Sunday, March 14, 2010

Arlington and Henry Adams

From Henry Adams' charming Democracy:

"In a thoughtless moment Carrington had been drawn into a promise that he would take Sybil to Arlington. ... [T]hey set out together, choosing the streets least enlivened by horse-cars and provision-carts, until they had crept through the great metropolis of Georgetown and come upon the bridge which crosses the noble river just where its bold banks open out to clasp the city of Washington in their easy embrace. Then reaching the Virginia side they cantered gaily up the laurel-margined road, with glimpses of woody defiles, each carrying its trickling stream and rich in promise of summer flowers, while from point to point they caught glorious glimpses of the distant city and river. They passed the small military station on the heights, still dignified by the name of fort, though Sybil silently wondered how a fort was possible without fortifications, and complained that there was nothing more warlike than a 'nursery of telegraph poles.'"

I think that the small military station may be Fort Myer!

1 comment:

Sr. Margarita Aloysius said...

And Sr. MA continues to sigh for Arlington...