The Florence tribune., 1898-06-04
Rev. |. T. Whittemore's Observations in
 Washington.
LETTER NO. 8.

ject with which the former letter closed. Although not as large as the Capitol (which is 751 feet inches in length and 800 feet in width it is a magnificent pile of marble and granite 470 feet in length from north to south and $40 feet deep from east to west. It occupies, exclusive of approaches, three and three-quarter acres. It is the finest library building in the United States and probably in the world. The entire cost was $6, ,360 ,000, and strange to say, instead of exceed ing the limit set by Congress in 1888, it fell below it by $140,000. Somebody was honest and set a worthy example for others. To General Casey belongs the honor of having the management of it's construction and disbursing of funds until his death in March z6th. 1896. It was eight years in construction and everything in connection with its erection from foundation to dome was executed in an artistic manner. Nothing was sighted. It was not the work of one man but msny-the civil engineer, architect, artisan and artists of nearly every.profession. from the stone quarry man to the sculptor, painter, electrician and designer. While in magnitude and hairht ;fr -ofurda d1oc 1of aonal tho of the Capitol, it excels in artistic taste and elegance. It is to art what the Grand Canyon of the Colorado is in nature-simply unapproachablel As you view it from the west its colossal proportions, it's exquisite and unique designs and the harmony of its parts and delicate finish os its architecture impress you as a wonderful combina- tion of skill, beauty and adaptation of means to an end.
 The first thing that attracts your at- tention is the bronze fountain in front of the entrance pavilion representing the Court of Neptune, with conch- blowing tritons, sea-nympths riding sea-horses, frogs and turtles. Here let me quote from the Standard Guide:
 THE THREE BRONZE DooRs-TRADI- TIoN.-This is typified as a woman re- citing her story to boy, who leans upon her knee and looks up into her face. Grouped before and listening to her tale are four epresentative types of mankind. To her right is a Morse war rior with winged cap and battleax, and by him a shepherd with his crook. On her left sat primitive man with his stone ax, and an American Indian with his arrows. The Indian figure is por- trait of Chief Joseph, of the Neg Perces In the left panel is Imagination with the Tyre, emblematic of recitation and song in the right stands widowed Mercury claspiug the sword and hell met of her dead. The genii below sup ports on one side the wings of Imagination; on the other the memo rial urn.
 The above is the door at the left. That on the right symbolizes Writing. This is mother instructing her chil. dren from the written record of the scroll. On one side is an Egyptian scribe with his stylus, and Jewish patriarch; on the other Greek with a l Tyre and Christian with the cross. h the panels are Truth with mirror and serpent, and Research with torch.
 The central door represents the Ar of Printing. The large tympanun represents Minerva presiding over tht Difficulties of the Products of tht Typographical Art" The goddess seated in the center, holds upon he lap an open book. Two winged figure of youthful genii are her envoys, con veying to mankind the blessings o learning and literature. By Minerva' side is her owl. Other suggestions ar, tiC uOuA S Adoos 1uS Olu-AdShiOHCt printing press, the stork and winged pegasus. In the mirror tympanum
 cartouche set in garlands of frui bears the legend" Homage to Gutten burg" the inventor of printing. | each of the panels is an idealization, i form of graceful female figure i brocaded robes, upholding in each han a flaming torch.
 The one on the right as we enter Intellect; on the left Humanities.
 The exterior walls of the buildin are in the form of a great rectangls : which encloses a cross dividing tn l open space within into four courts each 150 feet long by 75 or 100 fee wide. At the intersection of the arm of the cross is an octagon, serving g
 the main reading room, and conspicl !. ous by reason of it's dome and lanterl
 rising 125 feet in height. The lanter
 is surrounded by great blazing tore with gilded fame-the emblemat ,. torch of Learning, which marks u '' center and apex of the building Il
 feet above the ground.
 In the next we will enter the bull