But it is nevertheless a great city,
full of " poverty, hunger and diit."
The smooth, concrete paviugs are
soft and odorous this warm weather,
hearing the heavy air above them to
a visible degree; while the pave
ments of wood reek .and steam
throughout the morning hours till the
heavy, malarial dews of the previous
night have risen fromn the earth's sur
face only to descend again at .night
fall loaded with additional fifth. Rich
people, all but the officials who must
remain at their posts, are out of town
-out of the reach of this miasmatic
influence which wilts down and
makes lifeless those who are obliged
to endure it. But the city teems with
poor people, to whom anything like
recreation is unknown. For these a
recently arranged charity is doing
wonderful things in the way of giving
free excursions down the Potomac
hfr their especial benefit. Owners of
excursion boats, barges and tugs,
give the use of their boats; grocers
contribute eatables, ice, lonIns,
ft uits and all, are donated by the
various dealers; and who can estim
ate the good done by these small ef
forts and sacrifices ' Worn amnd
weary mothers take their sick babies
off for a day on tie cool water and
green banks, leaving behind their
cares and anxieties for the day; and
come back to their poor homes and
meagro fare with renewed strength
and courage,
It is no wonder people here grow
enthusiastic over their " beautiful
Potomac." It is their only refuge
during the two or three months of
intense heat in summer. Every eve
ning thousands of persons go downt
the river, sailing all night without
landing, merely fur the luxury of a
cool atmosphere. SENTINEL.
