Pueblo chieftain., 1921-10-01
By rRnppR1c !. HAsK1N

Ottawa Canada. Sept 2-The
place about which public life in this
city revofves fs Parliament Square.
Ordinarily, the Parliament building is
dignified background for the legis-
lative and government business of the
Dominion. But right now, interest in
the building itself is keen, for the new
Parliament building In nea ring compile
tion. By next year. it win be entirely
furnished. rave for some of the detail
carvings which may keep workmen
busy for 10 or Z years longer.
It was on the night of February 3,
1915, you may remember. that the
Canadian Parliament building burned.
Tho catastrophe was thought by many
people to be the work of an alien enemy.
perhaps an employee In the building.
Investigations left the big fire as much
of a mystery as the bomb expiosion in
wal, street has since become. The
Parliament fire may have been an ac-
cident. but Ottawa recalling the at
tempt on the Capitol at Washing ton
during the war. still suspects inccn-
diary motives.
Congress- was sitting In night session
when the fire broke out at o'clock.
The members escaped just in time. The
city water power was not sufficient to
reach the top of the tall central tower
Of the building and 1T was Quilted.
What WAS left of the great building
was so wrecked and waterlosged that
attempts to renovate IL were futile.
So canada set out TO rebuild and tn
raise a finer cdifice over the ruins of
tho old one. The first Parliament
building. which had stood since 1855.
was regarded as one of the most fam
GUS structures in North America. and
the new one promises to be oven more
distinguished.
4t 80 al t1@S
than before tho building from the ex-
terlor looks in general the rame. both
for sentiments sake. and because IL
must conform to the East and West
Rlocks-buildings on either side which
correspond more or less to our house
and senate office buildings. 1t is,
therefore. OF cream colored sandstone.
which time darkens to rich. warm
shade.
The building Is thirteenth century
Gothic in style. with all tho carvings.
gargoyles. arches. and angles that go
with this cathedral type OF architec-
ture.
A GREAT BUILDING
It is in outline n very long building
with low towers at tho cornerv and n
very tall tower and spire rising 300
feet in the middle Thia tower Ia to
hold carlton of ~ bells. In 1t. toe.
Ono Canadians who lost their lives in
the war. France. Belgium. and Great
Britain have sent stone to build this
memorial room. The floor is black
Belgian marble. The columns are Of
st. Anne's marble. In the center on
a dais ia to be a Doomsdsy book in
scrihed with the names of Canada's
fighters in the war, and in the floor
will be a record of the regiments.
The whole building is in many wsvs
war memorial. On the exterior, for
instance. there is arch in the stone.
decorated by carvings. Letters cut in
the stone spell Nimy Ridge. recalling
one of the big Canadian victories.
vimy Ridge, Canadians rnsard as the
place where they gave the confident
Kaiser his frat fright SO the carving
shows on ono side Of the arch typi-
cal German head. cut in relief with the
eyes blipdfolded. representing the
German people at this time. Opposite
Is the head of the Kaiser with his mus
tsche TUNED down ana an expression
Of dismay OF his face. And ahe.r, :hc
story IS completed by a carving of y
vicious looking roat--the kaiser's.
The carvings about tho building arc
full oG interest. There are nunthcriesa