The Federal City of Washington, D.C. is a . place of enormous contrasts and contradictions which is why it seems to be so many different things to so many different people.

Technically, it is confined to a chunk of real estate that was once a part of Maryland and that is now called the District of Columbia. Actually, it is that metropolitan area that sprawls over the Maryland and Virginia countryside within the confines of the Beltway making it much like the walled cities of medieval days.

Washington is the seat of tremendous worldwide power and incredible control of wealth at the same time it is a small Southern city trying very hard to grow up.

Its permanent residents consist of a relatively small, hard-core merchant aristocracy and a mass of poor blacks. It has much to say about national and international politics but its citizens cannot elect their own Congressmen or Senators. It has more public employees per capita to run it than any city in America and, maybe, in the world. Yet. it is one of the worst run cities in America and, maybe, in the worid. In spite of that, it is the most beautiful city in the nation.

Its temporary residents are mostly those who live off the Federal government which employs them or gives them a reason for being employed, and consists of elected officials and their staffs, embassy personnel, lobbyists, government contractors, the news media and the military.

Many come here to make a fortune or a famous career with the intention of staying for a while and then moving on. Few people do any of those things.

It is a fascinating cavalcade of diverse peoples dedicated to making Man into what he ought to be and who are living witness to what Man really is.

This is what makes up THE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL WORLD OF WASHINGTON.

This modest peek at the folly, fun and foolishness that is this city and its people is based on fact according to one of the most sacred institutions of Washington, namely, The Reliable Source.

Its avowed purpose is to amuse vou. I hope it does.

George Mair
Washington, D.C. 1979