Evening star., 1902-03-08
VISIT TO THE LIBRARY.
Enjoyable Feature of the Princes STAY
in This CITY.

One OF the features Of Prince Henry's
stay In this city which has not been ex-
plotted was his visit Of twenty minutes to
the Library Of Congress. The prince was
particularly interested in this institution
through the reason that the city Of Berlin
Is just now agitating the question of In
creased library facilities, and after his
brief survey OF the magnificent institution
on Capitol Hill he expressed regret that
more time was not allotted for a closer in
spection. and said he should endeavor to
seek an opportunity for another visit.
The prince and his retinue went to the
library directly after the Mckinley me-
mortal services at the Capitol Librarian
Herbert Putnam and number Of his as
sjstants. including Bernard r. Green. super
intendent Of the building: Chief Clerk AL
word and Superintendent of the Reading
Room Hutchinson. received and conducted
the royal guest and his staff through the
building.
No time was spent in formality. The
party at once ascended the magnificent
marble stairs to the third floor, where they
were ushered into the gallery of the main
reading room Every one of the hundreds
Of electric bulbs in this 'the noblest room
In the world" was shining. The spectacle
fairly took the breath of the foreign gen.
tlemen. and for an instant the only audible
expression heard were gasps of astonish-
ment. and the rolling Of the cultural Ger
man "r' as the magnitcence Of the spec
tacle swept over the party.
From this point the topography of the
building was explained, as we'll as the sys-
tenn Of getting books from the book stacks
to the readers. The prince asked about the
constituency Of the library and seemed
much impressed when told that there was
no restrictions regarding the use of books
by the general public and no formality to
be complied with In obtaining for perusal
any one Of the million volumes on its
shelves
The descent was then made to the second
floor. where the exhibit of prints took up
the attention of the party for some minutes.
This feature of the library was no less
pleasing than surprising to the prince by
reason of the magnificence and extent Of
the collection Of etchings and wood en-
cravings to be seen. The Gardiner G. Hub
bard collection. as well as that of George
Lothrop Bradley and T. Harrison Garrett,
make one of the finest artistic displays in
this line to be seen. The wood cuts OF
German school Of the fifteenth and six
teenth century especially attracted the ad-
miration Of the prince, and he was doub,y
astonished when told, in answer to his
query. that they were originals
As the party descended to the main floor
Of the building the crowds in the corridors
demonstrated their welcome to the prince
by waving handkerchiefs and hand clap
ping. To Mr.. Putnam the prince expressed
his sense of the friendly treatment he was
receiving and the kindness with which
the public seemed to regard him.
The congressional reading rooms were
next inspected, and the royal guest be-
slowed his most admiring glances on the
apartment set aside for the exclusive use
of senators. From the periodical room,
which was next seen. the party entered the
maze of the south book stack. Here the
book railway was shown. and the prince
inviluntarily exclaimed "An ammunition
hoist" as he saw the griled carrier lift
load of books from a like-constructed shelf,
and bear it away toward the reading room.
The books were followed into the main
reading room, where the other end OF the
railway was shown. The book tunnel to the
Capitol was described. and after hurried
fnspection of the north book stack the
twenty minutes allotted for the view OF the
library had elapsed and the prince departed
with the sentence on his lips. This is the
most Interesting building have ever seem