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About The Henry County weekly. (McDonough, GA.) 18??-1934 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 9, 1910)
A TRIP TO WASHINGTON, VIA NORFOLK, VA. With buoyant hearts filled with the ecstatic expectations of youth, we boarded section 2 of the ex cursion special that left the At lanta Terminal on August 13, bound for Washington, D. C., via Norfolk, Va., and were soon speeding along the green fields and charming meadows that spread themselves before our ad miring gaze. As we climbed the hills of northern Georgia, we had a fine view of the foot hills of the north west, with a long range of the Blue Ridge in the back ground. These high hills presented many beautiful landscapes, with beauti ful orchards growing on their steep sides. Crossing over into South Caro lina, we were surprised to find so little change in the country. We expected the rolling, red hills to give way to a more level and fer tile region. As we drew near the line of North Carolina, darkness closed in upon the scene. After supper we soon made acquaintance with those nearest to us and passed the time most pleasantly. Many amusing incidents oc curred and some of us learned to ask the price of such things as coffee and coca-cola before par taking too freely of them. At Danville we changed cars and turned our faces in the direc tion of Norfolk. Daylight dawned shortly after crossing the Roanoke and, be hold! the scene had changed from cotton and corn to tobacco, pea nuts, and corn. Of course there was plenty of tobacco in North Carolina, but we hadn’t seen it. As we sailed along down the line of Virginia and North Caro lina from the Piedmont region to the coastal plains, we found this region so much like that of south ern Georgia and South Carolina that we could almost recognize some of the scenes along the way as those seen on former trips to Charleston and Jacksonville. At Portsmouth we took ship and soon were sailing across the Elizabeth river. The river is wide at this place and the trip across it revived our weary spir its wonderfully. Just over this river we found Norfolk, a fine old city, teeming with historical events. Around its borders have occurred some of the pivotal biittles of the two greatest American wars'. It being Sunday, the streets were almost abandoned. And as we could not leave till 6 o’clock, p. m., we were soon on our way to Ocean Beach. Out there you couldn’t find the slightest semb lance to Sunday. Hundreds were fishing, rowing, and bathing, while all the attractions of a Ponce DeLeon were in full blast. Long before time for the de parture of our good ship for Washington, we were on hand waiting impatiently for the time to start. Unlike trains, ships start on time, and at exactly six we moved out down the river. It is only a little way to where the Elizabeth and James unite to form Hampton Roads, so famous in the history of the Civil War. On the far side we saw New port-News in the distance and we stopped at Fortress Monroe for passengers and freight. There is a fine hotel at this place, but it is needless to say we did not put up there as lodging alone, we were told, cost $25.00 per day. Hence, with a parting glance at its frowning parapets, we moved on, concluding it would likely ever be a very undesirable place to reside. As we rounded Old Point Com fort darkness again closed in on our view. There were dark and gloomy looking clouds in almost every direction which tended to dampen the ardor of some of our boys who had never been out at sea. Yet, the others considered it the most delightful trips they had ever taken. Morning found us away up the Potomac river, the scenes along whose shores we enjoyed very much. Imagine, if you can, how our hearts leaped with joy at the first glimpse of Mt. Vernon, the old home of the most distinguish ed American that ever lived. Shortly after passing Mt. Ver non, our boat stopped at Alexan dria, this being the second stop on a trip of over two hundred miles. Leaving this port we were soon entering the great capital of our country. Words are utterly inadequate to express our feelings, as we realized that we were about to set foot on the soil of that city, whose attractions, for us, have ever been by far greater than those of any other American city. In spite of our flurry of excite ment we soon found our way to Pennsylvania Avenue, the White hall of that splendid city. The street is very wide, yet the travel is so great crossing it is extremely dangerous. Almost every vehicle has for its motor power gasolene or electricity and no law seems to obtain regarding speed limit. 'When we begun this article we intended to try to tell enough about Washington to make our readers feel more interest in our government than heretofore, but this is already growing too long and I will have to content myself with telling you but little about the places we visited. Tearing away from one who sought to be our guide “to the tune of $5.00 per day,” we were soon making rapid strides towards that piece of masonic structure that far excel? anything of its kind in this world. Indeed it is so high that one cannot gaze at its top but a mo ment at a time from its base. It is situated on the top of a little knoll that slants away in every direction and is surrounded by a stone walk about one hundred feet wide. The monument itself is 55 feet square at the base and 34 feet square at the top and is 555 1-2 feet high. An elevator running np and dowm every few minutes is taxed to its utmost to accommodate the people who seek to get a view from its dizzy height. From its eight windows the city with all its magnificent buildings and the surrounding country is spread out before your eyes as plain as a child toy-house. We next visited the Smithsonian Institute and National Art Museum. The grove in which these 5 or 6 buildings are situated is, by far, the most beautiful we have ever seen, and the buildings themselves are packed to the utmost with every interesting thing that can be found in all the world. From the mammoth whale 72 feel in length to the smallest polyps that inhabit the sea, from the largest specie of ostrich to the smallest warbler that sings in our forest, from the most distant tribe of the Fiji Islands to the most enlight ened race, everything could be seen. The mountains and forest, the rivers and seas have given up their treasures for the enlight ment, instruction and edification of mankind. All the achievements discoveries and iuventions of man are there displayed; even the mul titude of diseases that he is heir to are there displayed in all their hideousness, and every nook and corner of the human being itself is revealed to your gaze. It would take a large book to tell about all the things seen in these buildings. We next visited the National Zoo, w’here we saw the fow's of the air, the reptiles of land and sea, and almost all the animals known to man, jupt as found in their dens, lairs and other places of habitation. At night we visited the Capitol grounds and found them more beautiful than those seen in the morning. Next we entered the i Congressional Library, the pride of the United States, a building whose dome is completely cov ered with gold and whose floors, walls and stately columns are all made of the finest Parian mar ble. Indeed it is the most beauti ful and costly of all the buildings of our country and, so far as I could see, the least needed,. Tuesday morning we began with the Army and Navy Bureau, a building replete with many relics of the past. Such things as the uniform Washington wore at his first inauguration and the old flag that inspired that national anthem, “The Star Spangle Banner,” were seen in this building, with models of our warships, guns, etc. We also passed through the U. S. Treasury building, seeing vaults and safes that contain our nation’s wealth. One of them contained over $400,000,000 in silver, while another contained over $800,000,- 000 dollars in gold. We learned also that in another vault there were 1,000,000,000 dollars in bonds, held to prevent the recur rence of another panic like that of 1907. These vaults are so encir cled with electric wires that an attempt to rob them would be known at once by every officer in Washington. Next we gave the President a call, though not at home; we were allowed to go in and look around. We found some very costly furni ture in there, including an upright piano, said to be made of solid gold. The window and door fac ings of this (the East) room seemed also to be of gold. The three chandeliers used for lighting this room would no doubt make the stais grow with envy if they could only see them. There were also many golden ornaments in this room. The other rooms also looked fairly well and had we not been self invited guests at a time when the president was not in, I am sure we would have felt very much elated. So far as we could see, Mr. Taft has no right to complain about his puarters. Leaving many places of interest unseen (and there were others that space will not allow me to mention) we took a car for Mt. Vernon. It is situated about sixteen miles from Washington on a high hill overlooking the Potomac. The buildings seemed to be in good repair, notwithstanding their age. The dwelling is partly surrounded by large elms. There are many oaks and other forest trees around the yard. The lawn which sur rounds the house is very neatly kept. The w r eatherboarding of the house was matched and painted to give it the appearance of a stone building. Inside of the house we saw many of the things which Wash ington used just as he left them. There was the old clock, the cen ter table, the chairs, the books, the gun, the swords, old traveling trunk, bedstead, upon which he died, and many other things too numerous to mention. Many of ; them were gifts from distant | friends. The house, including the upper story, has many small and strangely arranged rooms. The front yard is so steep that a loaded team could hardly pass j over it.- The Potomac river is the only highway that passes by the house ; and I was told by one of the keep i ers that the public road was about three-quarters mile away. The 1 only field we could see is now be ing used for pasture. Some deer were seen near the house in a wood lot. The remains of Washington have been taken from the old tomb and placed in a new one, where the marble caskets of him self and wife may be seen by the people. A visit to this old home does not enlarge one’s estimation of Wash ington’s social standing, but it tends to brush away the cobwebs from the misty past and bring our nation’s hero close up before our vision in his matchless greatness and glory. Standing in front of the world renowned home, we allowed our mental eyes to indelibly stamp its hallowed appearance on memory’s most sacred pages and our imagi nation, aided by memory, to follow' him from this humble abode to the fields of battle with the wild and treacherous Indians, and later on pitting his haggard forces against the mightiest armies on the globe, with a skill, courage, and determination that won the admiration of the entire world. And we saw him, with a feeling unlike Caesar of old, brush the crown aside, choosing his dation’s good rather than his own glory. Again we saw him standing in the midst of the nation’s greatest men, winning by his sagacity and the wisdom of his counsels, that well known plaudit: “First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” Then came his work as first President of our nation, his retirement to private life, his call to arms again, to battle against France, his for mer friend, and his final retire ment from public life. In the last glimpses of his life we find him tottering about the home setting out, cultivating, and pruning his Ifeautiful flower gar- j den. This garden is still kept up ; and some of the flowers andj shrubbery are said to have been planted by Washington’s hand. We stopped at Alexandria on J our return and visited the old church in which Washington wor shipped. j From this place we turned our faces homeward, feeling well re warded for the expenses of our journey. Notwithstanding, the general idea “that the pleasures of a trip end when the journey home be gins,” we found that the anticipa tions of getting back to home and loved ones again, gave as much joy as any other part of our tour. We have concluded, not so much from the use of a ■ well worn phrase, but from actual observa tions, that Henry county must be the garden spot, at least, of the eastern part of our country. G. W. C. to the AgecL A''e brir"' 5 ' inffrr itirp, such 2S slug gish bowels, weak kidneys and blaU-. der anti TORPID LIVER. I ilfi y) i !ils have a specific effect on these organ ;, stimulating tne bowels, causing them to perform their natural functions u.s in voutr ami IMPARTING VIGOR —. to the kidneys, bladder and LIVER They arc adapted to old lid young. BROWN & BROWN, ATTC >RN EYB-AT-LA W, McDonough, Ga. Plaster yonr walls with “Ivory Cement Plaster” sold by. Planters Warehouse & Lumber Co, McDonough, Ga. DR. TflOS. J. HOLTON, Physician ano Surgeon, R. F. I). No. 1, Rkx, Ga. T. A. UKSKY, DbLNTIST Ofkiuk Hours : 7.30 to 12a.m. 1 to ft P. m. R. O. JACKSON, Attorney-at-Law, MCDONOUGH. GA. Oltloe over Star Store. D. A. BRO WN. DENTIST Office Hours : 7.30 to 12 A. M: to ft P. M. OfHoe in Now Mnsoi to ltuiUling. For Sale ‘lvory Cement Plaster” by Planters Warehouse & Lumber Co McDonough, Ga. WHEN IN ATLANTA EAT AT ELIOT’S QUICK LUNCH 55 PRYOR ST. Quick, Clean Service. Moderate Prices. Good Coffee. E. W. ROBERTS, MGR. DR. HOAG'S Blood and Liver Restorative f " \ Liver Medicine and Blood Purifier THE RELIABLE REMEDY for Rheumatism, Pimples, Blood and Skin Diseases Strenghtens the nerves, makes new rich blood, increases appetite. More people owe their health and strength to it than any other rem edy. Don’t wait, buy a bottle today. SOLD BY Horton Drug Co. McDonough. Ga. The Dr. T. W. Redwine &Co. Hampton, Ga. Change of Work Days. From this date I shall do work at my shop only 3 days each week, namely: on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. 1 shall be glad to have all my old friends continue their patron age and for many new ones to try me. Yours respectfully, R. O. JONES, McDonough, Ga., 9-9. R- F. D. No. 4. Stoves and Ranges must be used, Copeland-Turner {Mercantile Co. buy these goods in large quant ities and buy direct from the man ufacturers, thereby being able to give standard goods at better ' prices. • A full supply of Legal Blanks of J every kind on hand. They cun be obtained at Hampton from Mr. G. S. D. MaLaier.
