The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1911-07-21
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R UPWARD OF 10000 people an
b nually visit the Capitol build
"a ing in our national capital
~ city. They see the rotun-
da, the marble room, the
presidents room, statuary hall, the
hall of the house of representatives,
and the senate chamber; but there are
wonders and beauties within that
building that visitors never see.
In and by itself, the capitol is real
ly a wonderful white-walled city. 1t
is city under an immense roof, sur
mounted by a marvellous dome; city
containing a permanent population;
city having all of the comforts and
conveniences that are to be found In
any populous modern city. Facts con-
corning this wonderland were recently
disclosed by one of the veteran resi-
dents Of that walled city to one who
had long imagined that he knew the
capitol fairly well.
In this white-walled city there are
two excellent restaurants; two halls
for the greatest debating societies In
the United States; two post Offices;
five barber shops; seven telegraph
Offices; a labyrinth of local and long
distance telephone connections; f1ve
perfectly-appointSd sanitary bath
rooms; two stationary and docu-
ment rooms; two complete libra
ries; a great storeroom containing all
sorts of machinery appliances; a
blacksmith shop; q machine shop, a
carpenter shop; big paint shop;
a perfect cabinet-maker's shop, where
all sorts of furniture is made and re-
paired; a large plumbing shop with
an army Of plumbers, all of them busy
and we'll paid; two splendid modern
sanitary kitchens for the restaurants;
a tool room that is model and a mar
vel; superior cooks, and corps OF sal
aried walters that are unexcelled in
any city; an underground connection
with the great library of congress,
whereby all of the books in that per-
feet storehouse of knowledge and
learning are placed at the instant dis
posal of the great men and small men
who people this wonderful white
walled city beneath the dome and
roofs OF the capitol.
When you consider the lilies Of the
field" and study their miraculous beau
ty with a microscope, and realize
that Solomon, in all his glory, was not
arrayed like one of these" you may
also consider the wonderful walls
of the ground floor of the senate wing
of the capitol, and realize that Solo,
mons temple was not beautified as
are these walls. Every inch of them,
every pinpoint, glistens, glitters and
glimmers with the genius Of the brush
of the great Brumidi; In some re-
spects the greatest designer, decora-
tor, fresco artist and portrait painter
in the world; and yet, man of whom
you may have never heard.
Well, the walls OF this walled and
rooted magical city were decorated by
a man more than fifty years of whose
life history may be stated in less than
fifty words. He was born In Italy, was
educated In art and stood at the head
of his classes. He became a revolu-
tionary soldier, was ultimately defeat
ed. captured, imprisoned and banished
from Italy, when fifty years old. Then,
after more than twenty years of a
stormy life, he came to America and
timidly took up the brush to see if with
1t he could earn living. Very soon
he demonstrated that he was still at
the head of his class, the best fresco
artist in the world.
Now for the reason that you never
heard of this remarkable man. AS
soon as his superior merit had been
demonstrated, he had alluring offers
to 20 to large cities and make for him
self fame and fortune. He declined
every offer and he spurned every al
lurement. Constantine Brumidi became
an intensely patriotic American citi-
zen. His daily prayers were an
swered. He lived to work for q years,
and he made the capitol of his adopt
cd country the most beautifully dec
Grated capital in the world.
This wonderfully walled city is the
best place in the world for art stu
dents to visit, to spend their time and
develop their talents.
You should see the iangth of the
capitol, and then study Its strength.
stand on the ground floor at either
the north or the south end of the
building, and look all the way to the
other end, distance of 751 feet.
Then walk to the center of the build
ing where there Is white star in the
floor, and you will be in the crypt be-
meath the rotunda. Look around you
at the massive pillars and the arches,
and realize their strength. These
walls uphold about 100000 pounds
OF structural iron and steel In the
great dome.
There are two public restaurants in
the walled city, and back Of each OF
them is a private restaurant for sen.
ators and representatives.
At either end of the walled city
there are splendid bathrooms. but
these are not for the use of the en-
ployes Of the house of representatives,
nor of the senate, but for the states
men.
The senate library is one of the
most complete to be found in any city,
and the library of the house of repre-
sentatives Is also an excellent one.
Thousands Of people use the thor