The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1917-01-18
Washington as it is Today
To be Depicted by Mrs. Vestai Davis Higgins
Her Visit to New York En- Route the
National Capital.

lNdtlOuol SdPA'
Now that the holidays have slipped
into the past, and everything reverts to
it's normal condition, the promise mace
our dear Journal editor on leaving home
rises persistently before me; when on re-
ceiving his congratulations on having the
portunity of spending the winter IT
s'the most beautiful city in the world
as he expressed (which certainly adoeo
a keener zest to the anticipated pleasure
Il then and there registered the promise
to endeavor to picture some OF the con
ditions of Washington as see them al
the present time, many years since his
residence here; for changes there must
he. great and important ones since that
time.
Glimpses of our Capital will also be OF
more or less interest to other friends, in
the home town. The request OF one
Comes TO me at this moment, that Will
,,so INV ears we'll for their benefit dur
inq discussions in the sessions OF the
House and of Senate, which wish causes
me to shake my head with grave doubts
as to nv ability to "pass on the nut
meat" of any of these-at times very
stirring in manner 10 en-
tertaln and enlighten.
En- route to Washington, after spend
ing some tel days In MASSACHUSETTS
cities, l stopped over in New York city
two days, just merely aggravatlnR as II
were my desire to see more OF tha'
fascinating city. Through untoward CIR
cumstances | had never yet, during all
our travels of past years, seen anything
of New York, knowing less OF 1T, near
home as it is, than of any cities OF the
far away Pacific coast. Those two days
had but small pity on my poor sight
seeing'' feet, pushing them onward until
they fairly howled, but gratifying my In
tense desire to see-for one thing-every
inch of the world famous Fifth avenue
and the Central Park.
In trayersing the Avenue l entered
several public buildings for ''look see.
Among them, on the right, the grand
French cathedral with its beautiful vault
cd dome. its architecture and statuary
beyond description.
Slipping into seat at the rear, eyes
coming from the brilliant sunshine strain
ino into the dim hushed light filtering
everywhere through stained glass, one
sov here and there devout figures kneel-
ing in prayer for few moments and
nassing out. In noting the almost con-
slant passing in and out of the softly
moving figures, | pondered on the idea;
wondering how many of our Protestant
churches are thus occupied hourly by re-
Iigious souls dropping in for moments
respite from worldly strife while breath
ing little prayer in the restful atmos-
phere.
There is always something rather won
derful to me in the hold the Catholic re-
lglon has on its devotees. Another no.
ticeable feature; go where you will the
Catholic church is always filled to over
flowing, while the Professionalism OF
them-are more or less sparsely occupied.
Well. however it may be, one certainly
feels better after resting bit in such an
atmosphere, whether in Catholic or Pro-
testant church.
Near the gates of Central Park while
standing in the plaza, | noted imposing
hotels: the Netherland, Savoy, La Plaza
Then, on returning down the left side, I'VE
entered the 5th Avenue Presbyterian
church where the famous DR.. Jowett
from Birmingham, England breaches
Then the Gotham hotel, University club,
church of st. Thomas, new edifice
built all of stone two years ago, the
collegiate church of St. Nicholas, Scotch,
and other interesting places claimed my
attention for the day until returning to
my room on Lexington Avenue, and this
reminds me of something else: One can
not speak too highly of the system in
aueurated of late years in all our large
terminals for the care and protection of
travellers, whether experienced or un-
sophisticated. One is apt to feel like a
scat in a strange garrett" on arriving in
any city like New York, especially in the
evening hours Entering the ladies' wait
ing room of the Grand Central l immed-
lately asked the matron to send Trav-
lers Aid to me, and on one being looked
up-there are two lady representatives
assigned to this station-my suit case
was taken from my tired hands, and all
care and responsibilities dropped from
my shoulders as the capable young per-
son briskly led me a short walk to their
lodging house, putting me in the care of
the pleasant proprietor, Twas also d.
rected to suitable restaurants in the vi
cinity; inquiries were made as to my des-
tination, and when l would leave the
city, and on being informed | would leave
from another terminal, at some distance
across the city, the Pennsylvania, the
offer was made to call and accompany me
there at the appointed hour, which was
done, all at,no expense to me. AS l said,
this system makes it perfectly safe for
both yolnp and old if with no exneri.