Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-06-01
INTERESTING LETTER
Easton, Penn, May %, 1917.

We. arrived IN Toledo on time and
took the Pennsylvania Line to Mans
| field. The country as far as there was
about the same as about home with
! the exception of the oil wells which
were very numerous after leaving
Gibsonburg. The crops were growing
fine and every available inch of ground
was in cultivation. At Mansfield we
changed cars and after leaving there
the hilly country began. The first
hills we approached were smooth,
round and covered with trees and
grass. Between the hills were ra-
vines, brooks and valleys which made
many beautiful pictures. We were
constantly kept in mind of the war by
the soldiers who were stationed at all
the bridges. People who argue
against preparedness should consider
that just this guard duty must take
about all our regular army.
Approaching the Allegheny Noun
tains there was a marked difference
in the country; as the hills were no
longer smooth and covered with veye-
tation, but were rough, ragged and
rose sharp and abrupt. One had to
look straight up from the car wir-
dow to see the tops and it seemed
wonderful how that all the rocks had
been blasted out to the level of the
road bed and then the track laid.
We arrived in Pittsburg at 4:3O D.
m. and left at 1926. By leaving at
that time we were able to see the
steel manufacturing plants at work
and the hot metal could be seen miles
from the plants. Sunderland came
over me shortly after leaving Pitts
burg and I remained there until day.
break when we passed Harper's Ferry
which you will remember is historical
because of John Browns raid on the
U. S. arsenal that used to be located
there. 1t is also remarkable because
three states join there; Maryland,
West Virginia and Virginia. We
missed most Of the scenery through
the Allegheny Mountains on account
of passing through them when it was
dark.
We arrived in Washington at 7:1O
p. m. and Immediately set about to
get our breakfast. After eating we
} visited the Capitol and l was sur
prised at the size and beauty of the
interior and exterior of it. A guide
told many interesting things about the
building. We were shown bronze
| doors on the east entrance which were
I cast in Italy. They had eight scenes
: upon them representing events in the
5 life of Columbus. The guide inform
ed US that they cost twenty thousand
5 dollars and that they weighed ten
: tons. The interior of the building was
| covered with many beautiful paint
7 'ngs. At the top of the dome is q
painting called the Esprit of Wash
: ington," which was painted by an
Italian, Brumidi. I was surprised to
find the capitol so beautifully decor
: ated and by so famous a painter. He
; helped decorate the capitol in Rome
: but was banished at the age of fifty
: two because of his love of liberty and
: for twenty-eight years he spent his
time decorating the capitol He fres-
| coed this dome with events from
2 American History The work is SC
: well done that it looked like it stood
; from the wall in relief While paint
Y ing this he became i'll and another
Y painter finished the work as Brumidi's
e illness proved fatal There is q
e marked difference in the two artists
e work as the artist who finsihed it die
IIOC nave CIlS ShllI VI DE-
i sides his works there were many
S other famous pictures by other paint
0 ers and the paintings of the famous
V men and events are especially import
ant as most of them were painted by
= contemporaries and so are reliable
f We visited the presidents private
: room where he signs all bills and il
t this room are two large mirrors which
= rae remarkable, being set opposite arC
: placed in position so perfectly tina
by looking into one of them your i'm
e age is reflected in countless numbers
= One of the party suggested that i
S must feel portly to sit in the presi
o dents chair. That gave me an in
y spiration so when the guard left fo
d a minute l sat in it but l must con
e fess that It seemed just like any other
: chair. Another interesting room i
: called the Statuary Hall and in her
a the states are privileged to send sta
o tues of two of their important citi
zens. This used to be the Hall of tn
House of Representatives and is re
markable because of it's echoe hwhicl
: used to "give away" the "frame ups
a of the opposite parties. By standing
st in opposite corners and speaking il
J. whispers two parties can carry on
N conversation. We were fortunat
|, enough to see Miss Rankin in tn
ID House of Representatives We visit
D ed Washington's monument which
IS said to be the most remarkable struc
Is ture of its kind being five hundred an
er fifty feet high. We were at the to
5; of it, being privileged to either tax
II the elevator or walk up the stair:
20 Wishing to see Leroy Donat and 10
Domitio we went to the Army an
-, Navy Building where we signe
- vouchers stating our name, residenc
- and business and after properly tillin
- this out we were directed to the Adj
Gen. who informed us where to fin
- the boys. Upon our arrival we had
% state our mission and we were the
directed to the boys. We had fir
iff "chat" of over an hour with the boy
C. and they told US that they were hay
10 ing the time of their life. All tf
n company seemed surprised to see Wis
e. tors but this was not surprising as tt
nd boys told US that visitors were uncon
en- mon. 1t came time for drill so
ok left.
r. At Philadelphia we visited Indepel
ed dence Hall and from the relices thel
SIS we could not help but "feel' histor
en- The colonial costumes and firearms ce
he tainly seemed antique in comparisc
W. with todays. The place has been pr
served just as the Continental Co
gress and Supreme Court left it.
course we saw the Liberty Bell and
tie was surprised to learn that it n;
a not been cracked as tradition has
E. at the signing of the Declaration
81 independence but was really crack
las when tolling for the death of Chi
lie, Justice Marshall.
ice Leaving Philadelphia we car
ars directly to Easton and all the tr
led was interesting because of the scene
BILE and historical background about hel
HOWARD HAM.