Evening star., 1902-03-08
As SEEN BY A BR|T0N
A Foreign5Br' IS Estimate of the
Ameffiicah i Capital.
IS A GARDEN CITY
CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY A1oNz
WORTH THE JOURNEY HERE.
White House Should Not Be Changed
Cabinet Compares Favorably
With Any European Ministry.

was designed primarily to reflect the
writer's views of the mayoralty campaign
in New York city, in which he seems to
have been deeply interested, and the views
of the South African war held by promi-
nent Americans with whom he conVersed
while in the United States. There Is incl
dental mention, however, of his impressions
of Washington and the views Sir Wemyss
has expressed are likely to prove of great
interest to all residents of the capital city.
II went from New York to Washington,
| city had long been anxious to see,' he
says. Nothing can be more striking than
the contrast which the political and legis-
lative capital Of the republic presents to it's
chief commercial city. Even at the risk
OF repeating a familiar tale, I must state
| some Of the outward impressions which
washington made on my mind.
"Spacious Bou1evards" and "Flourish-
ing Trees"
Congress, Of course was not sitting, but
the President and all the members Of the
government wero In residence and the
social season Of the capital was beginning
The first idea that Washington conveys
to the visitor Is that of a garden city.
Everywhere fine and spacious boulevards,
planted with flourishing trees. seem to
Numerous squares and open spaces add to
the impression that the city is set in
garden. There are still remaining some OF
the old wooden houses that struck Dickens
and other travellers as being so incongruous
In such place. But they are rapidly dis
appearing, and their place is being taken
by long rows OF handsome villas and by
some stately houses which convey q sense
OF wealth and comfort not less marked
than that created by the best part of 9th
avenue itself. The public buildings would
be regarded with admiration In any Euro
pean capital
The glories of the Capitol have been
told SO often that they need not be retold
mere; but the Congressional Library which
faces the Capitol, separated from it only
by a wide and outrageous green, is a
unique building that can bear comparison
with any modern edfice in the world
inside, one passes from one cleaning white
marble hall to another. until the sense
OF spaciousness becomes almost bewilder-
Ing. The great rotunda devoted to read
ers made me sigh as 1 thought of the like
apartment In the British Museum The
corridors and ante-chambers are decorated
by an almost endless series of mural paint
ings. the work of the most famous artists
the American continent has produced.
Wonders Of the Library.
The true American enterprise and IN
genuity have been shown in the applica-
ton Of ingenious mechanical devices to
the work Of the librarian and his staff.
BY means Of an electrical railway which
runs in and out, upstairs and down. from
the center Of the rotunda to all parts Of the
vast building, 1t Is possible for a reader
to obtain any book he wants within three
and q half minutes Of his application for
1t at the librarians desk. In the storage
rooms there Is a perfect classification of
the books. But what most surprises and
delights the English visitor Is the feeling
that, whilst the great collection Of books
which is gathered here is most handsome
ly housed, there is room for the accumula-
tion Of three or four times the number of
volumes: so that more than one generation
must pass away before any department be-
comes crowded.
There many features of the building
which are novel to the European. Thus
one very richly appointed chamber is de-
voted to members of the Senate. whilst
another and q larger one is reserved for
the House OF Representatives. One room
is given up to the readers of newspapers
including the newspapers Of the current
day. Another enables any citizen who
visits the place TO study at his comfort the
magazines and periodical publications OF
the world.
Many pages might be devoted to a de-
scription Of this noble institution. over
which the chief librarian Mr.. Putnam
presides with much grace and SO genll-
inc an enthusiasm: but l must sum up
every hing by saying that If it were only
for the sake OF the Congressional Library,
stranger who lands on the soil Of the
United States.
Praise for the White House.
The Treasury building. and the great edi-
flee in which are combined the War and
Navy Departments and what corresponds
to our own foreign office. need not fear
comparison with any public buildings in
London. the house Of parliament excepted
EVERYWHERE Of course. within these build
ings as in the Library, the elevator is
in constant use. transporting visitors from
floor TO floor with perfect ease and Won
derful celerity.
But after all to my mind the gem of
Washington is not any one of these new
and vast erections. but the home Of the
President. the old and time-honored White
House | had heard much said in dis
para cement of the official residence of the
chief Of the republic that | could hardly
believe my eyes when the White House
was pointed out 10 me- 1t is literally white,
and it cleaned like FURNISHED silver in
the brilliant November sunshine when l
first saw 1t. Its paramount note is a digni-
fed simplicity. It's like may he found
set in the woods and lawns OF many an
English park. But seldom have l seen such
a building more effectively situated than
the White House at Washington. with it's
foreground of lawns and trees it's great
conservatory and its f1ankng supports Of
the treasury and the administrative offices.
1t looks what it Is not a palace, but the
home OF R6RlleHudll, tne simplicity or
which is not devoid of a certain measure
OF statelinesS. a.
Satisfies the President.
II learned with pleasure from the lips Of
President Roosevelt himself, when I had
the honor of being presented to him, that
he at least recognizes the eminent fitness
of his official home for the purpose to
which it Is dedicated, and that he has no
sympathy with the demand of a section of
the American public for its enlargement or
reconstruction. 1t has curious effect upon
an Englishman., especially after the trag-
edy at Buffalo, to see that the only guards
about the portals Of the White House are
a couple Of policemen. and that men and
women Of every degree are free to enter it
unquestiOned
.'The public receptions in the east room,
where the President was at home to every
citizen who chose to call, and when he
spent an hour or more in shaking hands.
with a long file of undistinguished visitors,
have been abandoned during the present
presidency, and there is a strong feeling in
Washington against their renewal. But
the President is still accessible to any Wis
itor properly introduced, or who can satisfy
his watchful secretaries that he has a claim
to an audience.
I'm my own case / was received by Mr..
Roosevelt Immediately before a meeting Of
NJ. roh.raf and I had the honor ~ y,o,,<.