Evening star., 1926-09-26
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Washington was getting many
visitors so years ago as people go
ing to and from the Philadelphia
Centennial stopped here to see the
National Capital. The
Centennial Star IN it's issue of Sep
vy.:A temher 90. 1875, says Of
'isi'oAs' them:
This centennial Summer has most
aereea bly,, and somewhat unexpected
lv, brought to us great numbers or
visitors to view our city and public
buildings. It is doubtless a NANTES
tation of love of country and ii is an
encoura sinc sign Of prosperity and
good feeling TO find persons from
every state visiting the Capital ot
their Nation. The time was when
most of the public offices in Washing
ton were filed by clerks chiefly from
The States adjacent to the District OF
Columhia The changed condition ot
the population and society in WASH
ineton has brought here TO reside
many persons Of note from every
state. so that visitors from the re-
motest parts of the Republic now hnd
here friends and neighbors. w aSh-
inston is becoming in fact. as II is IN
theory. the national city-a CITY IN
which the whole country has ana OF
I rjQ @
n,ide This feeling is now. we belleEe'
manifesting itself in the great III
a,,x of visitors who come I" Spenn q
dav or two in Washington ana III
visiting Mount Vernon. congress VI
late takes this .view. ana Is hioI
liberal and national in her treatr'en. ~
Of the District and in the asslStai'ce
she gives for developing ana lmproN
ing the Capital of the country fNtiH
American citizen should reel Al hofle
i'm Washington and every one haS
claim upon all officers and dlgnltarles
who reside here.
NJ national pride. patriotism ana good
viii which are certain to exercise
vast influence In popularizing our
city with the mass of the people and
ssist in it's future development. IL
would have been conslderate ana
| ,,-isa thing for our citizens or city
! officials to have appointed c"rn'h"'
tee to welcome the streams OF visitors
from the States which every DAY
| pn,1r in to Washington and To give
them all needful information ~ now
TO reach the Capitol and the dhiereh'
| public buildings. and how most con
yenientlv to visit the various places
| of interest In and around Washing
ton. 1t Ia not TOO late to remedy, In
mart. this omission. and we would
| suggest that the officers in charge
| of the Capitol detail number OF
persons. wearing appropriate badges
| to show visitors how TO reach the
different halls and places of interest
in the building. Two or three females
might. in propriety. he temporarily
employed to direct ladies in the Capt.
toI. which would add much to the
| comfort Of such visitors.
Mai. Richards. too. could do much
| to relieve the anxiety and add to the
| comfort Of visitors il he would place
officers at the railroad station. wear
ing an appropriate badge that would
at once point them out as persons
! to give information. II he could spar
the men. one could be employed ad
vantageously at the Smithsonian In
| stitution another at the Patent ONCE
and also one at the Treasury Depart
/ ment, The various state orzaniZa
tions having rooms in the city might
extend to the visitors from the diff
| ferent States invitations to call, and
when large delegations from different
| States are here they might have
| lunches provided for them AT par
| ticular hours of the day. Here, too
| they might receive letters. dispa tches
! and information on various matters
/ Of interest TO them.
These hasty suggestions are throw n
! out that others may think of them
/ and. if approved take such measures
as will welcome and make as agree
/ able as possible the visits Of all our
! friends from every part Of our great
/ country"