The free press., 1897-04-01
TIE CAPITOL.

The Capitol of Mississippi is site
uated in Jackson, HIuds county.
Ii is two hundred and sixty feet
long and sixty feet wide and Is
built of stone aud brick. Its po-
si;ion is in the middle of park on
State street at the eastern terminus
of Capitol street; the former being
the principal thoroughfare in the
city; it's northern part noted for
beautiful and costly residences and
"society circles" Capitol street
extends from the Capitol down a
gradual slope to the Union depot.
The Capitol being on an eminence,
the rear overlooks the valley of
Pearl River. The bed of this beau
tiful nver is about three quarters
Of mile to the south and east.
Picturesque indeed is this stately
old building, its dome penetrating
high above the immense oaks Which
surround it. To visit the scene in
the spring would remind one of
some old romantic castle. The birds
with their sweet carolllng as they
fit from tree to tree, the katydid
with its canty chlrplng, the SLY
Miss Wren, singing as she builds
her nest in some decayed corner of
the building, altogether seem to
be doing their best to cheer it in
it's old age. To me this seems right,
tor is not the old statesman who
has finished his noble career, and
is about to resign his position to
younger hands, cheered and COM
forted by the merry voices Of chill
tlren?
The grounds are carpeted with
the beautiful Kentucky blue grass
and shaded by immense oaks and
cedars. About fifty yards south of
the Capitol there is a monument of
white marble. On the top of it's
tall shaft is statue of soldier,
standing in the position of parade
rest" In the open base x-of~the
monument Is a life-size figure of the
most noble and patxiatM Southern
er-JefsrseR~ Davis. This shaft
was-erected to the honor and mem :
rory OF Confederate soldiers by the
true and patriotic women of Mis-
sisslppi.
AS you enter the Capitol from
State street you find yourself in the
rotunda, the floor of which is made
of stone. Standing in the center of
this one can see the top of the
dome, which no doubt, was once a
pretty scene with its decorations
of beautiful carving and colored
sky-lights. TO the rear of this
rotunda is door that leads into the
State Library, which has the rank
of third in the United States, and
is presided over by the efficient anC
popular Mrs. Bell. To the north
aud south Of this rotunda are halls.
on each side of which are doors
leading into The rooms occupied by
the State officials. Just outside
are two flights of winding, rickpty
staircases, which lead to the sec
ond floor. To the rear of this Sec
Ond floor of the rot1nda is door
leading into the Supreme Court; and
to the north and south respective
ly, are corridors leading, the one to
the north, to the House of Repre-
} sentatiyes, the other to the Senate
The third floor is reached by
dingy, time-worn stairs; and when
you gain their top, if You be very
heavy, you draw deep sigh of re'
lief as though you had walked over
deep chasm on narrow plank
expecting every minute to be dash
} ed to pieces on the rocks below
The writer, not being one noted fol-
his bravery, did not take time To
view this part of The building well
enough to describe it the wind be-
Ing very high shook the old shat
tered window panes, making a low,
moaning sound around the corner;
and open doors, The darkness and
bats and the song of the crickets,
and every now and then stepping
on a decayed plank, were not ex~
actly agreeable to my feelings, and
therefore l cautiously ma e
my way down to terra firma.
BUFORD MOORE.
7 Jackson, Miss, March 20, 1897.
Our young friend. Buford Moore.
the writer of the above communl~
cation, is a Poplarville boy, and is
attending one Of the educational
institutions in Jackson Editor,