Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-03-21

Next went to Statuary Hall,
around which are placed the statues
of many whose names are familiar
in history as leaders in heir day in
the different circles in which they
moved. We tested the recently dis
covered acoustic singularity in this
hall, by one person in certain cor
ner, and another in corner across
the hall rs feet away, and probably
so people IN the space al talking
their own stories, yet we could con
verse almost in a whisper our faces
to the wall. There are other phe-
nomena connected, such as standing
on certain stones Of the mosaic floor
and talking in whispers while those
standing between and around can
not hear a sound, Those properties
have given TO this hall the late name
Of "Whispering Gallery"
T But Of all the interior of the vast
building the Rotunda claims prom
inence, with its numerous large oil
paintings, eight Of which cost from
eight TO twelve thousand dollars
each. This Rotunda is SO feet in
diameter, $50 feet high, the canopy
consisting of frescoes of great
beauty. But night approaches and
we must leave; in doing so We
catch a glimpse Of noted character
descending the stairs by our side
the far-famed buffalo Billy (Col.
Cody In passing ouo we cannot
refrain from speaking of the great
bronze doors at the main entrance.
! In a niche OH either side are repre-.
sensations of war and peace, which
cost $4,000 each The door itself
weighs 10000 pounds, is nine feet
high, xix inches thick, and cost
/ $4,000 The panels represents
various events in the life of Colum-
bus. 1t is showing furiously as we
descend the one hundred steps to
the street level; take a street car for
our boarding house, and thus ends
our first day in Washington.
Friday, 9th. Visited the State,
War and Navy departments. Here
we saw wax soldiers, showing the
uniforms worn by the defenders Of
the country in the different wars
from the cold contlnentals" to the
present time; also the equipments
used, and sportatiou, commits
sary, hospital service, etc. In the
State department we saw the orig
inal declaration of Independence
/ written ON parchment, but much
faded and effaced by time. Here
was also the desk on which II was
probably written-Jefferson's. The
Naval department furnished us with
an inspection of many models Of
ships of war, both sail and steam
vessels But | must not linger here
rs bigger things await us at the
navy yard, whittier we 20, aud spend
the afternoon IN very interesting
ramble through the immense work
shops, with the most ponderous
machinery for casting, lifting, Dor
ing, turning and fitting those enor-
nous steel cannon, mortars, gun
carriages, shells, etc. saw two
guns IN the lathes, thirty two feet
Inn length and beautifully rifled on
the inside, being turned with such
precision that the shaviugs we've
coming off as we frequently see
them fall from carpenters plane.
| have a sample that picked from
the floor as 1T fell; it is solid steel
one-sixteenth OF an inch thick,
thirteen.slxteenths of an inch wide,
aud coiled just as nice and even as
a ringet hanging from a lady's
head.
In the museum We saw guns of
| all descriptions, large and small
One cannon brought from Mexico,
where it was carried 10y the Spanish
army under Cortes. Ii is u breech.
loader aud not a bad idea of the
revolver. We also inspected the
| different kinds of percussion used
for exploding shells, torpedoes, etc,
and the way they are timed for
different distances. All this is very
well worth seeing, especially TO
those who never saw anything of
/ the Kind before. We next went on
board the receiving snip, and the
/ Monitor Saucus whose turret shows
some large dents where she had
been hit By some solid shot. She is
nov dlsmautled and useless. Re
tracing our steps We took supper
| DINNER it is here), after which we
concluded the days work with an
hour at one of the steam fire engine
houses, where we beheld the Won
derGul trained horses come out of
their stables with rush at the
sound of the gong, hitched and
ready to leave in the short time of
seven seconds 10y the clock.
no bo continued
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