The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-27
GOSSIP Of WASHINGTON.
Incidents Coming to the Notice Of a
Montanian at the -.
Capital.
Witnessing the Imposing Entrance
Of this Justices of the
Supreme Court.
"Fanny Wants a Novel," Said Mr.. Mills to
the Librarian-Names of Capital
City Streets.

Especial Correspondence of The INDEPENDENT.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16.-I met under most
agreeable circumstances the other day oar
honorable congressman, Mr.. McMiliin,
from Tennessee, who is z nephew of Gov.
Leslie, of Montana. In company with a
young cousin I was on the street car going
to the capitol to witness the opening of the
supreme court of the United States. We
were a little late and feared that we should
miss scoinR the chief Justice and associate
Justices make their entrance in their Off
cial robes. which takes place each dag at
high noon. l asked tie gentleman next me
the time of dag. 1t was Mr.. McMillin.
HIS not only gave US the time of day, but
escorted us to the court room, conducting
no little to our pleasure by pointing out
objects Of interest,". As the eight %juatices
entered in single file, arrayed in their
gowns of black silk, a herald proclaimed:
"Oyez, oyez, oyez, know all 20 whom it may
concern that the supreme court of the
United States is now open. God bless these
United States and this supreme court"
1t was very impressive. The faces of those
eight men were those of scholars and men
of thought. Chief Justice Fuller's snowy
hair and beard shading the intellectual
brow and delicately chiseled features. gave
3 look of spirituality that is very beautiful.
While standing in the congressional
library, we saw a largo man wearing a
broad hat go up to the librarian with,
"Fanny wants a novel," One of thu Ii
brarians whispered, ''That is Mr.. Mills, the
author of the Mills BILL" We did not see
what novel was selected for Fanny" The
congressional library consists of a hall
ninety-one feet in length, fanked by wings
on the north n south, each wing being
ninety-fve feet long. The walls of these
halls are considered to be fireproof. The
floor is laid in black and white marble. It
is one of the few freproof libraries in the
world, and is the largest in tho United
States. It owns over q half million of vol
umes, besides an Immense accumulation of
newspapers. pamphlets and periodicals of
all sorts. The number increases at the rate
of 15,0G0 volumes and 5000 pamphlets an
nually. 1t is peculiarly rich in books and
maps relating to America. The law branch
OF the library IL the largest and most val
uabls collection of the kind in this coun-
try. The librarian of congress ia the sole
registrar of copyrights for the United
States, and all copyrighted publications are
required to be published in this govern
Ment library. Inc acceHslons from this
source amount to many thousands annu-
ally. Of course these halls cannot contain
this huge bulk of books. A large proper
tion are packed ia SIX rooms in the capitol,
inaccessible as yet to the public.
In the rooms to which the public have &C.
cess books in every known tongue overflow
the shelves and press into the aisles to such
an extent that ons wonder how the best
trained librarian can put his hand on a VOL
uns that ia wanted. The new congress
slonal library. now in Course Of construc-