The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-02-25
Night View in Washington
Visitors to the Nutiondl Capital
Find ON Infinite VorietY of Sights
Night View in Washington.


OF snakes the District has %
kinds, only one, the copperhead, poi
sonous. 1t is comparatively short
time, however, since rattlers lurked
in some of the wild blackberry
patches.
Rock Creek park is a constant
source of delight, with its more than
1900 acres of natural woodland and
its pretty stream breaking into foam
over scattered powders.
There are more than 80 miles Of
bride paths in the park, and hiking
trails climb cliffs and hills steep
enough to give the enthusiast taste
of mountaineering. When motor
ing through this recreation area,
one has choice of many winding
roads totaling more than Is miles.
In one of the most restful spots
in the park, old Pierce mill has
been restored exactly as it was in
the half century before 1897, when it
closed down because a shaft was
broken. A white-haired miller
proudly superintends the grinding of
corn and wheat, and the visitor may
purchase underground cornmeal, or
graham, whole wheat, or white
flour. The surplus is sold to the cafe
terias in government buildings.
The National Geological park has
been greatly enlarged and devel-
oped since 1925 by DR.. William M.
Mann, who recently was in Sumatra
at the head of the National Geo.
graphic Society-Smithsonian Institu-
ton East Indies expedition, obtain
ing new specimens. It ranks as one
of the most extensive and interest
ing in the world.
Some Zoo Inhabitants.
In the up-to-date birdhouse and
the flight cages near it live Andean
condors and flightless cormorants
from the Galapagos, besides hum
dreds of more familiar species.
About 100 wild black-crowned night
herons have made their permanent
horne near the largest flight cage,
apparently to keep their captive rel.
atives company.
Separated from the public by
glass screens in the reptile house
the last word in comfortable quar-
tiers for serpents-are cobras (six
varieties), rattlesnakes, water moe
casins, African puff adders, coral
snakes, and other poisonous kinds.
Boa constructors, pythons, and ana
condas live in compartments which
resemble their habitats.
So far as possible the zoo dis
plays other specimens in their nat
ural surroundings. Flight cages con-
tain miniature mountains and crag-
gy heights; tropical animals are
housed in realistic jungle scenes.
Washington loves outdoor sports,
and the city provides full opportuni-
ty for their enjoyment. In the pub
lie parks alone there are SO tennis
courts, 80 baseball diamonds, 10 golf
courses, IS horseshoe courts, 26 pic
mic groves, % Fairgrounds.
Among the recreational highlights
are polo, the equestrian drills at
Fort Myer, and the Army, Navy, and
Marine band concerts held in Wash
ington parks in summer.
Botanic Garden Ranks High.
Last spring the National Botanic
garden displayed 100 azalea plants
in full bloom. This show was fol-
lowed by one of rhododendrons, to-
gether with Easter lilies, hyacinths,
and other flowers. Under the di-
rection of the Congressional library
and the office of the architect of the
Capitol, the Botanic garden has
gained recognition as among the fin
est in the world.
In one part of the new million
dollar building the visitor finds him
self literally transported to the trop-
les. Exotic plants from mysterious
jungles thrive amazingly under sci
entific care. Here are the finest arti-
ficially grown specimens of the long,
stemmed Peruvian plant from the
fibers of which Panama hats are
made.
Another room contains bewilder-
ing collection of cacti, ranging in
shape from the spherical bisnaga
to the wandlike ocotillo, and in size
from tiny spikes half an inch tall
to 20-foot giants from the Southwest.
To the newcomer by train WASH
ington is delight, particularly if
he has come from crowded city of
skyscrapers and industry. He steps
out of the Union station to look
across charming plaza to the Cap
itol. An elaborate fountain plays
above large rejecting pool, and
he little suspects that beneath it lie
a vehicular tunnel and a subter-
ranean garage for 270 congressional
automobiles.
Here is real spaciousness, room
to breathe. The sky is clean. There
are no skyscrapers thrusting spear
heads at it. The jesting descrip-
ton Of early-day Washington as "a
city Of magnificent distances can
now be considered only a deserved
~~.-l.~k