Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-07-15

park and tried to in 10 mind the many
public buildings there, which we're to b.
visited later. The evening Was devoted
to the Congressional Library. No ade-
quate description can ever be given OF
the beauties of this building. The
Library is much larger than It appears
to be, for it covers nearly three aud one
half acres and requires the services Of
five hundred people, continually, to care
for the building and the books. The
walls aud ceilings are a mass Of paint
ings and pictures, mostly symbolic, and
the effect is beautiful beyond imagina-
ton. The museum features of the
Library are mostly seen IN ancient
books, manuscripts and historical dOcu-
mems. Our party was much impressed
by seeing among Others, the letter that
Andre wrote to Washington begging to
be shot instead of being hanged. There
is large department assigned to litera-
ture for the blind. Every minute that
could be spared from other sight seeing
was devoted to this building.
On Monday morning We took the
automobile ride promised in the pros
pectus. This led US past many public
buildings with which Washington is so
well supplied, past the home of foreign
ambassadors, into the part of the city
occupied by multi-millionaires aud
brought a congestion of information.
DULY a few items remain available :
The house designed 10y Stanford White,
a residence that cost million dollars,
the home of the leader of Washington's
society, etc.
Easter Monday is a holiday, locally.
The principal feature is the egg-roiliug
Oh the east lawn of the White House. it
is the only day in the year in which the
public is excluded from these grounds.
Only adults accompanying children
could gain admittsnce. Small folks are
at great premium on this occasion
Later in the day there was an open air
concert by the Marine Band on the park
south of the White House. All the
population of the city seemed to be
there. 1t was also noticeable that while
they all rose to their feet at the playing
of "America', the only tune they cheered
heartily was "Dixie".
The days programme was a strenuous
one. The State, War and Navy Build
ing, the Treasury Building, the Bureau
of Engraving and Printing, Smithsonian
Institute, the Fish Commission Build
ing, the Capitol, ride underground to
the Senate Office Building, the top Of
the Monument, all had to be disposed
of. The first named building is all
given up to offices, aud so, indeed, is the
Treasury Building. We went into the
office of the Secretary of State and saw
the portraits of great many noted men
who had occupied this room. There are
many museum features in both these
buildings. Models of warships, the flag
that was raised over Fort Sumpter, uni
forms of eminent generals, personal
property Of famous men, the most COM
plete collection of postage stamps in the
world, and others. At the Bureau Of
Engraving and Printing We saw paper
money and postage stamps made and
counted in the most careful manner.
We were told that the Smithsonian H.
stitute is the result of family quarrel
over in England more than eighty years
ago. Mr.. Smithson being offended by
the action of his relatives gave his
money to the government of the United
States although he had never been on
this side of the ocean. This gift formed
the foundation of the immense liant
which now reaches round the world in
its various interests and is one of the
greatest factors in the world for the
scattering of scientific knowledge The
building was built by the government.
The fund, originally $4,000, has been
increased to more than 100000, on
which the government pays interest at
six per cent. This income is used in
accordance with the terms of the be-
quest "to increase and diffuse knowledge
among men,. The collection long ago
overlooked the space of the original
building into the National Museum with
its two and one-third acres of floor
space. This last building has been
crowded and overcrowded for a long
time so that recently the New National
Museum has been built, with more than
ten acres of floor space. 1t is expected
that this, too, will be completely filled
within five years. 1t would take months
to do justice to these collections alone,
Next year the exhibits of Col. Roose.
welt will be shown in the New Museum.
We saw the temporary sheds in which
they are being prepared.
(To be contiuued.)
''Heavy work in youth
is sweet repose in old age. -Germar