The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-20

THE NATIONS 1CAP|IOL.
A Great White Hub Around Which
the Streets Of Washington
Radiate.
Perfect Symmetry Combined With
Massive Splendor as Seen
by Moonlight.
View Of . Storm From Its Broad Porticos-
The Elements SGT to Music by
Taulbee.

Justlce. you must see the marble pile
limned against the sky to appreciate iti
beauty. II must be seen by day and night
It is only after such views that its Per
feet symmetry lmpresses itself upon the
mind. Viewed from Arlington Heights
from the bosom of the Potomac miles
below the city or from the hat fertile
Maryland farms, it fixes the eye more than
all surrounding objects. It is the white
hub from which the broad avenues Of the
city radiate. It is the only object of in
terest upon which all minds are conoen-
trated during sessions Of congress. Stran-
gers usually visit it within twelve hours at
ter their arrival. There ID no place upon
the soil of the great republic more attract
i've. The edifice is impressive at MONDAY
when the CITY is all life and animation, but
far more impressive in the pale moonlight
at dead Of night.
tering down Pennsylvania avenue at mid
night. A full llmoon hung in cloudless sky.
The representative was acoosted by Colonel
Joyce, the we'll known poet of the Grant re-
gime, author of IA Checkered Life" He
wore white sombrero and his long hair
fell upon his shoulders. He has the face
and bearing of poet. There is nervous
impetuosity in his words and acts, and
many reminders of Macdonald Clarke. He
glanced at the broad moon, threw his gaze
up and down the avenue, and then said:
''Come with me. You shall see sight that
would charm the gods of Olympus
He hailed hanson and they dashed
down the avenue toward the capitol. The
wheels of the vehicle emitted metallic
ring as they were whirled over the car
tracks in the vicinity of the Peace monu-
ment and turned toward the south. A
moment later they swept past the bronze
statue of Garfield, turned into the capitol
grounds, and began to climb the hill lead
ing to the house wing. At the top of the
hill they dashed over the plaza and cana to
halt near Greenough's marble statue Of
Washington.
"Look np," said the colonel. waving his
hand beyond the brim of his sombrero.
''Yo1 will never see more magnificent
sight on this continent" A
His eyes were glowing, and his face was az
white and finely chiseled as the statues upon
the portioo above. He was drinking in the
beauties of the scene. The great pile bath
ed in the effulgence of the moon, shone like
session. Only one or two lirhts pIimmera1l
within the building. The shadows of its
CorniCes and its COrinthian pillars wera
distinctly outlined upon its snowy front.
The marble figure of Columbus with globe
IN his uplifted hand threw its shadow upon
the portico where go many presidents have
been inaugurated. The beautiful group of
Persico, illustrative of the dangers of the
early settlers, cast its shade across the tessel
alton at tho vestibule of the edifice. The
effect was heightened by the broad steps and
chiseled pilasters adornine the two huge
like twin parthenons. The sculptured fio-
ures upon the senate facade were distinctiv
visible. The whole building was outIinad
against the moonlit skv. In the soft lioht
it seemed larger than it really was. The
white dome climbing hnndrada az feat
above the main edifice recalled the dome If
St. Panl,s in a lioht 1onI1on foo Ahova
ali. 380 feet hich. stood the hronya atatre
of Liberty. with her Greek haImst
For ten minutes the two men sat lost in
the cab. ,rhev crossed the pIa1s went
aronnd the aflif;ce and stood mon The ,.a.
bIe esnlanade A. ;ts hack Wash;na+o,, o ,nH T..
halov tham- bathed i, the cam,a anft 1;nht
and enwrapped in slnmber The citv Vas
nearly submerged in q sea of dark foliage.
Baltimore Sun building and other ma marble he
edif;ces. ahovad their white heads aho.e
the foliage. PennsyIvania avenna ] aCUas was
ssiaen, ia electric i;ohts wera soinw hnt
not . Inorse.car nor = carTiaoa vas ssan NJ,
on Eta hr,.ad snrface Eysn "H tha s;ur t;r. rd rp
liohts Of the hicvcies had 1;sannaarsd Tba
Potomac and the eastarn hranch shora ;r
the monnIirht Iika hands nf a;,vo. Rnt
most wondrons of Al, vas the marhIa shoft
erected in honorof Washinoton. The meow
beams oiinted its alnmninm yo;nt t;va hnn
dred and fiftv feet above ;ts hase r.
eeemed like = sentinel arravea ;n vh;ta
Standing ouard over the s,aan;yo c;t. h. M.
aycnues ran from Can;toi narh 1;Ea .-oEaS
from hub. the long rows ~ %. f,ohts
them lookino lie ~ ns5n
beads. fhe rim Of the huge baais of tci;aea
was ;ndistinctly outlined niles sva.
the 70 und dimpled noon near tbe 1s,,,;tS us
No more charming scene was ever ' w;t-
messed. It was a fit setting for soene nrnr
some celestial stage. .koA
The contrast two nights afterward v.s
marvellous The sky was overcast Tbers
we're no stars in the cleud-rifts. The v;noo
of the capitol were afiame With lieht. TSs