Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-02-22
Frogn our Special Washington Oor-
respOEdemt.
WAsaINGr0N, FEB. y, l86

E3,t9r R~Nard HroH. 1 hava endeav.
ored 10 preceding letters to sketch for
! your readers some Of the principal pun.
| lie buildings Of this city. TAe task is
by no means an easy one since the
abundance of material for such descrin.
| tons bears an inordinatc proportion to
the space Of single letters, yet am con.
| WINGED that even hasty notice is better
than none. The splendid palaces which
| Government has reared should be among
the causes of that national pride which
acts always as strengthening aud con-
serving force They occupy by no means
an untmportaut place as tangible evil
dences Of our prosperity, power andim
mensc wealth and for this reason, all
should know something of their history.
The interest which they awaken by their
appearance and design deepens to awe
when we reflect upon the noiseless
workings OF that tremendous machinery
which here finds visible centre. An
acquaintance with them, and with kim
dred significant features of our day.
will induce in many minds, a truer an.
probation Of the magnitude of govern.
mental projects, the grandeur of the
American scale in improvement and the
energy and generosity displayed in all
our national undertakings.
One of the most imposing of these
structures stands nearly mid way be.
tween the capitol and the Presidents
house, aud is called the Patent Office, In
Its conception and execution it is fit.
ting temple to that sublime phase of hu.
man development by whose agency WE
may yet attain knowledge Of those nj.
innate mysteries 10 nature before which
we now only bow in wonder. Inven.
ton has shaped the l9ta century, giving
to the age progress as its attribute -
progress so incredible, so rapid, and 80
important, that thOee of former genera. |
tons who yet liuger with us profess an
aStonts"ment equal to that of the q W.
kened Van Wiukle. The rAtant ora ~
presents probably the purtst Doric To 20 |
found in this country. This style Of
architecture was employed of old by the
Grectdus upon temples to NEUROLOGICAL
dtvtnitieS. Its peculiar simplicity rem.
ders 1t difficult of cuuversi ~ or mould.
Ing for common structures, aud for this
reason 1t has generally been EMPLOY, d
only In the attempt to embody soma
grand tdes. 1t is curious fact that
mo " To @Stnetlc. auhtle az some Of tts
"'-, lations ara has found it unneCes-
"a y to add single perfectins t0uch to |
the proportions aud laws of this method
OF building. It is among the wondrous
tGspringS "f an herodc though hsrbaric
age; st'd Is NOS the only proiuct of hta.
thea skii, aud learning W .ich Commands
the xdmirat II, ,n of mere perGct c,vili-
xstion. Many of the peculiarities of
the Greoau religisn 70 trsosole 10 1t;
and, to lively ima.ius., on one'r ec-
ss'c. devoti' q an that bin> fa"oy' !
~ht ID Rated o. many grand an b.. 'u'
t'iol AnAges, sin auaber in il, ixf
iines.
L" reach the gress building Of which
we are Speaking, we must leave the prip.
cips' taorosshfsre, Peuusyivsnia Ave.
nue., asa mount to the elevation upon
h'ch 1t stands. Ii occupies two whole
'ansres. being boasded upon the north
'nd sosth by @ aud z STREETS, respect.
very, and upon the east and west by 7eh
md 9Th STREETS. To the spectator stand.
pg upon r street, the odd or southern
ront 10 presented. This was com.
nenced during Jsskssns aduiuistrs-
10. aAA u 'os0posed or go sto.e