Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-19
IN WASHINGTON.
The Maine G. A. r. Party Visits the National
Capital.

Washington. d. c.. Sept l6- tSpecial)-
We were glad to get away from Philadel
phia on account of the continued heat.
which had become oppressive as from
New York to the city Of ''brotherly love-.
so from the latter city Mr.. Merrick. al
ways thoughtful. preceded his party 10
Washington. II not in person. by a room
ing list and on arrival We were quickly
disposed OF. After dinner. tsupper IN
Names latitude.) some begun their round
of sight seeing. but most of the party
rested for the next morning. MIR. Mer
rick had laid OUT regular course for all
who wished. and most awaited The mselves
of his provision for them.
We have now been here one day and in
that time. by hurrNing IN every direction.
n little OF good many faces has been
seen. most of which are known or known
about by the reat'ers of the journal. ana
the writer can aH.e little else than Il
cursory glance 10 the buildings and places.
here, every one of which is worthy de
tailed description.
Hotel Nendome is on Pennsylvania av
enue. but short walk from that MODEST
and most beautiful national Capitol
building in the word. That was the first
attraction for some of the party and to
sand in tie rJtun1a. looking UP to the
great dome $50 feet above. with its mag
nificent paintings. TO stand in front OF
Lincoln's statue. great, honest, carcworn
in countenance. - look at the great he
roic figures and pOF Rats adornIng the
walls. to Climb The iron stairway to the
top of the GomC-IhCse we've among the
things 10 dO-and We did them. Once up
in that dome no one that can make TAG
trip will regret the effort made 70 get
there. If Ii is to be the dome of the Cap
ito or the Washington monument then
let II be the former by all means, 50 far
as view OF scenery is concerned. From
the monument the eastward view Is very
much Obstructed by the Capitol itself.
while from the Inter one is at the hub
of the wheel and radiating in every di
rection are the magnificent avenues,
hOllle wards and streets. enough OF them 10
'.box the compass" Every time that
Ross Sheppard comes to Washington
now he is given a reception which kings
might envy-and ne is not honOred beyond
his worth. In one generation NOR
Washington will be the most beautiful.
city in the world. 1t can extend almost
eternally in every direction. and the gen
eral plan and scope of Mr.. Sheppard nev
er can be changed or broken. He has
changed the capital city OF Il great IA
ton from the filthy, unmeaning. gro
tesque and southern style of layout, to
that of decency. order and beauty-which
cannot be broken up. as before stated
people are justly proud, and also of that
generous iiberality with which those
buildings have been provided and sur
Rounded, but nothing can they be prouder
than of the way in which the future reg
tilarity and beauty of the great city have
been guaranteed.
building stands easterly from the CAPT
toll. and next adjacent. This is new
building completed TWO years ago WITHIN
the contract time. and within the appro'
priation-two remarkable facts when the
Building itself is understood 1t is said
here to be the finest building in the world
land after an examination that state
ment can be accepted for fact. without
any mental reservation whatever. The
library building has frontage upon four
streets has 1000 windows and covers near
~ three and one half acres. tThe full de
scription of this wonderfully beautiful
building can be found in guide books. and
only few OF tire more attractive ana
imposing points and features will be men
toned here.D In shape the dome is much
like that of the Capitol. but is finished in
black copper. the panels heavily coated
with gold leaf. which makes it central
object for the vision on approaching IN"
city from every direction save from the
west up PENNSYLVANIA avenue. when 1t *
hidden by the Capitol Itself.
If the approach to this building Is mad
through the rotunda Of the Capitol in
stead Of around the Capitol one may no;
at first appreciate its dimensions, those OF
the Capitol are 50 immense; but passing TO
the north or south around the latter, on d
indeed great as well as fc!utiiul. the
building has three stories. The ground
floor contains the office Of he superinten-
dent the book bindery and receiving
rooms. All Of its corridors are wains
roted with American marble. The en- !
trance Is by the massive stairWays q
the entrance pavilion Inere are 1oug
other pavlions, each adorned with L
columns of the Corinthian order. me
bronze doors through which You pass 10
the library floor cost $li.oo,ahd the IN :
terror is In keeping with them. Your
correspondent was from down east; IN
$4,000 was ''paralyzer; henceforta
while in that building he was prepared Tor
anything. All of the work. and II was
endless in its variety. was not only beau
tfful to the eye--it was intricate IN de
sign and every flower. figure. leaf ana
fruit was cut into the marble with most
minute perfectures. In no other apari.
ntent can be seen more artistic handlwoIk
than in this central stair hall. lined on
every side with polished Italian marble,
the lofty columns. with their elaborate
capitals. and the arches adorned WITH
rosettes, palm leaves and follated de
signs all of the most exquisite ilnish.
the marble balustrades leading up Oh
either side the newal posts Of the star
way. enriched by festoons Of leaves anu
flowers. and surmounted by two bronze
lamp bearers for electric HghtS-tniS
beauty and masniicence on every side
and rising to the great height of - feet
TO the skylight-this will please. dazZir.
charm and hold one entranced. ! cannot
write a stronger word than to say an
through this building the same charm eX
lists the same beauty meets the tye-and
10 see Just this entrance nall to the con /
sfessional library building is well worth
The Journey to Washington.
The system used here for holding the
books is called the stack system. II being
east iron frame works supporting tiers OF
shelves. rising in nine stories, TO the rool |.
The shelves are of rolled steel. and ar"
as smooth as glass. and of this shelving
there is at this time forty four miles or
enough for 20S5,l 20 volumes. and the ca
pacity of the first and second stories IS
for $500. 100 volumes more, while me ulti
mate capacity. without using any Of the
west front. is i.50D,0UO and the grand total
CAPACITY Is about 100000 volumes. Any
American citizen can be admitted TO the
reading room during open hours, can ca j
for any book. and can sit at desk all
by himself and read to his hearts con
tent This gives to the library coSmo
pblitan feature that appeals TO the do
minion people. that all of this richness
and splendor more than oriental. IS not
alone for the President and his cabinet
not for Congress not for the -four hun
drads but for anybody and everybody
And then when one is in the reading room
those outside. although they can LOOK
down upon you. must observe the utmost
quiet. r 49,
4 have mentioned the richness OF thF
sculut,Iring in this building. but tl'
PAINTERS hand and art are To be seen eN
rrywhere Among the more noted paint
ings are those in the corridor Of the con
gressional reading room, and 70 give tht
Journal readers IN idea Of the majestic
subjects and quotations chosen by th'
great artists to adorn the interior two ~
three only are chosen: Jason enltSting me
en- feece-and inscribed with this from
Tenny sons Ulysses.
"One equal temper of herni, hearts mad,
weak by time and fate.
But strong in will 10 strive. to seek. L
find, and not to yield
Pandora holding the box from which