The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-12-25
III. THE VISITOR.

come are, in some degree ,sight-seers.
There is much to be seen, so much in
deed that the visitor cannot hope to
see 1t all in the space of week, much
less in few days, and not even in
a month or two. 1t would take a full
month to get any comprehensive view
merely of the museums. For detailed
study lifetime would not be too
long. The treasures, intellectual and
artistic, that Washington has to offer
are so scattered in different parts of
the city that the stranger finds it
hard to locate them. Laid out as if
is in a manner so hand to learn and
so easy, once learned, to use, the
stranger within the capitals gates
will find himself repeatedly asking
directions and repeatedly having it
to do all over again. And he may
have to ask several times before he
will find one who can give them; for
as often as not he will be accosting
for guidance men who are no more
familiar with the local layout than
ne himself. 1t he will apply himself
to a good map for twenty minutes he
will be able in most cases to get a
pretty thorough idea of the street
plan, and he will be surprised to find
that Pennsylvania Avenue is not the
center of Washington and is proba
bly, one Of the worst streets he could
select as point of departure since,
like all other avenues in the city. it
is an irregularity in the great net
work of thoroughfares. So unless he
learns his map we'll and has abund
ane time he can do no better in see
ing the capital than take one or more
of the many sightseeing trips offer
ed to the curious transient by a whole
regiment of bus lines.
First, he will want to see the Capt.
tol. He will want to look it all over
and not miss its stauary, its massive
paintings, its celebrated halls, it's ar
chitecture, I would advise him, tho
he will want otherwise, not to waste
his time listening to the resoundine,
phrases Of representative or senator
addressing the generally deserted
seats of official lawmakers who are
busily smoking cigars, swapping
jokes, making legislative deals" and
performing other important duties in
the antichambers of the lower and
upper houses. Such an inspection is
not conducive to very great admira-
ton for Congress, its laws or its
members. There are individual ex-
ceptiOns, but the exceptions are few.
So let him be saving of his time and
spend it in the Librar.. .; Congress.
He will have a chance TO see there
something rather rare in government
tai spheres, I think-eficiency He
will see the most beautiful interior on
Wow III tIS OIIlSu OJdIeS, he can
find in the reading room to the right
the latest editions of his representa-
tive hometown papers and enjoy the
grateful consciousness that even his
home is not without representation in
Americas Heart. And when he has
done there, ne may see-in fact, can
hardly help seeing-Che Monument.
Clear or cloudy, the view from its
lofty peep-holes is we'll worth the
wait and the fifteen-minute lift to the
windows that overlook the city and
its surroundings to the four points of
the compass. The White House? Oh,
yes! To be sure! But the outside will
do just as we'll as the inside, tho or
you will be permitted to sam
pie the rooms on the first floor. The
President, you know, lives entirely on
the upper floors; the ground floor is
for occasions of state. See the Treas
ury if you like the machinery of mon
ey making. But do not miss the mon
ument of Alexander Hamilton in
front of its south door. Of monu-
ments, Grants, with its famous ar
tillery and infantry groups, just west
of the Capitol grounds; and Column
bus, in front Of Union Station, are
about the finest in point of sculpture.
Union Station, by the way, is worth
more than casual glance. The hand
of its designer is evident and we find
ourselves regretting the notorious
fate that stilled it. Now and then, the
man who shot him visits the city;
perhaps at times comes into that mag
nificent achievement of his victim.
And the Post Office next door. And
the carved inscriptions high on the
walls of each. The Cochrane Art Gal
lery and the Pan-American and the
two fine memorials between are an
easy group to visit. Fort Meyer and
Arlington with Lees Mansion, the
Amphitheatre and the tomb where
lies the lone symbol of American
about which great men
l..