The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-12-17

y
+ CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY.

By f. r. Hutcnins, Rockville, Nd.

ID II. 4 =. II iiSg F-iAOp NIL.
Il is difficult for one 20 decide among SO
many attractive places in Washington,
which is the most 50. This wonderful IL
brary has always been a strong magnet to
me. Whether / go to get a book or to
spend an hour within its walls, SoT simply
to gaze on it's beautiful features, there
IS always a charm about it THAT no other
building here possesses. Visitors come
from the east and west and look at 1t.
some casually, some carefully: some adj
nire It's exterior, and all go home and say,
Yes, we saw the Congressional library
isn't il great?' and yet not one n q score
or HSre know ANYTHING about It's great
ness. | have seen the same spirit abroad
among American tourists. They will
stand by the ruined walls Of the Coliseum
or the Forum, and impatiently hurry tho
guide away, thinking 1t is enough to have
simply looked at these marvellous places.
So II is with the library. And yet IL 10
one Of the most wonderful places in
Washington.
Its Wonders.
Think of a building with a frontage on
worth OF residence property. It's architec-
ture Is Of the italian Renaissance order.
1t is built Of New Hampshire granite, IL
three stories high, having an area of 4T0x
40 feet, and covers three and a half acres
OF ground 1t has 1900 windows. and is
the best lighted library In the world. Be-
sidGs the three stories, there is a dome,
which is finished in black copper, with
heavily guded panels. The crest of this
eround, ends in a gilded final, represent
Not including the site, the building alone
when it was completed, cost $6,o32,12 4 so.
The library was founded In 1900. Twice
has 1t suffered from fire, the first time in
1914, when the capitol was burned by the
Sometime In the near future L am going
more into detatl and give your readers a.
glimpse of some OF the special beauties of
this building, It's wonderful bronze doors.
its Cofinthlan capitals, its marvellous
fountains. its central stair hall, u~neQualled
in the world, It's exquisite designs In paint
and plaster, on ceilings ana Walls. itH
gorgeous mosaics, etc: In this letter !
want them to get an idea of the vast use
fulnesS of this library. First there are ap-
proximntely 1900, 6@0,O00 volumes here.
Valuable special additions have been made,
sons library, the Force historical coilec-
ton, the Smithsonian and the Toner col
lections; It's great source of increase
there is a deposit Of two volumes of every
book that Is copyrighted. One Of the most
interesting devices seen here is the ar
was the work of b. R. Green, until last
week the Superintendent of the building.
a few days ago he was followed to hts
friends. These stacks consist of q serieh
of cast iron frames, supporting tiers OF
shelves. and rising nine stories up to the
so miles of this shelving In the building,
capable of holding 2,250.OO0 books. The flna!
and holding between 1900, 900 and 5,O10,OU
volumes. From the great reading room.
TO winch everybody is welcome, and to
look at any book desired, an endless cabls
runs down to the basement, and UP
through the stack to the top. and back
again. To it, are attached book carriers,
When a book is called for at the desk,
the slip Is sent by pneumatic tube to tho
clerk in the book stack; he puts the boob
in a receptacle, from which it is taken au-
tomatically by the book carrier, and car.
ried TO the reading room, the whole pro-
cess consuming but a few mlnutes.
Royai Road to Learnine.
7 stood the other day in one Of the al.
coves of the gallery of the reading room,
and looked down upon a great number Of
young men and women, seemingly intent
IN study, I said to an attendant standing
by me, "What does all that mean?' Said
he, they are Students of schools and col
leges within a circuit of so miles around
Washington, and they are getting infor,
nation, sir" 1t was or a Saturday, q
holiday, and I counted 1877 hard at WORK
over their books. There were black and
white, rich and poor, all seeking knowl-
edge. Looking down from the wall1
above Were such quotations as these:
THE history of the world is the biog.
raphy of great men"
Books will speak plain when counselors
blanch.
1.-The foundation OF every state Is ths
education of its youth"
Thus is seen one of the avenues In thia
nations city, that our government Ia
opening up to those who seek for better
and higher things.