The Green Forest tribune., 1917-09-21
EASY JOB FOR TOURISTS
 TO SEE WASHINGTON
J. L. Russell Finds Much to Symbolize Country's Freedom in the National
 Capital

The atmosphere of freedom one breathes in the City of Washington is truly typical of the great Republican government in which we five. It IS my opinion after travelling through more than half the states of the Union and visiting many of our great est cities, that Washington is the most Democratic spot on the face of the continent No place visited rivals it in the least in this respect.
 If you have it fixed in your mind that the National Capital is a gor- geous place, full of conventionalities, overflowing with aristocracy and hueing to the line of fashion, you have the wrong idea, and when you visit the place you will have very agree able surprise coming to you, as l did when I landed there the twenty-third of June.
 Washington is gorgeous in that it's aggregation of great buildings give 1t that effect in appearance, but the cor diality you find about them and the freedom that the tourist is allowed to exercise leads him at once to real ize that he is at home in the sense that he is visiting in the seat of a government of which he is truly part. That is the feeling that over whelmed me from the very start.
 Having acquired considerable "ro- mantle" experience in going it alone in Boston, New York and Philadelphia, I was struck with the thought that would like to do Washington the same way. I undertook it and found it an exceedingly easy job, though an ir. tensely long one as will be learned later on from these articles.
 Reaching the city in the evening with a feeling that called for rest fol lowing a strenuous day in Philadel phia, I found my way to popular hostlery on Pennsylvania avenue with fully as much ease as a stranger ar irving in Harrison on the motor could catch car and go to the Midway ol Connerley. The stiffness that pre- vailed in Washington upon first intro duction was almost oppressive, st fresh was l from the dazzling whirl O New York and when I mentioned this feeling to a friend on my return, h. +, i,,fn inp Ht thf wrong way"
 To be brought to a quick realization and appreciation of Washington as i really is, the mind should not be con founded with great commercial cen ter Washington is almost the oppo site. No manufacturing business il permitted within the limits of the Dis trict of Columbia, such being prohib tied by congress in order to protec the public buildings from the smok nuisance and keep the atmospher more wholesome.
 was awakened middling early tn next morning by the frantic bow WOW of bull dog in the street back of tn hotel evidently agitated by some mif chievous boy, who had nothing els to do. looked out and the deathlik stiffness that prevailed caused me t wonder if I had not gotten my date mixed up and had found myself i Washington on Sunday instead Saturday morning. AS I walked or of the building a few minutes late to take my first daylight survey ( the city, I found that there was scare ly more activity on the famous Penl syivania avenue than on the street 0 the other side of the building, yet
 was well up toward seven o'cloc Street cars were moving almost { quietly as if they were following a f neral procession with few passenger on board Pedestrians were so scare as to almost be lost upon the grei