The Washington herald., 1913-10-15
RUSSIAN TALKS
OF Washington
Il Like Your Monument and
Library-So High and So
Very Large.
HE IS NO FLATTERER
M. Michael de Bernof Thinks,
Furthermore, that Capital City Is
Provincial and Dull.
HE IS NO FLATTERER

NJ. Michael de Bernoff, of Kiefr. Russia.
Yesterday saw washington In consent
ing to tell his impressions Of the Capital
he said he would have to answer frankly
Then he made few remarks that should
nave loosened the bricks In the govern
ment buildings. When he had finished
tearing down the Capitol he turned To
the Library OF Congress. He praised IL
lin the following words:
There Is one most commeudable thing
about your library: II is so large,
The DAY OF N. de Bernon, yesterday.
began with a visit TO N. Bakhmetefr.
Ambassador from Russia The Capitol.
the Library OF Congress. the White
House, the Treasury, the Monument. ana
tne National Museum were visited by
M. de Bernof.
Washington is provincial In fits
downtown sections" he said. "The
street trafic, the very people, force
one TO realize that II Is truly proyfn-
ciaL II is all administration here.
There is little society. There are few
people. Were it not for the admin
istration 1t would be nothing.
"Yoa Always Copy"
Your Capitol building is a mixture
of different styles-Roman, Greek. and
a-what you call it-mess OF French.
That is its defect 1t is not stylish.
Its ornaments, its pictures, and its
statues are of historic-never artistic
value 1 was not at all impressed by
your two Houses Of Congress-. They
are not pretty. The London House
of Parliament is more beautiful by far.
But your Library Of Congress-! All, I
Ike IL! There is one most supreme. most
desirable thing about IL. 1t is SO very
large. 1t is not artistic. 1t is too snowy
As entered l saw a picture of the
Pompeiian civilization on one side and
a picture of a woman in modern dress
on another. i admire its American en-
cravings. Their only fault Is that they
are not American. They all are of Chi
nese persons I would like to see you
present yourselves. There is no style In
America Always you copy, copy from
different people.
Your White House is tasteful. 1t is
quite artistic. II is too modest for
President; but I suppose that is due to
your democracy. It seems to me too
modest.
THE idea OF your monument TO WASH
ington Is very good. 1t is SO very high.
So like a chimney. II you wish to copy
the Egyptian architecture, you must re-
member that was the architecture of
different civilization. Such monuments as
the Pyramids must speak the imsgina-
tion, so as TO be not only high. but more
No FIatterer, Believe Him.
Washington would be lonely to a per-
son who Is used to life in large cities.
il is very good. most excellent. for tired
people, and for people in Official life who
wish to rest
Your newspapers l like better than
those of New York. They are not so
large, they do not have so many pages.
Also. they are more interesting. They
have more reading matter.
DO not think that because / have
praised your city that l am a natterer.
All. no. What / say / mean. every bit
of it. In Washington yod have the COM
ponent parts for reat city. Without
fiattery 1 may say that. considering the
short time you have had. you people Of
America have made a very good begin
ming. But, 1t must be remembered. your
ancestors had advantage OF English life
before they came here"