--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Babcock, G. M. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 30 number: 12 published: 1927-10 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "G. M. Babcock, “The Washington Rambler,” *Improvement Era* 30, no. 12 (October 1927): 1134–1136." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera30012unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera30012unse start_page: 1134 end_page: 1136 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1927-10) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera30012unse publication_year: 1927 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1927, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Washington Rambler THE WASHINGTON RAMBLER Walking Up Five Hundred Feet. By G. M. Babcock It was a cold, lowering January day as The Rambler, urged by a biting northwester, approached the largest, most imposing and cost- liest memorial shaft ever erected to man — the Washington Monument — commemorative of the founder of the city of Washington and the "Father of his Country." As he walked up the terrace surrounding the towering 555-foot marble and granite obelisk, the thought came: "How like a great pencil pointing upward must the Monument look to the birdmen who soar above its aluminum cap." The Monument tapers gradually from walls 15 feet thick and 55 feet square at the base to 18 inches thick and 35 feet square at the 500-foot elevation, where the pyramidal top begins. It was noticed with regret that the color of the marble face up the first 150 feet or so of the Monument was slightly different from that used the remainder of the way up. It seems that the corner-stone was laid July 4, 1848, and that the work steadily progressed under the direction of patriotic citizens banded together, as the Washington National Mon- ument Society, until 1854, the shaft having reached a height of 154 feet, when the $300,000 raised by individual free-will offerings were exhausted. In 1878, when Congress agreed to pay the nearly $1,000,- 000 additional necessary to complete the Monument, marble exactly like the original could not be procured. The shaft was finally ded- icated February 21, 1885. After stretching his neck considerably in order to gaze up the white line of somewhat like 575 stones that are on each side of the shaft, The Rambler found himself at the opening leading to the bottom landing. Here a uniformed guard volunteered the information that the elevator would be "back in 25 minutes;" that it took the elevator "exactly five minutes to make the trip," and that if a person's legs and wind were good, he could "walk it in fifteen!" As the memorial stones, beginning at the 30-foot elevation, were objects of curiosity, it was decided that the legs and wind were "good." But the wisdom of the decision soon began to be doubted. For one thing, it grew colder as The Rambler ascended. Then, the guide book stated that there were 50 steel landings and 898 steel steps to be traversed — truly an appalling distance to walk "straight up," especially when one adds to the number of steps about eight strides across each landing before beginning to ascend the next set of steps. And the elevator looked as if it might be perfectly safe! Two great chains and four huge wire cables cooperated to raise and lower the THE WASHINGTON RAMBLER 1135 thirty-five passenger electrically driven car. Then, suppose the electric lights should go out, leaving one in utter darkness with but a steel handrail between one and death by falling down the shaft! Oh, well, there were oil lamps on the wall at each landing, and The Rambler had some matches in his pocket! There were 1 79 memorial stones to look over, and a tablet warning that a fine of $25 would be imposed on anyone caught mutilating one of them. Nevertheless, some of the stones had initials scratched on them. The stones were presented by lodges, fire com- panies, Sabbath schools, cities, states, and many foreign countries. At the thirty-first landing (330 feet) was a marble block with the inscription, "Top of Statue on Capitol." > As The Rambler reached the 400-foot level, somewhat winded, he was dazzled by the sparkling frost that appeared on the inside of the Monument. The stairway narrowed at 470 feet, and he rapidly ascended to the top. A courteous guide "spotted" The Rambler, and seemed to take particular interest in pointing out to him the various public buildings and explaining the layout of the city. What a wonderful view it was, and how the wind howled. One would almost fear that the Monument would be blown over. In fact, the Monument does sway a fraction of an inch during a heavy wind, and even the heat of the sun expands the stones and moves them slightly toward the north. The Monument ha9 been struck several times by lightning, but no material change resulted. The whole city was brought before the eye in a miniature. Broad streets and avenues, handsome residences, Government buildings, and mag- nificent parks, combined to produce a scene of interest to every boy in the country. From the north window could be seen at close range the State, War and Navy Building, the White House, and the Treasury, with celebrated Pennsylvania Avenue running east and west in front of them. The most conspicuous feature of the view south was the historic Potomac, a river beloved by George Washington. It flows past Alexandria, which is visible on a clear day, and where, at Christ Church, Washington worshipped, and on past Mount Vernon, his home and final resting place. Maryland and Virginia meet in the waters of the river about a mile south of the Monument. To the southeast was the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, where Uncle Sam's stamps, bonds and bills are made. The guide pointed out the Capitol, which lay in a direct line east from the Monument, and just beyond was the Congressional Library, the largest and finest in America. To the west, on the opposite shore of the Potomac, in Virginia, was Arlington, the National cemetery, and once the famous Robert E. Lee residence. On a clear day the Blue Ridge mountains are plainly 1136 IMPROVEMENT ERA visible at a distance of seventy miles. The costly Lincoln Memorial, lay to the west of the Monument. A truly appalling thing it was to look straight downward. Human beings appeared like pigmies moving snail-like along the paths about the Monument. No one had ever jumped down the outside of the Monument, the guide informed, but a young woman, several years ago, committed suicide by jumping down the elevator shaft. Soon the elevator appeared, and as The Rambler made ready to descend, the guide stepped quickly into his little office and came back with a small stone, which he presented to The Rambler, saying: "I got several pieces like this a few years ago when the Government had occasion to remove part of one of the Monument stones. Keep it!" Washington, D. C. lone I am lonely, love, without you; days are drear, And my heart is calling for you, can't you hear? Oh, the years are long and grey, With my love so far away, From the smile that seemed to say, Linger near. Starlit skies are dim and misty, more than when Moonlight coaxed us with its charming, in the glen. Dreaming all alone of you With your eyes of violet-blue, As we pledged our love anew, Once again. In the springtime I will claim you for my own; Then I'll fold you to my bosom, you alone, Finding worlds of happiness, In the joy of your caress, That the lips cannot express, Sweet lone. Nest'ling close beside a brooklet, ' bye and bye, Let us build a humble cottage, you and I. Where we'll sing love's old refrain And the parting and the pain, Shall not come to us again, Dear lone. Mrs. Grace Jacobson