial
stones set i'm the inner facings of the
monument. These stones were con-
tributed from various sources and are
notable for their beauty, elaborate
carving and origin. There are stones
from battle fields; the ruins of Car
thage; the tomb of Napoleon. Greece
sends block of marble from the
Panthenon; Turkey beautifully
carved stone; Switzerland a stone
from the Chapel of William Tell, and
long list of others. Thousands make
the ascent Of three hundred and fifty
feet in the elevator, that they may
look through the port openings at the
top, on the beauty of their country,
as it smiles i'm the sunshine of the
nations freedom; but many prefer
the winding stairs that they may rest
at the platforms and read the inscrip-
tons A fitting tribute to a mighty
warrior; for it's tremendous height
gives it place in a thousand vistas.
Piercing the silver clouds that veil the
turquoise dome it catches the first
promise of the morning sun and sheds
its rays of eternal glory on his MEM
ory. In the dark, Illuminated by rays
from powerful searchlights, it becomes
as beautiful wax taper burning for
him who having passed into the mys-
terry of it's shadow, leaves to us an in
comparable heritage of history.
And here the shifting scenes of time
bring to us another memory, of one
whose gentle, earnest, human life,
played its part in the drama of hu-
manity; and made life better that he
lived. 1t is the afterglow of such
memories that inspired the nation to
erect the "Lincoln Memorial, which,
when complete, will be one of the
most beautiful structures in the world.
Situated on the banks of the Potomac,
it faces Arlington and its many at
fractions; and it is at this point Con-
gress has planned to span this historic
river with magnificent bridge. But
oh! dear, how long for the tip of
silver pen to write youI of it all as it
really is, and take you down this magic
river, as it winds its way like silver
thread for hundreds of miles by some
Of the most beautiful as well as famous
places in the nations history. A little
imagination and one hears the great
whistles long rich call of going away
as the palatial steamer bears us swiftly
down the stream, so tiny and helpless
at the start, now grown so swift and
strong; its glittering waters again re-
fleet the features of our greatest men;
among them Lafayette, that precious
gift of France to the cause of Amer
lean liberty whose spirit of friendship
has become so deeply rooted in the
hearts Of our people that to-day a
later generation of a grs steful people
are crossing the seas TO France to help
battle for their rights, that justice and
liberty shall not perish from their
shore.
The guns of the British are long
since silent, like rebellious children We
ended the mothers rule, yet in our
hearts there is still affection for the
one who gave us being.