Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-04-01
Special Washington Letter.

The morning spent at the Nations libra
/ ~ was memorable one, and to Vermont
ers this magnificent building is of partic-
ular interest.
Senator Morrill, was chairman OF the
senate committee on special accommoda-
| tioHs for the library, and to him and his
| indefatigabIe efforts is largely due the
credit for a structure costing nearly
/ 81 ,000, 600 and one that will not suffer by
comparison with any in the world. The
| building is of excellent situation in close
proximity to the Capitol and with grounds
laid out to correspond with the spacious
park of the Capitol.
The massive marble stairway approach
| ing the entrance, the elaborately carved
bronze doors, finer than any in this coun-
/ try. and the great height of nearly 200
/ feet, the gilded dome with Its thick coat
/ ing OF heavy gold leaf termineting with
its ever burning torch OF the flame of
/ Science, fill the heart of the beholder with
wonder and reverence for the designers OF
all this architectural beauty. The whole
exterior was of white granite from quar-
| ries in Concord, N. H.; also were used the
darker granite of Maryland, enameled
| brick, which has the appearance of porce-
| lain, the soft Tennessee marble, and that
OF our own quafries OF notified blue at
/ Brandon and the red and white Champlain
marble from quarries in Swanton.
! Italian marble was used in the interior
and is susceptible Of greater polish. The
mosaic floors are OF Italian marble OF geo.
metric pattern and the brown Tennessee
J marble. Some of the corridors are made
/ of dainty bits not an inch in size. The
massive Corintbian pillars and the noble
staircase, with carving and frescoes every
| where, and the arrangements for lighting
| the bronze statuary are most impressive.
| To attempt to describe in any degree the
decorations OF the interior would be folly.
/ Its wonderful gliding and the subdued
tone OF its paintings, so like in touch and
harmony, as il inspired By one great ar
| tistic heart throb, prove that Americas
artists are not void OF soul. All may ex
claim truly that this whole structure is
indeed dream OF dreams.
The work OF the best American artists
| in sculpture and painting may be seen.
There are two who spend their summers
in Cornish, N. H., painting from nature,
and whose work here reflects the highest
credit upon them.
The building was nearly completed by
Brigadier General Thomas Lincoln Casey,
chief engineer of the army. :After his
death in 1896 the work was carried on by
Bernard X. Green, who from he first had
oeen associated with Gen. Casey. His son,
Edward 2. Casey, who was educated
abroad, assisted greatly, or was principal
designer of the interior decorations. Aims
worth r. Spofford, who was appointed by
Lincoln, is still librarian.
The Library of Congress was founded in
1900 and was warmly approved by Thomas
Jefferson, who called il the Library Of the
United States. At the burning OF the libra
nv by the British in the War of 1912, when
Admiral Coekburn OF the Royal navy
cried "Gentlemen, the question is, shall
this harbor of Yankee democracy be
burned?" there came an affirmative AYE
aye - without one nay. The command
came "l.ight up2" and books from the
shelves were used as kindlines. The full
length portraits OF Louis XVI. and his
queen, Marie Antoinette, presented by
that monarch to Congress, were trodden
under foot and destroyed.
Thomas jefferson willed halfof his libra.
nv as a nucleus for new one. The books
OF the present Congressional library in the
Capitol are to be placed in the new library
building sometime during the month OF
August, and the United States may lay
claim to one OF the most us full and beau
tiful buildings in the world and one OF
which all may be justly proud, but which
must be seen to be appreciated.
was present at the opening OF the Su-
preme Court on Monday when the court
handed down its decisions. The stiffness
of the court room was hardly broken by
the entrance OF that august body-Chief
Justice Fuller and Justices Field, Harlan,
GRAY, Brewer, Brown, Shirss, White and
Peekham. An important decision to the
effect that joint traffic agreements are in
restraint of trade and therefore illegal,
and that railroad pooling comes within
the scope OF the sherman antitrust law,
was rendered BY Justice Peckham.
dissenting opinion on the part OF JUS
tices Field, Gray, Sbiras and White, was
read by the latter.
Ex- Senator Edmunds, counsel for the
Interstate Commerce Commission, was no.
ticeable among the many distinguished
lawyers present.
Sunday morning II was my privilege TO
attend divine worship at the Church otthe
Covenant and listen to DR.. Hamlln, its
pastor. Here President Harrison and fam
lily attended and Mr.. Blaine with his fam.
lily, and II was from here that his sou,
Walker, was buried.
The touching story OF Peter was tolu
again to us. The responsiveness and unre-
sponsiveness of the human heart to-,
Christ's teachings was the theme OF the
morning.
In the evening we were at DIR. Sunder-
lands church where President and Mrs.
Cleveland were accustomed TO go, ana
whose pastor united them in marriage
at the White House a few years since
Here we listened to the renowned Rev. i.
Dewitt Talmage, who spoke to us after
the opening service by DIR. sunderland
All Nermonters are interested in the lat
ter. " no was a native of Vermont.
The house was simply packed with peo-
pie who had stood in line Tor an hour
waiting to gain entrance. The familiar
hymn, "Jesus Shall Reign and Others
were sung by the mass OF worshippers led
by the great organ and fine choir.
The text was found in Amos viii 8
"And the Lord said unto me, Amos what
seest thou And ! said plumb line.
Tne impressive manner of telling GODS
l. A. . N.Naaa aansFWg
on the part OF the world to the tower OF
Pisa in the transactions of life could only
be shown by the speaker.
After the service was ended an I'M
promptu reception was held near the desk
and any VINO chose had handshake with
these two remarkable men of our times.
NJ. A. II.