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son, we came to Grant's Tomb; we walked about the monument and saw the tree which was planted by Li Hung Chang, a friend of Grant's, also the monument to an "amiable child."

     ¹⁰ The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument is also along the Driveway. From there we saw across the river site where the Burr-Hamilton duel was fought. We then passed the Cathedral of St. John the Divine which has a chapel for seven languages. It has taken seventeen years to build it so far, and only the German chapel is finished. Fifty more years will be required to complete it. Soon we reached our hotel after which we took supper and got ready for our evening trip, a visit to the slums of New York City.

     ⁶ With each girl in the party endeavoring to "get a man" we started for Chinatown, our supper being thoroughly settled, by the "instrument of torture" as Mr. Martin termed our big 46 seat touring car. We passed the "Singer," 'Metropolitan Life," the highest sky scraper, and the Flat Iron building, said to swing out of plumb and back again 10 inches every day. Also rode beneath the "bridge of sighs" which connects the court room with the prison to which many a famous criminal has passed. Down through the Bowery to the Ghetto where with difficulty we made our way through the wretched crowd of men, women, children and babies, the most densely populated district in New York, the fire escapes, even, being filled with bedding and people.

     ⁶ Arriving at Chinatown we left the car, noting the place where Elsie Siegel was murdered, and the street where two weeks before, men had been killed in a bloody race war. Then entering the Chinese Delmonico, "Mon Lay Wan," we were served at little tables inlaid with pearl, a dish of dry cooked rice, chop suey, golden lime preserves, and tea, with chop sticks thrown in. Going through the kitchen and out to the Chinese Opera House,--which was not in action, because of the intense heat, the players being sick, on down to the players dining room and dress room, three stories below ground, a dark, damp, uncanny, underground hole.

     ⁶ From here we went to the famous Joss House, the temple of Confucius. We met the priest and tasted some of their sacred nuts, bought a Chinese penny for a "nick," were given a "back scratcher," and some Joss sticks, the smoke--from the burning of which keeps away the evil spirit from the Chinese,--the mosquitos from us. Departing with the priest's blessing upon us, to the "Say Kee & Co." Chinese and Japanese importers and exporters, 7-9 Mott Street near Chatten Square and Worth Street.

     ⁶ Again taking the auto we went to the "Little Hungarian Restaurant" where the picture of Roosevelt hangs, and where he has spoken and dined; there, too the Vanderbilts come for a good time." After being served to soft drinks (as requested by our leader) we

went below to the famous wine cellar, with barrels and barrels of the most expensive wine stored around the sides, where too, all good Hungarians must be married and have their wedding feast.

     ⁶ Taking our car and returning home, as Mr. Bishop had previously planned, just in time to see "The famous bread line of New York," where because of the charity of Fleishman, the yeast maker, just at midnight, men may stand in line and without question, receive a loaf of bread. It was a silent, piteous, looking line, a block and a half long, that stood there, one man behind the other, on that gloomy street.

     ¹² Not all of the party went to see the Eden Musee but those that did found it to be well worth their while. It is on 23rd street, near Broadway and in it are found lifelike and amusing wax figures. In the entrance is a policeman who looks so lifelike that a few of the party walked up to him and spoke before discovering their mistake. Wright Brothers are represented here and besides this there are "Prominent people past and present," "Roosevelt in the African Jungles," "Rulers of the World," "The World's Defenders," "Death of Julius Caesar," "Purchase of Manhattan Island," "Commodore Pesry at the North Pole," "Storming of Constantinople by Mahomet Il," "The Surrender of Gen. Lee's Army at Appomattox Court House," "Charlotte Corday in Prison," and ever so many others just as interesting.

     ⁵ After riding in the tunnel under the Hudson river to Erie, New Jersey, and back, Thursday morning, July 12, we took an elevated "auto" for the Metropolitan Art Museum, the greatest storehouse of art treasures in the United States.

      ⁵ The main entrance is from the new east wing on Fifth Avenue, lately completed at a cost of $1,000,000. This wing is only one of a group which will cost $20,000,000 and cover 18 1/2 acres of ground.

     ⁵ Among the original paintings are Rosa Bonheur's "Horse Fair," Turner's "Grand Canal of Venice," Millett's "The Sower," Breton's "Religious Procession in Britanny" Cot's "The Storm," Bastian Le Page's "Joan of Are," Franz Hals "Family Croup," Ruben's "Holy Family" and Velazquez's "Marie of Austria."

     ⁵ Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock we bade farewell to New York taking with us pleasant memories of the largest, busiest and wealthiest city of our nation.

     ¹¹ I do not want to neglect the ride from New York to Norfolk on "Princess Anne." There were 159 first class passengers, paying $8 for their tickets, 50 second class, paying $5 for their tickets, and 75

third class or steerage paying $2.50 for their tickets. The first and second class tickets included meals on the boat. Third class did not. Three decks of our boat were under water and carried 250 car loads of freight,

     ¹¹ After supper our party gathered on deck, some feeling like feeding the fish and others dizzy; nevertheless singing was suggested. This suggestion gained, such approval that two hours were spent singing favorite school songs, hymns, and the Nebraska Corn Song. A sailor boy joined in the singing. We then retired with merry hearts only to be awakened by Mr. Bishop to see the grandest sunrise of the Atlantic. (I did not get up early enough to see it.)

     ⁵ Just as we were leaving the harbor on the "Princess Anne" we passed an ocean liner coming in from Germany. Its decks were lined with passengers who saluted us. Our second voyage on the Atlantic was very pleasant most of us being inured to the water by this time. One of the incidents of the ride was the passing of a large whale which the Captain said measured sixty feet in length.

     ⁵ At 9:30 a. m. July 13, we passed Old Point Comfort with its beautiful lawns and gardens extending down to the wharf. Here is located Fortress Monroe, the largest fortification in the United States, covering 80 acres. The fort is equipped with disappearing guns, mounted behind green turfed embankments that extend along the water front, and command Chesapeake Bay and Hampton Roads Sailing Into Hampton Roads we passed the spot where was fought the battle between the "Monitor" and the "Merrimac," which revolutionized the naval warfare of the world.

     ⁵ We arrived at Norfolk at 11 a. m. July 13, and went direct to the Victoria Hotel. After lunch we took a trolley ride across the country to Virginia Beach noted for the finest surf bathing along the coast. On the way we passed through a negro farming settlement which gives a clear idea of the sloth and poverty of the southern negro. On reaching the Beach some of the party went in bathing. On the last wave that came in before they left Mr. Bishop caught a large jelly fish. This was quite a curio, as none of us had ever seen one. This specimen was a disk of white transparent jelly about 18 Inches In diameter and three or four inches thick.

     ⁵ At 4:15 p. m., we left the Beach going back by another route, this time in full view of the ocean, and at one place crossing an arm of the Atlantic ocean on a bridge. As our steamer left at 6 o'clock we had just time enough to get over to the hotel, snatch up our grips and make a hasty trip to the wharf. At 6 p. m., we left for Washington on the steamer "Newport News."

     ¹³ We were on deck of the "Newport News" until nearly ten o'clock before any of the party retired for the night. The lights of the different cities along the shore were beautiful. A transatlantic steamer, "Pennsylvania," passed us but went in a different direction. It was a swift traveler. We again stopped at Old Point Comfort.

     ¹³ The next morning we were on deck just in time to see Mt. Vernon and Fort Washington from the Potomac river. Mount Vernon, as it overlooked the river is a delightful spot to see. The trees and grass surrounding it are green and beautiful. The willow trees droop so prettily into the water. Washington Monument can be seen at a great distance up the river.

     ¹³ We stopped at Alexandria, Virginia, the town which Washington surveyed when but sixteen years old. He was reared in the town. Here the manager of the sight seeing auto met us and made arrangements with Mr. Bishop to take us out that day. When we reached Washington his autos were waiting for us, and took us to the St. James Hotel on Pennsylvania avenue.

     ¹² Upon arriving at Washington we were met by sight seeing automobiles which took us to the St. James Hotel, where we secured rooms. Washington is a very beautiful place, being laid out in streets which are intersected by wide avenues. Pennsylvania avenue goes from the Executive Mansion to the Capitol and north of this is Massachusetts avenue, the longest in Washington. All avenues run either northeast and southwest or northwest and southeast and are named after the states. So far there is none named Nebraska, although some men in our party declared they would attend to that matter before leaving for home.

     ¹³ Mr. Bishop led the party through the Capitol. We could have had a special guide had we each paid him five and twenty cents, but as Mr. Bishop had been through before we all stayed with him.

     The Capitol is one and one-half miles from the White House. It stands on Capitol Hill ninety-seven feet above the level of the river, and can be seen at a great distance.

     ¹³ The main entrance is on the east as it was supposed that the city would build toward the east, but has built mainly to the west, thereby making the real entrance at the back.

     ¹³ The Rotunda is beautifully decorated with paintings and frescoes representing commerce, freedom, agriculture, mechanics, marine, arts and science.

     ¹³ The Whispering Gallery has been ruined. Formerly two persons standing sixty-five feet apart could hear each other distinctly

speaking in whispers, now the dome has been more beautifully decorated, which spoils the sound effect.

     ¹³ In statuary hall is a plate set in the floor which marks the place where Adams fell from a stroke of paralysis.

     ¹³ A large number of statues are in the Hall of Fame. The statue of Frances Willard was the first statue of a woman to he placed in the hall. We were unable to see all the rooms as some were being cleaned. On one stairway wall is a large painting of the Battle of Lake Erie.

     ¹³ The trees and lawn surrounding the building are beautiful. The broad well laid streets coming in from all directions all help to beautify our National Capitol.

     ⁵ Here we were first shown into the model cash room, the walls of which are of American and Italian marble, the room being the costliest one in the world. Here Grant held his inaugural ball. Passing along one of the corridors we stopped before n case in which was a $500.00 bill made from 16 pieces taken from 16 other $500.00 bills without noticeable damage to them. The work was done by some skilled counterfeiter. The bill was cashed in the states but on reaching the Treasury the fraud was detected and the bill was condemned. It is now preserved as a specimen of skilled workmanship.

     ⁵ In the Redemption Room, old currency is received and exchanged for new. The old money received is counted and cancelled by punching four holes through it. It is then cut in half lengthwise. The upper half goes to the Register's office, the lower half to the office of the Secretary of the Treasury. In each office the half sheets are counted and if the final count corresponds with the first the money is sent to the macerater for destruction. The macerater is a huge spherical receptacle of steel, which contains water, and is fitted with 156 closely set knives which grind the contents very fine. $1,000,000 are thus destroyed here every day, or $300,000,000 a year.

     ⁵ At least $100,000,000 in gold is reserved in the Treasury to sustain the credit of the United States.

     ⁵ From the treasury building the party went across the street to the White House. In situation and surroundings this building has an air of dignity and repose. It is constructed of Virginia freestone, 170 feet long, 86 feet deep. Washington himself selected the site and laid the corner stone in 1792. In 1814 it was fired by marauding British troops and only the walls were left standing. In restoring it the stone was painted white to obliterate the marks of the fire and thus it has gained the name of the White House.

     ⁵ We entered through the east colonnade to the rustic basement

where are hung the portraits of the mistresses of the White House. Broad stairways led up to the main corridor from which we had access to the East Room, State Dining Room, Dive, Green and Red rooms. The walls of these however were covered with white muslin for the summer so that we could not see the beautiful color schemes. The East Room or State Parlor is the largest in the house. Here Nellie Grant and Alice Roosevelt were married. The ceilings and walls are in white and gold, the window draperies being of old gold. It contains a richly decorated piano made at a cost of $15,000 and presented by a New York firm of piano makers. It is covered with 23 carat gold leaf. From the ceiling hang three massive crystal chandeliers. each containing 6,000 pieces of cut glass.

     ⁵ The Blue Room, oval in shape, is the President's reception room. In this room Mrs.. Cleveland was married. On the mantle is the clock of gold given by Napoleon to Lafayette and by him to Washington.

     ⁵ In front of the marble mantel in the Green Room Is a screen of Gobelin tapestry in a frame of gold. The screen was presented to Mrs. Grant by the Emperor of Austria.

     ⁵ In the Red Room are two vases presented to President Pierce by the French government. A cabinet of mahogany and gold contains seven exquisitely dressed Japanese dolls presented to Mrs. Roosevelt by the Japanese minister, On the walls are portraits of George and Martha Washington.

     ⁵ In the State Dining Room are paneled walls of dark oak, decorated with heads of American big game. The massive mahogany table will seat 100 guests.

     From the White House we took the auto to the Printing and Engraving building. Here are printed the government bonds and national currency, together with postage and revenue stamps, commissions, and passports. There are 14 departments and 1400 employees, 500 alone engaged in printing paper money. The paper used for the bills is silk fibred and is made in the Crane Mills of Dalton, Mass. The printing is done on hand-presses, each pressman having a, young woman assistant.

     ⁵ Each piece of work passes through 30 hands before it leaves the building. Every day $1,000,000 is taken from here to the Treasury building. Each bill goes through five processes. It is printed first on the back, then on the front, then numbered, stamped and cut. In this department the men are paid according to the work done; the women get $1.25 per day. This is also known as a matrimonial bureau as about 150 marriages take place every year. As we left the building we were told that all visiting this building February 30th, would each receive a new $1.00 bill.

     ¹⁴ Washington's monument stands on a high knoll near the Potomac River. A portion of It near the base is darker than that above. It is five hundred fifty five feet, five and one-eighths inches high. The top Is reached in five minutes by an elevator. On the way up one can catch glimpses of the memorial stones set in the inner face of the monument. Up there we had a splendid view of the city and the Potomac la the distance. Everything on the ground below looked like toys.

     ⁵ The Navy Yards is not a ship-building establishment but a factory where Uncle Sam has his big guns and projectiles made. It also contains relics of many wars. Near the entrance to the yards are two bronze cannon, captured by Capt. Decatur in 1804 from the Tripolitans.

     ⁵ In the gun shop is one of the largest exhibitions of machinery in operation. This shop is 991 feet long, 140 feet wide. The guns made In this building range from 4 to 14 inches in diameter. The 14 inch guns are 53 feet long and weigh 68 tons. It takes 400 pounds of powder to fire the 1250 pound shot from one of these guns, the cost of firing each shot being $165. Eight months is required to complete each gun, 200. hours being consumed in boring out the tube alone. The velocity of these guns is 2800 feet per second, their range 14 miles, and their cost $100,000 apiece. They are loaded automatically with smokeless powder and fired by electricity. The guns are good only for 250 shots.

     ⁵ There are 4000 men employed in the shops, working In three shifts, eight hours each. Their wages range from $2.56 to $4 per day. This Navy Yard is also equipped with a wireless station which communicates from Maine to Mexico.

     ⁵ We were interested to see the torpedo boat Bagley which was anchored at the wharf. It has long been in service, and is now used in plying up and down the river.

     ⁵ Among other relics in the Yards were eight guns captured in 1865 by Capt. Farragut at Mobile Bay, also a cannon which had its muzzle shot off in 1864 while on the "Merrimac." There was a gun taken at Saratoga, a five ball gatling gun, also some small guns taken at Yorktown 1781, surrendered by Cornwallis to Washington. One gun "Long Tom" made in 1786 has had a very exciting career, having served under French, British and American flags.

     On leaving the Navy Yards we had the pleasure of listening to the Marine Band stationed at the barracks.

     ⁵ On the evening of July 14 we visited the Congressional Library. The Library grounds adjoin those of the Capitol. Its foundations were laid in 1888, and the building was completed in 1897 at a

cost of $6,000,000. It is three stories high with a dome, and covers 3 1/2 acres. The dome is finished in black copper covered with 22 carat gold leaf. The exterior walls of the building are of white New Hampshire granite. The entrance pavilion has 16 rounded pillars with Corinthian capitals. The entrance to the vestibule is through large bronze doors richly carved and representing historic scenes.

     The Central Stair Hall is unsurpassed by any other entrance hall in the world. It is lined with fine Italian marble highly polished. The walls of all the corridors and staircases are covered with exquisite paintings representing the Seasons, Muses, Graces, Arts, Sciences, mythical themes, and the favorite characters of poetry. The architects, painters and sculptors who contributed to this building are all American citizens.

     ⁵ On the ground floor are the copyright office, reading room for the blind and the superintendent's office. The first floor contains the reading room, librarians room, periodical reading room, Senate and Representative reading room and map room.

     ⁵ The pavilions and galleries of the second floor are devoted to exhibits of engravings and other collections including rare books and portraits. Of all the buildings which we had visited, this made the deepest impression upon me and stands out as the highest product of American talent, art and workmanship.

     ²¹ Perhaps every loyal American has craved a great desire to actually visit the home of "The Father of his Country." Mount Vernon has always been of especial interest to me. We spent the day there under the guidance of Mr. King, in whose care we were left for the day while Mr. Bishop went to Charlottesville, to visit the University of Virginia.

      We learned that the Washington estate once covered an area of eight thousand acres and that the present estate (257 acres) was purchased in 1858 by the Mt. Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union.

     It would be impossible to enumerate even one-half of the relics in the home but a few deserve mention. Our first visit was to the Banquet Hall where soon our party scattered into little groups going from room to room, but eight of us lingered and received valuable information from a veteran guide.

     Our attention was first called to the mantel piece of Sienna Marble, carved in Italy and presented to Washington by Mr. Vaughan of London. The story goes that on its way to America the mantel was taken by French pirates, who seat it to its destination uninjured when they learned that it belonged to Washington. In the center of the room on a mahogany table was the plateau of silver and mirrored glass, made in sections so as to be extended seven feet when used by Washington on state occasions. Portraits hung on the wails in every room, but one of intrinsic value is a copy in black and white silk

embroidery of Sharpless' portrait of Washington, valued at not less than $1,000. Another point of interest is the original stucco ornamentation of the ceiling, symbolic of agriculture and designed by Washington himself. In the sideboard arid cabinet were shown, a strand of Washington's hair, his dressing case and watch, old point lace, pieces of dress goods and white satin slippers worn by Mrs. Washington, also her ivory fan exquisitely carved and painted, Nettle Custis' wedding gown, spoons, old letters and a bit of Washington's coffin.

      Adjoining the Banquet Hall are the East Parlor or Music Room, and the West Parlor. It is in the Music Room where stands the English harpsichord, a bridal present from Washington to Nellie Custis, a flute, music book, and an original gilt mirror.

     Over the mantel in the West Parlor is the family coat of arms and his initials are carved in the heavy fireback. The rug in the room was woven by order of Louts XVI as a present to the general in token of his great esteem. In the center of the rug is a representation of the American Eagle surrounded with stars.

     Going out onto the east portico, (which extends the full length of the mansion, its roof, supported by 8 large pillars and the tiles of the floor having been imported from England), we find one of the most picturesque views of the Potomac.

     In the center of the mansion is the main hall with its grand stairway. Here hangs the "Key of the Bastile," incased in glass, which was sent by Lafayette to Washington after the capture of the prison. Three of the generals swords, framed, hang on the opposite wall. While in the library, copying the following tribute to Washington, written at his grave by the English philanthropist, Dr. Andrew Reed, the old guide told me it had been copied many and many a time before, for it is so expressive of his life: "Washington, the brave, wise, good, supreme in war, council, peace, valiant without ambition, discreet without fear, confident without presumption. In disaster, calm, in success, moderate, in all, himself, the hero, patriot, Christian, Father of Nations, friend of mankind, who when he had won all, renounced all, and sought in the bosom of his family and nature, retirement, and in the hope of religion, immortality."

     On the second floor are the guest rooms, such as the 'Riverroom," Lafayette's room,"--the furnishings are of the type of that period. The "South Bedroom" where Washington died has been almost entirely preserved, just as he left it. While to look into this room was an incentive of patriotism, yet more pathetic was the small room in the attic, of Mrs. Washington. She chose this room after the general's death because its one dormer window overlooked the grave of her departed companion.

     The old tomb is a very, plain vault of brick covered with ivy and shaded by massive elms. As the tomb was broken into, a new resting place, a site formerly selected by Washington was decided upon, at

some distance from the old one. So it is with true reverence and silence that we are permitted to look through an arched doorway upon the two marble sarcophagi where "the remains of George Washington and Martha his wife, were intrusted to their final keeping." The key of the vault was afterwards thrown into the Potomac. The elderly colored guard seemed only too proud to acknowledge that he had been there on duty for thirty years. Several trees, identified by numbers have been planted near the new tomb as tributes to Washington. Number 3, a British Oak, Planted by Prince of Wales. From this tree, branches were stripped and sent to England for the funeral of the late King. Sauntering about the grounds, we saw the barn, built in 1733, the coach house, laundry, butler's cabin, smoke house, dairy, kitchen, spinning rooms, summer house and the servants quarters.

     But foremost in our little tour was the effective landscape gardening which instilled the air of rest and repose. We left, with a burning desire to be more efficient citizens, upright Americans, and honest men and women, for we carried away from Mount Vernon, cherry seeds, a gift of our guide, emblematic of Truth.

     ¹¹ Alexandria is about eight miles from Washington. Here we saw the Old Christ Church, where Washington worshipped. It is still standing with its quaint pew, which Washington and family occupied. I should not have been satisfied had I not sat in it myself. All pews were formerly square; I. e., two seats faced each other, thus making half of the people sitting with their backs to the preacher. The seats, all except Washington's have been changed so that they face the pastor. Back of the church is the old burial ground and to one aide is the Sunday school building.

     ⁵ On the evening of July 15 we took the auto sight seeing car and visited the United States Naval Observatory at Georgetown. Our route lay out Massachusetts avenue, the longest street in Washington. The observatory is situated on the beautiful Heights north of the Georgetown and Rockville road and Is equipped with several large buildings of white stone.

     ⁵ At 8 o'clock sharp we reached there, but only half our party could enter the observatory at one time. We were ushered through the corridor into a large circular room from the ceiling of which was suspended a 26 inch equatorial telescope. We all wondered how we were going to get up to it; but presently we felt a very queer sensation; either the roof was coming down or the floor was going up. We decided that we and the floor were going up, until at last we reached the telescope. We afterwards learned that the floor was raised by a system of wafer power. Through this telescope which is now the third largest in the world we had a fine view of the moon, although we could see only 1/9 of its surface at one time. Through

the 5 inch telescope we could see the whole moon but not so clearly. In the center of the room is a driving clock which counterbalances the action of the earth. From the observatory, time is telegraphed daily to all parts of the United States. After we had all taken several looks at the moon, the floor was again lowered and we were released from the cage.

     ⁵ Saturday morning July 16, we visited the United States Fish Commission, the Smithsonian Institute, and the National Museum.

     The Fish Commission building is a modest four-story brick structure. On the main floor was a large aquarium in which were two baby seals. They were floating on their sides as that is their natural position when asleep, Near by were two large stuffed seals lying on a rocky ledge. In the glass cases about the room were specimens of different kinds of sea animals, sponges, shells and sea weeds. In an adjoining room arranged in aquariums built in the wall were hundreds of fish of all kinds.

     ⁵ From the Fish Commission we 'went to the Smithsonian Institute where were thousands of specimens of stuffed birds, from the giant eagle to the tiniest humming bird 1 1/2 inches long, also many specimens of bird's nests, fishes and reptiles. In an adjoining room were specimens of different kinds of coral, shells and sea animals. From the ceiling was suspended the skeleton of a mammoth octopus and a scuttle fish.

     ⁵ The Smithsonian Institute was founded by congress in 1846 through the generosity of James Smithson, an Englishman. It contains a library of 250,000 volumes, most of which are deposited in the Library of Congress. The building is constructed of red sandstone, and the highest of its nine towers is 150 feet.

     ⁵ The National Museum is under the direction of the Institute and adjoins it. The building was completed in 1881 and covers 2 1/3 acres. It contains many historical collections and memorials of our presidents, statesmen and soldiers. In a prominent place in the main hall is the first American flag, made by Betsy Ross.

     This hall tells the history of America from Lief Erickson to the Philippine War. In the Rotunda as a model of Crawford's Statue of Armed Liberty on the Capitol dome. One hall is devoted to objects showing the development of the fish-hook, the torch, candle, lamp, sword, flying machine, cable, telegraph and railroad. Another hall gives the groups of the races of man, mummies and idols. Other rooms are devoted to Alaskan and Indian relics, minerals and precious

stones. In another room are the specimens brought by Ex-President Roosevelt from Africa. Many days could be spent profitably in this building and still not exhaust its objects of interest.

     From the National Museum we were again taken to the Florentine Cafe for lunch and from there started out for Arlington Heights.

     ⁵ We crossed the bridge over Rock Creek where Robert Fulton made his first experiments with the steamboat, then went on to Georgetown, where is the old home of Frances Scott Key, the author of the Star Spangled Banner. Here we stepped for a few moments and went through the house. It is in bad repair, but an association has been formed to preserve it as a memorial in honor of the author of our national anthem.

     ⁵ In the front room down stairs is the exact reproduction of the Betsy Ross room in Philadelphia. The wax figures represent Robert Morris and Colonel Ross (standing), George Washington and Betsy Ross (seated). On her lap is spread out for inspection our first American flag. This room is the exact size of the one in which the flag was made, and great care has been taken to reproduce the clothing and the furniture.

     Leaving the house we proceeded on our way, crossed the old Tow Canal, 65 miles long, and then started up Military Road. This road was bought by the government in order that it might have the right of way to Fort Meyer. The speed limit along this road is 12 miles an hour. However before we had proceeded far up the incline we found that our automobile could not even keep up that pace. Finally it began to creep along, and at last it came to a dead stop. We were kindly informed by the guide that the auto was out of breath and would have to rest about 15 minutes in order to revive, that if we liked we could walk up the hill a short distance to Fort Meyer, and the auto would soon catch up with us. Nothing daunted we all jumped out and started walking up the hill. We walked and walked and walked but no Fort Meyer came in sight. We looked back to see if the auto was coming, but nothing could be seen of it. Finally we reached the top of the hill, seated ourselves around the edge of a natural amphitheatre where we rested and had our pictures taken. We were then told that it was only a short distance over to Arlington, that we had better not wait for the auto, as the driver had returned to Washingon (sic) to get another machine. So on we walked, 46 of us through Fort Meyer to Arlington. This fort is the most important United States army post near Washington. As we passed along its avenues we could read the names of the officers living in the different brick homes. The grounds, the homes and the barracks were in perfect order, showing the neatness and precision with which Uncle Sam takes. care of his property.

     ⁵ From Fort Meyer we walked over to the Arlington National Cemetery situated on the Virgina (sic) Hill overlooking the Potomac. Here lie the bodies of 21,740 soldiers of whom 16,000 died in the war of the Union. The grounds are adorned with beautiful flower beds, lawns, ornamental trees and shrubs. In a garden plot to the south rises the Temple of Fame, an open circular colonnade with low domed roof. The cornice and the columns bear the names of our leading generals.

     ⁵ Near by is a sylvan temple where the services of Memorial Day are held. It is an amphitheater formed by an embankment of earth, green with turf and shaded by vines and trees. To the right of this stands another memorial, the monument of the Unknown Dead. The bodies of 2,111 nameless soldiers taken off the field of Bull Run are gathered here in a common grave. This cemetery also contains the graves of some Revolutionary heroes, and many who died in the Spanish and Philippine wars.

     ⁵ Passing on we came to the Lee Mansion standing on the brow of a hill 200 feet above the Potomac. From this spot can be seen Georgetown and Washington in the distance across the river. The Lee Mansion was built in 1802. The portico with its great Doric columns are modeled after the temple of Theseus at Athens. The builder of the Mansion was George Washington Parke Custis, adopted son of George Washington. The grand-daughter of this adopted son married Robert E. Lee, commander-in-chief of the Conferedate (sic) army.

     A large magnolia tree was in bloom near the right of the veranda of the Lee Mansion, upon the floor of which General Lee trod back and forth, trying to decide whether to stay where his heart yearned to be, or cast his lot with his state, which he felt was his duty.

     When Lee left the Mansion to join the army, the Federal troops took possession of it, used it for a hospital and the grounds as a cemetery. In 1864 it was bought by the government as a national cemetery. The burying ground covers 406 acres, and is the most beautiful of the 87 national cemeteries.

     ⁶ After making a tour of the grounds we started home, the new auto having arrived in the meantime.

     ⁵ Saturday evening 9:45 p. m. we left the hotel for the depot. Having some time to spare we employed it in viewing the Union Station depot, considered the finest in the world.

     ⁵ The cost of the land, the building, and terminal improvements was $18,000,000. It is built of white granite 760 feet long, 343 feet wide. These dimensions exceed those of the Capitol. It has a mammoth waiting room, also lunch room, restaurant, ladies' waiting room, drug store, conservatory, barber shop, smoking room and several other rooms. At 10:45 p. m., we took the train for Pittsburg.

     ¹⁰ We reached Pittsburg at nine o'clock a. m., and soon checked our suitcases and attended to stopovers on our tickets.

     ¹⁰ Here a number of the party left to visit in Pennsylvania and Ohio, or to spend a few days in the mountains.

     ¹⁰ After we had deposited our tickets we started for the Carnegie Library; but learned on the way over that it was closed. We, then, went through the Phipps Conservatory, where hundreds of thousands kinds of plants, trees, flowers and shrubbery were seen.

     ¹⁰ After, returning to the city and luncheon we were ready for another trip. We, then, met the lady, Frances Gray, who had directed us in the morning. She took us to Old Fort Duquense where we registered. This place is kept up by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Then we were taken to Round Top, the second highest hill or mountain in Pennsylvania. Miss Gray left us at one of the stations, for her home, but soon came to Round Top with several booklets and a roll of ribbon. We helped her tie the booklets with the ribbon, recorded our names on a piece of paper for her and she then gave each of us a booklet, which contained several of her poems. We surely can never forget her for her kindness to us. She told us why she had written several of the poems, which made them all the "sweeter."

     ¹⁰ From this hill we could see all over Pittsburg and other cities which are scattered along the hills and valleys. We found Pittsburg to be a much cleaner town that we had expected, From here we went to Mt. Washington. We reached it by the incline railway which was a new experience. They have two, one for the freight and the other for passengers. From this place we could again see over Pittsburg and could see the junction of the Susquehanna and Alleghany rivers which here form the Ohio.

      ¹⁰ We stopped a while to see some Italians celebrate and then went to the depot by way of the tunnel under Mt. Washington, which is five thousand feet long. It has lights every few feet and every fifth light is rod, showing where the fire alarm can be found in case of fire.

     ¹⁰ Went to the Depot to get our tickets and then to the Mirror Restaurant for our supper.

     ¹⁰ Arrived at Chicago at nine o'clock and had our suit cases checked and tickets examined before breakfast. Had breakfast, after which we went to the W. C. A. buiding (sic). The building is situated near the Lake front. Here arrangements were made for the day.

     ⁵ Being one of the members of the party who remained a short time in Chicago on the return trip I will describe two delightful lake trips. On the evening of July 21st a party of us took passage on the

Theodore Roosevelt boat from the Clark street landing for a two hour trip on Lake Michigan. There were about fifteen hundred passengers on board. We passed the Life Saving Station, Light House, Government Pier and had a nice view of the White City and tower. It being a still moonlight evening the lake was calm which added much to the enjoyment of our trip. This same boat makes daily trips to Michigan City.

     On August 2nd we made a trip to Waukegan, Illinois, on the pleasure boat Pero Marquette starting from the Wells street landing. Among the points of interest passed were Lincoln Park and Fort Sheridan with its tower. Arriving at Waukegan we found a beautiful little city. One of the interesting things we saw was the bridge and stairs in the Famous Ravine. Our boat since that time met with a terrible disaster, having become disabled, was sunk and the crew was lost.

     ⁴ One of the pleasures of my trip was an opportunity to witness the thirty-first Knights Templar parade held in Chicago, August 6th to 13th. Over thirty thousand Knights took part in the parade on August 7th, every state in the Union being represented. The California delegation mounted on their black horses, were the first division, Ohio having the largest delegation, the fifth, Nebraska the fourteenth, Illinois the sixteenth and last.

     The parade was four and one-half hours passing the reviewing stand, the line of march being seven miles long.

     ⁴ A mammoth Knights Templar emblem of welcome was erected in Grant Park, being 133 feet high, illuminated with 4,500 electric lights, making one of the most beautiful electrical displays of the conclave.

     ⁴ The decorations of the streets and stores were grand, prominent among them being the large department store of Marshall Field & Co., which had every state represented by their respective state seals. The Masonic colors, black and white, were in evidence everywhere.

     August 9th, made a tour of the large hotels in Chicago, namely, the La Salle, considered the largest; Great Northern, where they have two large paintings of the World's Fair buildings; the Palmer House, Auditorium, the Congress, which at one time was an annex of the Auditorium, still being connected by a subway. At this hotel we had the pleasure of seeing a Queen Elizabeth room, then to the Blackstone, which has recently been completed and considered the finest.

     ⁶ Hull House, with Jane Addams as president, has been organized for twenty years, and is one of the first to do American settlement work. Its object Is "To provide a center for a higher civic and social life; to Institute and maintain educational and philanthropic enterprises, and to investigate and improve the conditions In the Industrial districts of Chicago."

     ¹⁰ There are classes in sewing, gymnastics, weaving, etc., at different days and hours in the week. We went through all the rooms. Some of their work in weaving is especially good. The place where they keep the babies, while the mothers are out working, was interesting. All the children seemed contented and happy, and having had their dinners, were ready for play.

     We took our lunch here.

     ¹⁰ From Hull House we went to Lincoln Park, where we saw the animals and birds. We also spent some time near the lake and had several pictures taken on the beach. On our way to the Art Museum we stopped at the State Restaurant, whose walls are adorned with pictures representing every state in the Union.

     ¹⁰ From the Museum we went to the old Montgomery Ward building. We found that they had moved to their new building. They gave us a guide who took us to the car and paid our fare. At the end of the car line we were met by the Montgomery Ward auto, which took us by groups to the new building.

     We were hurriedly taken over the building and waited until the 2,500 working girls came down the stairs. Then the auto returned us to the car line and we hurried to the depot and boarded the train for Nebraska.

     We left many more of our party at Chicago. At Red Oak we waited an hour for the Nebraska City train and soon were home again, full to the brim and ever ready to tell of our experiences.

     Those remaining in the party reached Lincoln Tuesday morning, July 19, tired but happy. A number of the party made the entire three weeks' trip, with side trips, sightseeing excursions, etc., with an expenditure of a trifle less than $125. This was possible because of the special rates and privileges granted the party as a whole.

     The Association of Superintendents and Principals of the Graded Schools of Nebraska was organized at Hastings, November 30 and December 1, 1888. The meeting for organization had come about at the call of a number of school executives of the state who had sent out a request for such a meeting about a month previously. The 'call" was signed by R. J. Barr, P. W. Grinstead, H. H. Corbett, Ed. Healy, J. B. Monlux, C. G. Pearse, C. D. Rakestraw and M. B. C. True.

     The meeting was attended by twelve Nebraska schoolmen, which number constituted the charter membership of the association.

     The purpose of the association as proclaimed in the constitution adopted at the first meeting is to "advance the cause of public education and especially the interests of the graded schools." The nature of the first meeting was that of a conference in which problems vital to the interests of the public schools of the state were discussed by at least some of those upon whom the solution of the problems devolved. The purpose and nature of the organization have continued much the same to the present time. Very little talent from outside the school ranks of the state has had a place on the programs, and the questions discussed have in the entire history of the association been largely those of fundamental importance in every day school work.

     During the first six years of the organization, two meetings were held each year. Since 1895 but one meeting a year has been held. From 1895 to 1907 the meetings convened about the middle of October. In 1908 the Association held a joint session with the State Teachers' Association at its November session. In 1909, however, this plan was abandoned and the Association of Superintendents and Principals held the annual meeting for 1909-10 in January, 1910.

     The place of meeting until 1895 was in various of the larger towns of the state. Among the earlier meeting-places were Hastings, York and Columbus. Since 1895 the meetings have all been in Lincoln.

     Upon the list of officers of the association may be found names now of national repute in educational affairs. The names of those who have been elected to the presidency of the organization are, M. B. C. True, A. B. Hughes, H. R. Corbett, C. G. Pearse, W. H. Skinner, J. T. Morey, E. H. Bowman, E. N. Brown, J. F. Saylor, Dan Miller, R. J. Barr, J. H. Miller, A. H. Waterhouse, W. L. Stephens, H. K. Wolfe, C. A. Fulmer, J. W. Searson, W. H. Bartz, E. L. Rouse, E. B. Sherman, W. W. Stoner, Geo D. Carrington and Geo. Crocker.

     The growth of the organization has been very marked. From the mere handful at its first meeting the meetings have grown to a membership of several hundred.

     Among the school organizations of the state this association Is second only to the State Teachers' Association, of which it is a part, in the power of its influence over the progress of the schools of the state. The movements begun and the policies shaped at its meetings have moulded to a large degree the educational policies of Nebraska. The work of its members has been not only to work out and apply old and well established principles, but break new educational ground, to till new fields.

     The next meeting of the Association will be held in Jan. 1911. The officers for the current year are: President, Fred M. Hunter, Norfolk; vice president, E. K. Hurst, Falls City; secretary W. H. Clemmons, Fremont; treasurer, A. H. Staley, Superior.

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© 2003 for the NEGenWeb Project by Ted & Carole Miller