romance, and chivalry have twined an immortal wreath. Every monument
commemorates a hero. Here, too, is the old private residence of Dolly
Madison, the old home of the British Embassy, where Owen Meredith wrote
"Lucile"; also the Webster home, where once lived the French Embassy;
and St. John's Episcopal Church, where many Presidents have worshiped.
Here Webster, Sumner, and Slidell lived at different periods. The old
Decatur house stands on this square. The Admiral had a window cut
through, so that he could signal the President in the White House. They
missed the telephone. On this square lived Diaz, of Mexico; here Don
Cameron and Blaine each lived in the same house, afterward occupied by
Senator Hanna. On the north side is the handsome residence where lived
Secretary of State John Hay.
Georgetown, named after George III. of England, is much older than
Washington City. The stories of its former grandeur and its
distinctively Southern tone make it a quaint object of interest. Its
most interesting literary shrine is the home of Mrs. E. D. E. N.
Southworth, the novelist, who wrote one novel for each year of her long
life.
The Corcoran Art Gallery, on Seventeenth Street, extending from New York
Avenue to E Street, just southwest of the White House, has many objects
of interest both in painting and sculpture.
No traveler should fail to visit Mount Vernon, the home of George and
Martha Washington. The house was built in 1783 by Lawrence, half-brother
of General Washington. The rooms seem small and cramped, according to
our modern ideas, but they were the stage upon which lived and loved two
names of sacred memory. The buildings are in the custody of the ladies
of the Mount Vernon Association, and the care of each room is in charge
of some one State.
The United States Naval Observatory, north of Georgetown, will interest
lovers of astronomy, while every square, circle, and triangle of
Washington City has some reminder of those whose heroic deeds, spiritual
devotion, or literary and scientific achievement have beautified,
ennobled, and glorified the world, and made it more beautiful because of
their lives.
Continental Hall, the home of the Daughters of the American Revolution,
situated on Seventeenth Street, south of the Corcoran Art Gallery, ranks
with the most beautiful of the white marble buildings. It was begun in
1903, and will be finished in 1909, at a cost of $500,000.
The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution was
organized October 12, 1890, in Washington, and holds a charter from
Congress. It reports annually to the Smithsonian Institute, and its
reports are printed by Congress. It is the only society of women in the
world organized for strictly patriotic purposes.
Mrs. Benjamin Harrison, wife of the President of the United States; Mrs.
Adlai E. Stevenson, wife of the Vice-President of the United States and
President of the Senate; Mrs. Daniel Manning, wife of former Secretary
of the Treasury of the United States; Mrs. Charles W. Fairbanks, wife of
the Vice-President of the United States; Mrs. Donald MacLean and Mrs.
Scott, of Illinois, have been the presidents-general since its
organization.
The chief work of the society is to mark historic spots in all parts of
the country, to perpetuate the memories of the heroic dead, and to make
patriotism a passion instead of a sentiment. Another object is to make
good citizens of all boys and girls of the land. It does much good in
bringing together people from different sections, thereby curing
provincialism, and bringing about friendly relations between different
parts of this great country.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
1. Corrected Illustrations Group I page numbering to "Between 48 and
49." Was "Between 32 and 33".
2. Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical
errors.
3. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed.
4. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.