Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-08-29

1 NOA4tA etttNA A. 0aAA AtA NSo'Ate1t OtNA~~
Bremen, the Swiss Republic. the TEN
| pie OF Carthage, Greece, japan, Tom
i OF Napoleon and Tell Chapel. Th
corner stone OF this grand pill
was laid on 4th OF July 1913, an
the dedication OF it took place on tn
21st of February 1S55-the one dat
eommemorating the birth of the Re
public and the other the birth OF tn
great chieftain who led the Republic t
its glorious consummation. 1t is goo
to gaze upward to the summit OF thi
memorial shaft and lay open heart an,
intellect to the grand reflections ant
emotions to which its contemplation
gives rise. 1t is not simply that it re
minds us of Il great man, and tina
great man, our own countryman; bu
it suggests to us the grandeur OF those
virtues which made him great
truth, honor, courage, self-reliance
perseverance and fortltude under ex
traordinary obstacles, calmness o
judgment, and above all his abiding
sense of the source of infinite wisdom
power, and goodness whence all these
mighty elements of character were
derived, which gave him success.
The contemplation of the memorial
so replete with profitable and whole
some thought might have occupied us
for days. But we had in view many
other visits and hurried to the Capitol
the examination OF which was the
more satisfactorily made from the fact
that throughout its immense halls and
chambers, comparative silence reigned
and all the hustle, animation and ex-
element usually accompanying the
sessions of Congress were conspicu-
ously absent. One could see group
after group OF interested parties under
the guidance OF some expert chaper-
one treading the silent halls and view
ing the many beautiful and attractive
sights with which this grand and mag
niticent building is filled. But the
statesman, the politician, the jurist
and the lobbyist were departed; their
occupation being gone, and so the
time was best OF all to see and study
the scene before US.
Leaving undescribed many of the
most interesting things, we shall only
take a cursory view OF the beautiful
paintings which are found in the ro-
tunda. The walls of this apartment
are circular and divided into eight
panels occupied by historical paint
ings. Four of them are illustrative OF
Revolutionary events. They represent
the Declaration of Independence.
The surrender of General Burgoyne
at Saratoga. The surrender of Corn
willis at Yorktown; and Washington's
resignation of the command of the
army ut the conclusion OF peace. In
the four opposite panels are found the
Embarkation of the Pilgrims; the
landing of Columbus; De Soto's dis
covery of the Mississippi; and the
Baptism of Pocahontas.
In these great paintings are many
portraits from life, and their value rests
upon the fact that they are truthful
representations of celebrated char.c
ters and entirely reliable incidents in
the history of our country.
We're there no other objects of con-
temptation ia this vast building
worthy of a visit, these paintings
would furnish an inestimably precious
subject of study for the citizen of this
country. Especially would it benefit
the youth OF the land to spend days
in the minute observation OF the
events here portrayed afording a
of the history OF his native
.and ifnpressing upon his
mind the great events which opened
the way to the present prosperity and
success of our Government. They
show by contrast the advance Of Chris
tian civilization, and the gigantic
strides by which within century this
powerful Republic has reached its
present exalted position among the
nations of the earth. We omit for the
want of time more than bare mention
Of other noble works of art, and other
matters of interest. The Court Room
Of the Supreme Court, Senate Cham
per, Hall OF Representatives, Presi-
Tents Room, National Hall of Statu
ary, the Bronze Door leading from the
Eastern Portico; The Main Portico |
with its huge statues Of Columbus and
and the Congressional
Library. &c. &C. Instead of day, one
,ould spend weeks III such a survey.
But fearing that 1 have exhausted |
your patience, l relieve you for the
present. w.