Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-12

had chat with a traffic officer who
stood on a dangerous street crossing
and kept the unceasing stream of
automobiles and pedestrians moving
in the right direction.
From this courteous official. we
learned that the government will
tear down all the buildings now
marrihg the approach from the
Union station to the Capitol and
eventually there will be a broad
plaza, where now the approach is
sadly marred by dilapidated build
ings and open fields.
Across the street from the oblig-
Ing blue-coated officer stood the i'm
posing Senate office building. occupy
ing a whole block at a cost of $3,-
| 100000. So far as we could see. but
one officer guarded the front of the
Capitol and as we chatted with him,
we learned that he had plenty of as
sistants, but they were either in plain
clothes or else had disappeared for
| the moment.
Directly In front of the Capitol
and through pretty park we came
upon the magnificent Congressional
! Library. IL there was no sight in
Washington but this, 1t would repay
every traveller for stopping over to
/ see 1t. In fact, it is beyond ade-
! quate description. We venture to
say that no building in this country
If in the world-can compare with
the Library of Congress interior.
1t is beautiful from the exterior
and the Court of Neptune, at the base
of the steps leading to the entrance,
is extremely beautiful. O!d Father
! Neptune sits on a rock. while on
either side are massive figures of sea
| n n CtF-fd ri
snorting water. Turtles and snakes
in the pool spout water over the
| forms of the gods and goddesses and
the play of water is remarkable. r.
/ Hinton Perry executed the sculpture
| in 1897.
One of the features of the ex-
| terror is the real gold dome consist
ing of lax. gold leaf. This is al
ways mentioned by the guides and
the gold -emblazoned dome dazzles
the eye when the sun shines.
| 1t is the interior that commands
the attention. Bronze and marble
and bizarre effects in coloring COM
bino in such profusion that the be-
holder fairly gasps at the beauty of
the walls and ceilings. Marble from
various States intermingles in a va
riety of shades and the stairways
| fects. bewilder the mind and awe
one with their beauty.
We had but fleeting glimpse and
| cannot hope to do more than suggest
some of the things. Taking the ele-
vator, we went to the reading room
gallery, and looking down and about.
the mind was again filled with ad-
miration at the delightful harmony
of the whole. The librarians fulfill
their offices at circular filing cab
| met and outside the railing are the
desks where books may be taken, all
in mahogany. The contrast of the
| red woodwork with the marble walls
and huge bronze figures is delight
fully pleasing.
One could go into ecstacies, but
our stay was of very short duration.
! We called on David E. Roberts, as
sistant superintendent of the division
of prints, but was informed by Miss
Wright, a courteous assistant, that
Mr.. Roberts was at his home, and we
left to catch a glimpse of the White
House and the other government
buildings.
No real American can visit Wash
ington without a thrill of pride in
the magnificent architectural beauty
of the place and the imposing build
ings set apart for governmental pur-
poses.
The next article will deal with the
ride from Washington to Augusta
I and will reflect the mind of some of
the Southern men with reference to
the negro.