Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1918-11-13
The Glory of the Capitol.
By Garrett P. Serviss.

full features of Washington. It reach
es the essentials of monumental archi
lecture as well as the Parthenon at
Athens taught them in its day. 1t is
one of the happy hits of American
genius, like the Federal Constitution.
There is no other thing in Washing
ton so we'll worth seeing and study
ing. But who studies it? The vast
majority of visitors take a glance at
the Capitol, get a passing impression
of huge, towering dome and an
enormous outstretching of architec-
tural wings that glare in the sunshine
as if a gigantic white bird had settled
down upon the city, and go away with
only a confused notion Of what they
have seen. It has stirred their imagi-
nation, but they cannot tell why. It
was mighty big thing" that is all
they are able to say about it.
This is one of the weakest points
in American education-the lack of
any general knowledge or apprecia-
ton of architecture. It is funda-
mental cause of the common ugliness
of our cities and buildings. The A
B C of architecture ought to be
taught in the public schools. Archi-
lecture was mans first great progres
sive art. Birds and mice can make
nests, but they make them the same
now as their predecessors made them
a million years ago. Man began in
eaverns and leaf-covered huts and
bowers in trees, but proved his intel
lectual superiority by rising to the
construction of a Parthenon.
A building like the Capitol is ma
tional symbol. This particular symbol
in Washington stands for the Ameri-
can people, and the people ought to
study it, for it will repay the trouble.
Foreigners judge us by it; to their
ewes it is a token or measure OF our
Importance, as the Pyramids are a
measure of the might of ancient
Egypt or St. Peters Of the historic
greatness Of the Christian Church.
We find that foreigners admire the
Capitol rather more than we do. One
reason is that educated foreigners
generally know more about architec-
ture; another is that they study and
appreciate such things more and bet
ter. They look askapt at some of the
architectural performances Of New
York and Chicago, but they never
smile at the Capitol in Washington. 1t
may help some Americans to be more
attentive to this magnificent Struc-
ture if they are assured that it can
triumphantly bear comparison with
architecture in the Old World. Many
thousands Of the American soldiers
are now passing through Washington,
expecting in a few months TO be
marching to victory through the fa-
nous cities of Europe. They will see
nothing there to make them blush
for the majestic Capitol that symbol
ICES the power Of their own country.
They should look well at it and fix
its image in their minds before they
90. Fs towering form will be an in
spring memory for them.
1t is incomparabiy more splendid
and impressive than the vast houses
of Parliament in London. The palace
in Berlin is barn beside it. Vienna's
splendid Parliament building falls far
below it in majesty. The gorgeous
Kremlin, that whipped Napoleon out
of the heart of Russia with lashes of
flame. is nondescript aggregation
of whitewashed walls, bulb-topped
towers, mushroom church domes, and
gilded minarcts, utterly lacking the
unity and sublimity Of our great pal
ace of democracy.
See if you cannot find for yourself
what are the elements Of the wonder
full impression that The Capitol makes
on your eyes and your mind. Sit
down on one of The stone benches be-
fore its great east front. If you are
an architect, or o connoisseur of
architecture. you will perceive faults
and inconsistencies but no matter for
them; it is the general impression
that counts. Notice the admirable un-
ity Of the design; how, notwithstand-
ing its enormous size, the entire
structure hangs together and makes
harmonious whole. That will be a
lesson for you in the elements of ar
chitecture.
With the great building actually
before you, you will see (what no
picture shows that there is a separ-
ate unity pertaining to the old, CEN