The Oskaloosa herald., 1892-04-28

| III NdIu We Sought IOE al dulcCLlNO 10
express the beauty and grandeur of the
canopy. After visiting the Library Of
| Congress, containing 100000 volumes
and 100000 pamphlets, we passed into
the room of the Supreme Court Of the
| United States. Court being in session,
We had the pleasure OF seeing Chief
Justice Fuller and his eight associates,
all of them attired in their robes of
Office, and, 1 trust, their robes of JUS
/ tice. 1t was no easy matter to swing
open the Senate bronze door IA feet g
inches by feet & inches, weighing
| 14,0O0 pounds. This handsome door
cost the government $56, 900. We then
pass in order the Senate Reception
Room, the Marble Room, the Vice Pres
1dent's Room occupied only during the
last hurried hours of Congress, in order
that he may atfix his signature to bills
as soon as passed by the Senate and
House of hepresentatives,) the Ma
| tiOnal Hall OF Statuary, etc. At last
we mount the 376 steps leading to the
dome, being PAL feet, above the top Of
the building, and 396 feet inches above
the level of the ground, which, by the
way, is but feet less than st. PauPs,
and 36 feet less than st. Peters. A
magnificent view presented itself as We
walked around the dome. descending
we passed out of the rOtunda by the
door leading to the grand eastern pOT-
tico. Here is another bronze door,
said to be the most magnificent work
of the kind in the world. 1t is 10 feet
high by feet wide, weighs 10000
pounds, and cost $28IOO0.
We were now standing on the main
portico looking eastward. Here 1t is
that the inaugural ceremonies take
place and can be witnessed by 100000
people. Here on these steps the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court has ad-
ministered the oath of Office to all of
the presidents of the United States
from Andrew Jackson to Benjamin
Harrison. On this portico are two
beautiful groups of statuary represent
ing many years Of labor and costing
$4,000. Directly in front of the porti.
co is the colossal statue of Washington,
| by GreenOugh. 1t cost $44,O 4,OO0. and is
regarded by many as the greatest piece
of sculpture in ancient or modern
| times.
Leaving the capitol we take look
into the
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The rapidity and accuracy with which
the work is done is a marvel. 1t was
actually fascinating to watch the open
ing of letters in the dead letter depart
ment, and surprising to sec how many
of them contained money and valuables.
In one room we saw hundreds of un-
claimed articles 1t might be interest
ing TO some to know of the character of
things that pass through the mails.
Snakes, scorpions, horned tOads, lizards,
valises, robes, shoes, hats, and almost
every conceivable object. The snakes,
toads, etc., were received alive, in per-
fOrated tin cans. Jewels, fancy cards,
| and love tokens of all kinds were there.
l could but think how many hearts
have ached, how many misunderstood
ings have arisen, how many there were
the current of whose lives had been
changed by this pebble OF care
lessness. Crossing the street we en-
| tered the
PATENT OFFICE.
OF the thousands of curious designs
that we met on every hand will mere
ly mention few of the most interest
ing. Morse's original telegraph ma
chine, patented April 1l,l844, by which
he sent the news over the wire from
Baltimore to Washington concerning
the nomination of Henry Clay. but
which the incredulOus people would
not believe until the receipt of the same
news by mail. Probably no one ever
fought public prejudice more earnestly
/ and successfully than did S.F. b. Morse.
Howe's original sewing machine. pat
| ented by Elias Howe, Sept. 10, 1876.
was a marvel of curiosity when con-
| trasting the little hand machine with
1 in
| also came in for his share of honor as a
result of his trip down the Mississippi.
| We saw his model of a steam boat show
| ing his method OF lifting vessels over
shoals. 1t was patented May %, 1849.
Here was also the first pegged shoe,
patented by Hitchcock u Bennett, July
80, 1911. 1t was not diffiult to trace
the improvement when viewing those
of recent make that seemed to shun
their early associate.
Away back in 1894, on the 14th of
March, was patented Ely Whitney's
cotton gin, the model Of which appears
quite modest among its surroundings.
The life car, invented Jan. II. 1888
perfected in 1847 used successfully Ian.
IL. 1850,at which time it saved 200 lives
off the coast of New Jersey, was the In
Vention of Joseph Francis, born in
1901. On the 18th of April, 1890, in the
blue room of the executive mansion al
Washington. President Harrison pre-.
sented Mr.. Francis with gold medal
he now being SO years OF age. The fig
ure twelve seems to have figured quite
conspicuously in his life.
THE PENSION DEPARTMENT
is handsome brick building 400 feet
long, 200 feet wide and Is feet high.
Through the courtesy of DR.. w. Ii. II.
Warman, ,one of the medical examiners
we had pleasant interview with Com.
missioner Green b. Raum, head of
the department. Over 1900 clerks
are employed in this building at an av
erage salary of $1400 per annum. Ii
the center OF the building is large
court surrounded by balconies on th'
floors above. In this court are gener
ally deld the inaugural balls.
Passing from there to the
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
we found a building of much less pre-
tensions, but into it were crowded 2,SO'
employees, 1900 men and 1000 women
1t was with much pleasure We watched
the various presses, especially some o
the new ones, that caught the paper
so deftly, hoated them through the al
to dry the ink and then deposited then
. as carefully as if handled by the mos
delicate fingers.
DAYS were spent-happy, interesting
, and instructive days-in viewing tn
!. Smithsonian Institution, the NatiOna
: Museum, Army Medical Museum, Cor
coran Art Gallery, Botanical Gardens
, Museum OF Agriculture, the War, Stat
J and Navy Departments. In tn
latter we saw the original Declaration
of Independence, a parchment measuI
, ing two by three feet, the size beinI
. quite a surprise to US. In the Smith
sonian Institution and National Muse
um may be found one or more speci
mems of every species OF animal lif
! that exists on the earth, in the water
under the earth, or in the air that SUI
, rounds it. Even such curiosities ar
|. there as the vertebT8 Of the ASSASSIN
Booth, the spleen double the usual size
of the assassin Guiteaua TO say moth
!. ing of the relics of Washington, Frank
: lin, Lincoln, Grant, etc. This remind
: me that at the b. b M. depot we saw
I brass star in the floor indicating wheT
Z Garfield stood when laid low by th
: assassin's bullet. AS we passed dow
: 3 Tenth street we saw what was once th
|. OLD FoRD's THEATER BUILDING.
: 1t was originally church, then cor
: verted iLto theater (strange CONVEX
2 sion1 and was used as such until Apr
z IL, 1866. But since that eventful nigh
J, upon which occurred the greatest tral
d edy ever witnessed in this country,
: was closed by order of the governmeT
8 until purchased by them for $4,000
= Having been remodeled and made tir
, proof, it is now used as a branch Of tE
= Record and Pension Division OF I'll
J. War Department.
7 In the brick house opposite is ma
= BILE slab indicating the fact that in thi
y house (616 Tenth street, Abraham Lii
u coin breathed bis last.
FLORA MARTINsTEIN WARMAE.
Briuht's Disease G5 BfsBE4fI tei BKlaI:I
10 and IMPURE BLOOD arse from Dyspeps
OF Impaired Digestion. Restore that tmpoa
o.s:S: q: Il: ::Ii;s :;SsS ::Si.s. "a Hoofland'