Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-07-20
a}lisfellaueous Readiua.
Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer.
NOTES OF TRAVEL.

NOTES OF TRAVEL. .-~.. .
WASHINGTON, July 15.-Several days could
be pleasantly spent in this beautiful city, Wis
iting the various public buildings and grounds,
the Botanical Garden, the art galleries and
many other objects of curiosity and interest
and they are certainly not few in number
and all are we'll calculated to impress the
memory if not improve the heart. 1shall not,
however, attempt to describe in detail any of
the objects that came under my observation
during short stay in this city.
Suffice it to say that our own Capital City
can no longer be sneered at, as once it was, by
a proud son of the Old Dominion as city of
magnificent distances and great pretensions.
1t is far the opposite to-day. 1t is now one OF
the most beautiful, and 1 think in many re:
spects decidedly the most lovely and attractive
of any city in the Union a city where any
one of ordinary taste and requirements can
spend month, or even longer, with no small
degree of pleasure and satisfaction, it not
decided profit.
There are doubtless many art galleries, pub
lie grounds, gardens and buildings that are
more extensive, costly and attractive than
those of Washington; but am sure that there
are few if any public buildings in the world
that excel our National Capitol, or the new
war and navy buildings now in course of erec-
tion, and which may yet require years for their
completion. Indeed, doubt much if the day
will ever come when there will not still be
something to do on our Capitol. as on the
Church of St. Peters, at Rome. The dome is
the most impressive feature of the building,
and ranks fifth in height and size among the
notable domes of the world. 1t is 360 feet
high above the west gate of the park. Its di-
ameter is 1851 feet, and it is pronounced by
those competent to Judge, to be one of the
most symetrical, graceful structures in the
world Its Octagonal or stylobate base rises
90 feet above the basement floor of the capitol.
AS it leaves the top line of the building it con-
ssts of perstyle, IA feet in diameter, OF
thirty-six iron-futed columns 81 feet high.
Each of these columns weighs six tons.
Above them is a balustrade. Above the bal
ustrade begins the dome, which converges up
ward to an apex, surmounted by a lantern tif-
teen feet in diameter and fifty feet high, which
is surrounded by Il peristyle and crowned by
bronze statue of Freedom. This statue,
designed by Crawford, was raised and placed
in it's present position on the 11th of Decem-
Der, 1868, and was the occasion of grand
civic and military demonstration though if |
remember rightly none of our Southern militia
ry organizations were invited. The view from
the dome is magnificent beyond description.
The dimensions of the dome and the elabo-
rateness of detail in all it's parts, it's height
and massive weight may give a faint concep-
tion of the extensiveness of the building it
surmounts. A minute description of The
building, however, is unnecessary to the pres
ent purpose.
But to give the reader an idea of the elabo-
rate, costly and artistic skill in which the in
terror of the Capitol is being ornamented,
some forty years ago Congress authorized the
employment of a celebrated Italian painter
Brumidi, I think-to come to America and Or
nament the interior of the building. Soon
after his arrival he set to work on his life-task,
and continued sedulously to employ his pencil
and brush, until two or three years ago he was
called on to desist from his labors and cross
the dark river Styx with Claron, the oldest of
all ferrymen. And yet at his death, though
he worked continuously almost until the day
he died. the work of ornamenting was not half
completed Still, what has been finished is by
for TOO grand and beautiful to admit OF this
great work of art to stop, and Congress very
properly commissioned another artist OF equal
fame. to continue the work. But when it will
be completed it is impossible for any one now
to tell, or even conjecture The work IS SO
elaborate, complicated and highly artistic that
the painting of necessity progresses slowly.
For my own part, after beholding the match
less beauties of the figures, frescoes and ale
gorical representations, cannot conceive how
any mere mortal can manage to accumulate
stock of patience sufficiently large to enable
him to acquire such exquisite skill, and then
keep OH continuously employing his mind and
hands, for so many slowly-revolving years in
one spot, and ornamenting comparatively SO
small a space. Nevertheless, though slowly,
the artist continues to apply his pencil and
brush. and the work progresses III about the
same ratio us rises the monument near by to
the Father of his Country. l imagine that it
will he several years yet before it can be said
that either of these great works is completed.
But many and great as are the attractions of
our Capital City, other engagements admonish
me that must hie myself away, promising
another letter from a more northern Cline
GUlLFoRD.
TRAPS.
Man has been called a tool-makng animal,