Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-02

thousands of visitors to the city
i will take pleasure in viewing
the Nations Capital. which
has changed so much in spots in the
past few years, and if they do the job
well, they will have little time left to
go elsewhere for sightseeing. How
ever, if they find they can spare the
time, visit to nearby Alexandria will
be worth while.
OF course, we of the older genera
ton of Washingtonians have grown 10
appreciate the historic value of such
nearby places as Alexandria and Bad
ensburg, and gladly uphold, where we
can, our own west end section, Old
Georgetown, which was in existence
many years before the District OF Co.
lumbia was selected as the seat OF
government. But Alexandria, too,
was once part of us, and though she
strayed away many years ago and gave
her affections back to the State OF
Virginia, yet our love for this South
ern city has never waned, and every
thing she has, according to our way
of thinking, is worth going miles and
miles to see.
It is not the same old town we knew
It to be more than half century
ago, when it was quaint and old
fashioned, for today it is modern and
up-to-date. Yet the atmosphere OF
the South of long ago, and the hos
pitality of Virginia are still there, ana
the old homes and churches, dating
back even into Colonial days, cannot
help but carry our minds back to the
DAYS of the powdered wig, the silver
buckled shoes and the satin knee
breeches.
A LEXANDRIA, to many Of us, is
dream-a dream of fond retro
spection, taking us back to our child
hood days-many years ago. In
reveries, with our eyes closed, we can
In fancy see the people OF that place,
crowded on the wharf, ready to be
taken aboard the Mary Washington,
the w. w. Corcoran, the Lady of the
Lake. or one of the other many early
Potomac excursion boats, bound down
the river from Washington, to City,
mont, Mount Vernon Springs, Lower
Cedar Point, or maybe Marshall Hall,
closer to home.
Taking the Alexandrians aboard on
such occasions was always happy
event. for many were related to the
people of Washington, and the re-
unions were always of cordial nature,
and the folks on the wharf could
hardly be restrained until the gang
plank was in position, so anxious were
they to mingle with their friends on
board the boat. Every day in Summer
this scene was acted and reacted over
and over again, sometimes several
times a day, and the return trip was
equally as impressive, especially at the
inevitable parting with our Virginia
cousins, and the spectacular search
light unanswered by the pilot In pick
ing UP the approaches to the wharf
in the darkness of night, and, finally
to locate the wharf itself, in his effort
to make a safe landing. And. soon
the boat was off again and out into
the stream. and we were on our last
lap home, attentively waiting for the
final number of the band-"Home
Sweet Home"-as we glided along be-
side the old Arsenal wall. where nov
stands the Army War College, a mon.
ument to the skill Of that celebrated
architect. Stanford White.
We, around Washington, are fairly
well informed of the history OF Alex
andria, but generally the visitor must
be told and, incidentally, while we are
telling him, We are refreshing our
own minds and learning little beside
The site of Alexandria was orig
inally known as Hunting Greek Ware
house. However. this designation soon
gave way to the name Belhaven
founded in 1748, and named in honor
of the Earl of Belhaven. In l84e
its name was changed by statute te
Alexandria, because the town was set.
tied on the land Of the Alexanders.