Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-03

miles in all directions. The corner
stone of the original structure was iaiu
with Masonic rites in 1898. Additiohs
and alterations were made from tinie
to time until the building presents at
the present time q frontage of i5l iee''
$50 feet in width, and covers neaiT
four acres of ground with I''i
square feet floor space. 1t is 100 zee
high to the cornice of the main rool,
2SS feet to the crest of the Lipe,'y
statue. The architecture is nouns
Corinthian upon a rustic base. ~ -,
material of the older central pait
Virginia sandstone painted Whito
The newer wings are built or MaSsa
chusetts marble. In front OF tho
building stretches long paved plaza
and three flights of broad steps ieou
IN tn the central entrance and TO eacn
Of tho wings lending a very eHecu'e
annearance of breadth and sohdity "
tho whole structure whose walls arc
,o.,,o,,, hidden by the rows OF mono,
i;.,., e,,tad columns of Maryialiu
,,,.rt,a that sustain the three proau
,nrtioos THE, porticos, Of thes WINGS
H.. ooob 90 columns. upon the
central portico the 'inaugufa''ol ~ ~
presidents has taken piaoe NJ
time of Jackson. Passihs .hious" NV
.nn.so,- bronze door l stood under the
dome Of the rOtunda. me rotuiida 10
,os feet in diameter and lSo rect 10 'he
canonv. Each of the lower wall
snaces carry one of the Dig historic
naintings IS by 20 feet, familiar 10
everybody through innumcrablc re-
nroductions. They are placed even
nnon the paper currency. They are
the landing of Columbus, the discovery
of the Mississippi. the baptism of
Pocahontas at Jamestown, etc.
From the rotunda we passed up the
broad stair case to the floor of the
House and the committee rooms ad-
Joining. We saw where history is
made by the wise men who sat in
council. From the House we visited
the PRESIDENT and vice presidents
rooms, the famous Senate chamber,
and the rooms occupied by the
Supreme Court of the United States
The statues, paintings the priceless
works of art and a thousand and one
gems of our own country and from
over the sea were before us. We ad-
mired them all but they were beyond
description Reluctantly as our time
was short, we had to leave them ana
journey on towards the White House.
the home of the President.
The executive mansion sO-callcd, Is
so familiar to every reader of Ameri-
can history even to the primary school
scholar, that it is needless to attempt
to describe it, 1t was the first build
IN, nSh
back in 1892 The corner stone was
laid with Masonic rites IN the presence
of Washington and occupied for the
first time in 1900 by John Adams, then
president of the United States. The
architect was James HOban who 1t Is
said took his idea of the mansion from
the house of the Irish duke of Lclnstcr
in Dublin who i'll turn copied the
Italian style. The mansion is 10 feet
long by Sc feet in width and sets In
a beautiful park of so acres. stretching
towards the Potomac. Our guide took
us through the various rooms. First
we visited the state dining room, Il
large pleasant room 40 by 80 where all
state dinners are given. The table ac-
comodatcS "a people. The service IN
silver and china are made especially
for the executive mansion and each
and every piece bears the coat of arms
of the United States. The walls or
sides of the room are finished in what
is known as applique relief. The
figures are edged UP to bring them out
like the figures on q medallion. The
ceiling is surrounded with a frieZe OF
garlands about three and a half feet
wide with medallions at intervals
Mounted heads of various animals
adorn the walls, trophies of the
strenuous life. Just opposite is tho
coy little family dining room occupied
by the family. From the dining room
we were uShercd into the red room
by far the contest room in the house
and in fact the most used especially
by the ladies of the White House, as {
| private parlor or reception room
Ornaments and brio -brac give it {
hOmclikc appearance as one finds il
| their own home. The prevailing color
| is Pompciian red. The walls are
covered with portraits of the prcsl'
dents. From the red room WI
| journcyed to the blue room so namct
| for the general color of its decorations
| 1t is here that tho president stand:
while holding receptions. Several wed
| dings have taken place here including
| that of President and Mrs. CLEVELAND
| in 1886. The green room is similar il
| size to the red room but not so prctt.
or homcikc. The cast room, the las
| in the suite, was originally designed