The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-01

nected by wooden passageway cree cd
where the Rotunda now stands. The lead
ing officers OF the invading fo.ce enL1red
| the House OF Representatives. and Admiral
Cockburn, of the Royal Navy (who was CO.
operating with General Rossl, seating him
self in the Speakers chair. called the as
seniblage to order. Gentlemen, sho ted
| he. the question is, shall the harbJr #
| Yankee democracy be burned? All in IA
vor of burning it will say aye!" There
was a mighty roar in the affirmative.
And when he added: Those opposed Will
say nay, silence reigned for moment.
Light upi" cried the Birth admiral,
and the order was soon repeated in all
parts OF the building, while soldiers aad
sailors WED with each other in collecting
combustable materials for their incendiary
fires The books on the shelves of he
Library of Congress were used as k.ndlin Z
for the north wing. and the much-admire |
fuil-length portraits of Louis XVI and lis
Queen, Marie Antoinette. which had been
presented by that unfortunate monarch to
Congress. were torn from their frames an 1
trampled under foot. 1t was afterward
shown that by prompt action ali the book :
pictures. etc, could have been saved be re
the arrival OF the invaders by Causing the r
removal to place of safety. AS it VS.,
all the books and papers of the various de-
paTtinehtS we're preserved.
Books Purchased From Jefferson.
Thomas Jefferson. then living at Mon;i-
cello. and pressed by financial difficulties
sold his magnificent library TO Congress for
se3.95O. and this collection formed the basis
q the present Congressional Library. T.
ferson had arranged and catalogued his
books on a plan borrowed from Bacon's
classification of science, which was. at bis
request, adopted by George Watterson, who
was then Librarian under President Mad-
son.
nr. Watterson was native of Scotland.
who had been brought TO this city when
lad, and who remembered having seen
President Washington lay the corner
stone of the Capitol with Masonic honors
When a young man he became 4 journal
ist. and complimentary poem which he
wrote and published having attracted the
attention of Mrs. Madison. she became his
patroness and eventually secured his APP
pointment as Librarian of Congress
While occupying this position from 1915 to
1929. he wrote several pleasant local
books. and did much toward advancing the
popularity of the Library. 1t was during
his official term that the Library was
moved to the halls which it occupied until
thc VI tuc new II was
in the alcoves OF these old quarters before
they were filled with books, that the
bellies of the Capital used, on pleasant af-
ternoons, TO hold their receptions and re-
ceive the homage of their admirers On
one occasion. SO it WAS said. wealthy
Southern Representative who was CLEAN
ing materials for a speech in an upper
section. heard through the window OPEN
Ing which extended into the alcove be-
meath, the well-known voice Of his daugb-
ter. who was being persuaded by a penni-
less adventurer to elope. The angry par
dent lost no time in going down stairs
calling the previous question. and post
poning the proposed action sine die
In December. 1925. soon after the Id
brary OF Congress had been removed into
its new hall, 1t narrowly escaped destruc-
ton second time by fire. A candle which
had been left burning in one of the gal
leries by gentleman who was reading
there ct late hour the previous night.
WIS the probable origin of the fire. which
assembled to the ceiling. consuming the
books on several shelves. These. how
ever. were duplicate copies Of public docu-
ments. which had been used for filling up
the vacant new shelves. and no works OF
any value were destroyed
Mr.. Watterson was removed during Jack
sons Administration and his place sup
piled by John S. Meehan. also an editor
by profession. who had taken a prominent
part In the political campaign, which es-
tablished the principle Of rotation In Of !