The Washington herald., 1910-03-27
AIM OF BUREAU IS TO PROMOTE
TRADE RELATIONS IN AMERICA
Dedication of New Home
of Unique international
Body Viii Mark Mile
stone in Its Progress.
b. CHARLoTTE N. CoNGER.

By CHARLOTTE NJ CONGER,
No grander OF more appropriate monu
ment could be devised for the men WHIT
conceived and worked for the federation
Of the American republics than the beau
tiful building which has recently beer
finished for the bureau. It will be dedi
Gated on April %. two years. lacking q
few days, from the laying of its corner
stone. The people are lavish with laurel
wreaths for the heroes OF their own day
but they are apt, when applaudlng this
acts OF the quick, TO forget the dead
those who went before. the pathfnders
who made the glory OF the present pos
sble
The federation of the American repub-
lies is no new idea, but almost as old as
the greatest Of these republics The
fathers OF this nation had ii in mind.
and as the various countries in Central
and South America threw off their yokes
as dependencies and became nations the
idea OF a union OF the republics in this
hemisphere was discussed in Congress
Henry Clay fathered it, and later on
James G. Blaine brought it to a success
flu issue by calling the first Pan-Ameri-
can congress. which met in Washington
in the winter of 1SS9-9O
Interest In the plan languished after
his death The idea was not perfectly
understood, and some of the smaller re-
publics were suspicious that the project
meant the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of the United
States br1f Afr
cessoT. Senator Root. took I'D the matter
with enthusiasm and with characteristic
energy they secured the interest and CO.
operation of all Spanlsh-American re-
publics.
Interests Mr.. Carnegie.
He secured. too. the interest and CO.
operation Of Andrew Carnegie, which was
not difficult matter since Mr. Car
negie had been a delegate to the first
Pan-American conference, and is ever in
terested in projects that make for peace.
IN this instance Mr.. Carnegie backed up
his interest by donating S7500OO for a new
building. which its benefactor calls the
Temple of Peace"
The new building for the bureau stands
facing the Mall south of the White
House and 0verlooks the great sweep OF
lawn which has come TO be known as
the White Lot It's architects are KEEL
cey & Cret, of Philadelphia. who were
awarded the contract after a competition
in which many of the famous architects
Of the country took part II is built of
white marble, and cannot be classed as
belonging to any special school Of archi-
b1rf lie
of several made by master minds The
building impresses the intelligent layman
with its simplicity, dignity. grace, and
restraint. There is no structure in town.
to use a stock expression-that seems to |
hang together so we'll or one which gives
such feeling of unity The exterior es- /
pecially the treatment Of the windows 1
suggests the Italian renaissance while /
the interior court, the patio. with
It's broad galleries and monumental stair
ways Is Spanish. but whether Spanish or
Italian, 1t is. taken as a whole one q,
the most pleasing buildings In this mart
u tle "CIld' a great architectural coup.
Entrance Through Portico.
The chief entrance to the building ,s
through a portico between two nvIono
and the facade IS further decorated ~,
two categorical monuments. one renre-
senting North America. by Borglum the
other South America, is the wort oe
Cont Three large bronze grills exouis-
tie in design and execution, open into the
main vestible, which has a vaulted cell
Ing supported by imposing columns ~
antique marble with bases and CAPS Of
bronze
This vestibule leads into the COURTYARD
or patio. which is a unique and interest
ing feature, and on entering il one masses
suddenly from the temperate zone IN the
tropics, The tropical plants. the ouaint
old pavement with flag stones copied from
the ancient buildings and monuments NJ
Mexico and Central America the white
walls. already beginning IN mel q
low the low doors and decorative coats ,
OF arms Of the various repubIics tho :
splash Of water in the fountain the :
ioggia from which one looks down on the 7
scene below, recall some old palace that +
might have been lived in by one of the ,
Spanish conquerors. This court has a !
sliding roof. which can be opened and :
closed at viii by electricity. that viii r
serve as a protection in winter and mako >
I possible to maintain tropical garden .
ne year round
The beautiful fountain destined for the :
enter of the court in keeping with its sur \
and embodying the spirit that .
he artists concerned in the construction
nd decoration Of the building have so in =,
erestingly expressed. is the work of !,
Whitney, wife Of Harry PAYNE :
and a daughter Of the late :,
'ornelius Vanderbilt Mrs Whitney was :,
+ course. born with golden spoon in =,
er mouth, but that has not prevented :,
er from cultlvating with ardor and en- =,
husiasm her talents, and cultIvatine =,
hem to some purpose. for the fountain u,
J a real work OF art. admirably con- ;,
eived, and executed and fitted for The :,
lace il win occupy -
Work OF Patient Woman. ~
It is the work of a woman of tempera- sj
tent talent, and training, who has made In
erseif familiar with the spirit of the tn