The Personality of American CitiesHungerford, Edward
History
The Personality of American Cities
Hungerford, Edward
Cities and towns -- United States; United States -- Description and travel; United States -- Social life and customs -- 1865-1918
"On our right the United States Pension Office, the largest brick
buildin' in the world and famed for the inaugural balls it has every
four years--only it didn't have one las' time. But when Mr. Taft was
inaugurated nine thousand couples were a-waltzin' an--"
Some of the folk upon the car look shocked. They come from communities
where dancing is taboo, and the lecturer seems to hint at an orgy there
in one of the taxpayer's buildings.
"There is also the largest frieze in the world 'round that building," he
continues, "an' it ain't the North Pole, either. Eighteen hundred
soldiers and sailors--count 'em some day--marchin' there, the sick an'
the wounded laggin' behind, the trail of martyr's blood markin' their
path, comrade helpin' comrade--all a-bringin' honor an' glory to the
flag."
He drops the megaphone to catch his breath and whispers into your ear.
He realizes that you have understood him--and half apologizes for
himself:
"They like that," he explains, in an undertone. "A little oratory now
an' then tickles 'em. An' then they like this:"
The megaphone goes into action.
"We are travelin' west in F street, the Wall street of Washington, the
place of the banker an' broker."
"Ain't we goin' to see the houses of the fashionable people?" demands
the wife of the bald-headed Baltimorean. "Now over in our city Eutaw
place is--"
"We are comin' there, madam," says the lecturer, courteously.
And in a little while you do come there. You sit back complacently in
your seat and smack your mental lips at the sight of the mansion of the
man who owns three banks; of that of him who, the lecturer solemnly
affirms, is the president of the Whiskey Trust; at a third where dwells
"the richest minister of the United States." A little school-teacher,
who has come down from Hartford, Conn., makes profuse notes in a neat
leather-covered book. It is plain to see that she takes the duty of the
true Americans as a serious enterprise, indeed.
You all start and look when ex-Speaker Cannon's house is passed, and you
catch a glimpse of the old man coming down the door-steps. The public
interest in him has not seemed to cease with his retirement from the
center of the national arena. But it has lessened. You realize that a
moment later when your peregrinating grandstand rolls by a solemn-faced
man walking down the street--a big man in a black suit, his face hidden
by a black slouch hat.
"Mr. Bryan," whispers the lecturer, this time without the megaphone.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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