The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1911-04-06

LAST Years Corn Contest. Writes
some Interesting History About
These Departmcnts-Takes Look
# George Washingfon's sword.
After visiting the White House we
,fsifcd the State, War and Navy De-
r.z-tnent, which Is just across the
street from the White House.
with a frontage Of 342 feet on
pennsylvania Avenue and depth Of
sos feet, the four-storied granite
structure OF the State, War and Navy
Department ranks as the largest and
most magnificent Office building In
the world 1t has 500 rooms and
over two miles OF marble halls. The
gtafrways are Of granite with balus-
-ers OF bronze, and the entire con-
ztruction is fireproof. For the re-
cords and archives deposited within
it, walls are priceless and beyond
restoration.
The War Department occupies the
vest wing, the Navy Department the
east wing, and the State Department
the south. The main entrance TO all
OF these is on the Pennsylvania Ave-
nue. front. The Offices of the Secre-
taries on the second floor are access
ible only to- those on business. But
the richly furnished rooms may be
inspected.
The walls of the corridor OF the
Secretary of Wars Offices and the
ante-room show series of portraits
Of Secretaries, beginning with Henry
Knox 1789, Washington's first ad-
ministration), and including many
men whose names are household
words in many American homes. or
chief and peculiar interest are Hunt
ington's portraits of Grant, Sherman
and Sheridan, the three frames
grouped with drapery of the stars
and stripes and a silken standard of
the arms of the United States.
On the opposite side of the hall
are the headquarters of the army and
the Office of the commander-in-chief
In the hall above are shown models
of the uniform of the army at various
periods of service. Among the group
is one which represents the dress OF
Washington's life guard. The service
formed in 1916, consisted of $50
men, who were carefully selected for
their soldierly qualities and trust
worthiness. Each of the thirteen
States are represented. The duty Of
each member was to serve as a
special body guard of the General,
his baggage, papers, etc. The motto
of the guard was Conquer or die"
In the ante-room of the Office of the
Secretary of the Navy may be seen
portraits of former Secretaries. The
series is incomplete. In the corridor
are models of war vessels. The
Naval Library is on the fourth. floor.
In the ante-room of the Secretary
of States Office are portraits Of for
mer Secretaries, with others on the
diplomatic reception room, the salon
in which the Secretary receives for
eign ministers
The State Library on the third
floor, south corridor, is the most in
teresting room in the building, not
alone for its fifty thousand volumes,
rare and valuable as many of them
are, but for the national heirlooms
treasured here. Foremost among
these is a facsimile of the Declaration
of independence. Near the facsimile
hangs the original of Thomas Jeffer-
sons first draft of the instrument. It
is in his hand with interlineations by
Franklin and John Adams. The orig
inal of the Constitution and of Wash
ingtons commission as commander
in-chief are preserved III the safe.
Other objects Of interest are dis
played
The sword of Washington is en-
cased in a sheath Of black leather,
with silver mounting. The handle is
of ivory, pale green, wound with sill
yer wire The belt of white leather,
has silver mountings.
The sword was among the four be-
queathed by Washington to his four
nephews This one was chosen by
Samuel Washington, who willed it
to his son, Samuel T. Washington, by
whom it was presented to Congress
in 1S43. There are also shown some
volumes of Washington's Diaries.
The Staff of Franklin. Franklin
bequeathed it to Washington, his will
providing: "My fine crab-tree walk
ing stick, with gold head, curiously
wrought in the form of the cap of lib
erty, I give to my friend, and the
friend of mankind, General Washing
ton. If it were scepter, he has
Cd nd
Hickory, n. c., April 8, 1911.