The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-06-01
On To Washington.

ISL, on the steamer SdIIlleH lOI DOSCUIl.
Our party consisted of eleven Belfast
people including the manager, Orrin j.
Dckey. In spite of a thick fog good
landing was made at Camden, which is a
dangerous harbor to make in foggy
weather because of numerous lodges at
its entrance. After leaving Rockland
the fog lifted somewhat but the steamer
dared not risk going through the Mussel
Ridges and passed out through the
Nunroe Island course into the Atlantic
Although not stormy the sea was rough
enough to occasion sea- sickness to not a
few Of US.
Tuesday morning dawned, clear and
bright and good view of Boston harbor
was had from the decks of the steamer,
which arrived at Fosters wharf at a
seasonable hour. The members of our
party took in different points of interest
during the day. Two were met at the
wharf by friends and taken out to Dor
chester on the elevated. After break
fast a fine view of Boston and vicinity
was had from the top of Mt. Ida.
In the afternoon the Boston Public
Library at Copley Square was visited,
This building is made of seven kinds of
marble. Above the main entrance and
under the three central windows are the
, seals of the State, the City and the
Library. Built in the Italian Renaissance
style it surrounds a court in which
fountain plays amid palms and other
foliage On both sides of the monu-
mental marble staircase facing the main
entrance are TIE couchant marble lions
by St Gaudens. gifts from the 2nd and
goth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
in memory Of their comrades who fell in
the Civil War. Ascending the staircase
through double oak doors we entered
upon balcony which overlooked the in
terror court. Two stately flights brought
as to q co]umned gallery from which one
car look down on the great general read
ing rom, known as Bates Hall, 217 feet
in length, stretching the whole length Of
the building. The total number of books
in the library comprises 1000, 900 vol
umes Of which Bates Hall has half
million. Other rooms branch off from
the gallery, including room for young
readers and a room devoted to relics
The magnificent frieze in the delivery
room by Edwin A. Abbey represents the
Quest Of the Holy Grail. Painter and
sculptor have WED with the architect in
making the library place of culture
and beauty--a fitting place for the adj
van cement of learning.
On the way from the Public Library
to the State House we passed through
the Public Gardens, the thousands of
tulip beds frightening up the green tree
shaded walks and the tulip trees lent
fragrance to the air. The equestrian
statue Of Washington by Thomas Ball
stands in the central path. 1t took three
years for the sculptor to model it and it
is considered one of the half dozen really
great equestrian statues which the
world possesses. Graceful white swans
were seen in the artificial pond and the
swan boats were plying back and forth
With passengers. Passing through the
common, once the scene of punishment
for witchcraft, one sees a great many
people seated on the settees enjoying the
cool shade. The Soldiers and Sailors
monument on the hill by the Frog Pond
is on historic ground, for here the British
built redoubts during the seige of Bos-
ton. Intending to climb the dome of the
State House and see the old battle flags
we were told that the Senate was then
IN session and we had no time to wait.
Joining the party at Suffolk street,
South Station, we left by train at 1856
p. H., for Providence, R. l., arriving
there at 5 O'Clock, having only time to
mail few post cards and cross the city
to board the steamer Cretan bound for
Norfolk. Virginia. Delayed by an extra
am cunt Of freight until eight O'Clock we
then steamed slowly down the Provi-
dence River into Narragansett Bay,
leaving the brilliantly lighted city be-
hind and the lights from Newport shining
on our port hand as we passed out into
The Atlantic. Several dredgers were
seen working by electricity. The steam
er Cretan is owned by the Merchant &
Min ers' Transportation Co. which oper-
ates a line known as the Queen of Sea
Rou ties" and has one of the finest fleets
of passenger steamers on the Atlantic
co asst. 1t is built of steel, having large
social hall, luxuriously appointed, and
wide promenade decks. Despite fair
weather a fresh breeze from the north
west made the sea little choppy and
quite number on arising next morning
succumbed to sea-sickness. About ten
O'Clock most of the sick ones wrapped
up in red blankets ventured out on deck.
With no land in sight the time was
pleasantly spent in playing the game of
ring toss on deck and ship-shuffie with
the steward, who was an adept at these
games. Two of our party having cam
eras Snaps" were occasionally taken,
The captain being a favorite shot.