Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-17
HOME OF UNCLE SAMUEL
PREH|EST IN THE LAND
Even the Front Gate. Leading to
His Workshops, Is
Inspiring.
Easter Pilgrimages of Students De-
clared to Be Fine Idea, by
Henry Turner Bailey.

Henry Turner Bailey. in the School Arts Magazine
Uncle Sam is the most considerable
personality in the western hemisphere
Greater than any single citizen. greater
far than Father Knickerbocker' cor
Mother Bluestocking. greater than
the personality Of any one OF the forty
six sovereign states, his house lot-the
District of Columbia, his home-the
city of Washington, are. appropriately,
more spacious and more beautiful than
those of any other American.
It's fine to see the idea spreading
among high schools that senior pill
srimage to the home of Uncle Sam
during the Easter vacation is the
proper thing.
His offce-the Capitol: his work.
shops-the various department build
ings: his library. his picture galleries,
his museums, his parks. are all we'll
worth seeing. In fact, trip to Wash
isfaction if one saw only Uncle Sans
front gate and the views from the walk
inside.
Uncle Sans Front Gate.
This front gate is the new Union sta
ton. 1t is a handsome great building,
about 900 feet one way by 500 the
other. Its motives were drawn from
the triumphal arches of Rome, but the
scale of the whole far exceeds that of
the original structures. The three
arches of the main entrance are fifty
feet high. Even the arches of the end
pavilions rise forty feet.
But size is not a test of excellence.
Look at its mass, its main lines, its de-
tails. How we'll it holds together as a
whole! The eye, taking it all i'll at
10 aoti Oft 1Iy,aS
are vertical or horizontal, or echo the
lines of the arches. There are no dis
tracing elements. The whole is at
rest. All the parts are at peace with
the building itself notice the details
the symbolic guardian figures, the in
scriptions in classic lettering cut in
the stone above the great arches. Take
time to read them all.
Concourse Impressive
The size of the passenger concourse,
or train lobby. and it's long perspec-
tives are impressive The first sight of
the floor, 100 feet wide and 7sO feet
long, is enough to make one take
deep breath. Its arched ceiling, with
it's decorated panels. some of which
transmit the light, is a thing of beauty.
In form in color the richest scheme
is that which within an evident unity
presents the greatest variety. This con-
course, the largest in the world, Is also
the finest.
The general waiting room has clear
width of 1870 feet. and length of 22o.
The vaulted ceiling rises 80 feet above
the pavement. Rome at her greatest
never possessed hall of such proper
tions. 1t is lighted By two erni-circu-
lar windows, seventy-five feet in diam
eter, and ten others thirty feet in diam
eter. The color scheme Is cream white
and gold
Two other railroad halls in America
are worthy to be mentioned with this
those of the Grand Central station and
of the Pennsylvania terminal, New
York city. That in the terminal is
loftier and more imposing: but not
parts. except, perhaps. in the matter of
color.
Symbolic Figures on Guard.
Symbolic figures of heroic size guard
this gathering place of all who come
and go. The hall should be seen by
night az we'll as by day. Under the
glow Of the screened lamps it is more
golden. It takes on hitherto I'M
suspected beauty. 1t exalts the ideal
itself had created 1t greets the be-
lated traveller with a moro than royal
welcome, never to be forgotten.
The setting of this vast building is
adequate. Go out upon the plaza in
front Look at the light posts, the
fagstans. the fountains. especially that
of Columbus. AS you stand there by
the central fountain, the towering dome
of the Capitol is before you. Nine
streets radiate into the city. IL Uncle
Sans children were to visit him Il mil
lion at a time. there would be room
enough here to receive them all with
out crowding.
This station is, after all, but q bright
prophecy of what Washington IL to be
the embodiment of the
spirit of great and opulent nation Of
free men and women for whom the best