The Elbert County tribune., 1913-10-03


time II has been
the least used Of all the rooms in the
Dig structure. Indeed. in a sense, the
room may be said to have been known
only to guides and the tourists that
they daily pilot through the mazes OF
the marble pile. The mere fact that
the presidents name is borne by this
room has long made 1t magnet for
the average sightseer and the guides
nave learned by long experience to
include 1t In the itinerary OF every
personally conducted tour of the build
ing.
But the men who work in the capi-
tol seldom go near this show place."
and some of them might actually be
puzzled for the moment to direct you
to 1t. If your inquiry caught them un-
awares, This room for the president
hasn't even needed attention from the
painters and decorators as has most
OF the other rooms. Perhaps 1t is be-
cause 1t has been so little used; but
aside from an occasional touching
up here and there very little has
been done for the maintenance OF
this room since the civil war As for
actual use by the president that has
been so rare as to almost rob the
room OF the right to the use of the
name. II chief executive were to
come to the capitol on the occasion OF
any great ceremonial he might be
expected to tarry in the presidents
room until time to enter the legisla-
tive hall, but such visit is of rare
occurrence.
Similarly. on the last day OF a ses-
sion of congress the president may
go to the capitol in order to sign the
bills as they come from the legisla-
tive hopper. but this involves occu-
pancy of the room for only a few
hours each year. 1t may be pointed
out that bill passed by congress
within ten days OF the time OF adjourn
ment falls to become a law unless the
president signs 1t before the session
closes. It is said at the capitol that,
with the exception of Grover Cleve-
land. every president since the time of
Andrew Jackson has repaired to the
capitol to thus facilitate the disposi-
tion Of the legislative business In the
final hours.
The presidents room is one of the
most ornate in the historic edifice. It
is located in the senate wing of the
capitol. at the west end OF the private
lobby which is directly north of the
senate chamber proper and Is gener-
ally considered the most beautifully
decorated room in the building. The
whole ornamentation OF the room is
the work OF Brumidi. the Italian ar
tist. who did so much OF the more pre-
tentious decoration In the capitol
Conspicuous among the paintings in
the presidents room are splendid
medallion portraits of President
George Washington and the promi-
nent members of his cabinet-Thomns
Jefferson. secretary of state; Henry
Knox secretary OF war; Alexander
Hamilton, secretary of the treasury;
Edmund Randolph. attorney general.
and Samuel Osgood. postmaster gen.
eral. President Wilson. when he oc-
cupies this room, will be face to face
with the portrait of Jefferson, for
whom he has great admiration as the
founder of the Democratic party, and
from the fact that his birthplace In
Virginia is distant only a few miles
from the home and tomb OF Jefferson
at Monticello. and that he, as young
man. attended the university which
was founded by Jefferson and which
was his especial pride.
In the four corners OF the presi-
dents room are frescoes of four fam
Gus men. each OF whom has been
chosen as representative of force
In civilization Christopher Columbus
typifies discovery. Americus venpu-
cius signifies exploration. Benjamin
Franklin suggests history and William
Brewster. elder OF Plymouth colony is
representative of religion. Carrying
the same idea further four groups in
fresco beautify the ceiling; to the
north religion, to the east executive
authority, to the south liberty and to
the west legislation. The intricate
mosaic of the floor is quite as ornate
in its way as is the decorations of
walls and ceilings and there is mas
sive chandelier that completes the ef-
feet.