Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-10-04

ly felt IN the TWO chambers. Inc House OF
Commons chamber is done in light-colored
grayish brown unpublished wood and pale
green leather. The members desks, made
two together, like old-fashioned school
desks, are along the sides of the long room
the government party on the right of the
speaker, I'd the opposition on the left
leaving an aisle down the middle of the
room from the speakers chair to the door
The members on the two sides of the house
face each other instead of all facing the
speaker as in our capitol.
The speakers throne is one Of the most
interesting points about this room. 1t is a
replica of the speakers chair in Westminster
Hall, London. 1t is a real throne Of British
oak, very dignified with it's elaborate cary
ings, and with the royal coat-of-arms over it
This coat-of-arms is probably the most his
torically valuable object in the building. II
minister Hall, building that dates from
1900. The chair and coat-of-arms were G
gift to the House of Commons.
The senate chamber is similar in it's gen.
eral plan to the house. Red leather is here
substituted for green. Both rooms have
brown wood left unpublished. The cracks be-
tween the lroad planks are filled. in with
ebony, and round wooden pegs seen in the
floor take the place of nails.
The decorations, such as gliding Of the
ceilings, marble and wood carvings; and
chambers. The senate, for the present, has
it's walls decorated with fine series of eight
large paintings lent by Canadian artists.
Eventually these will be replaced by mural
paintings. The foundation for the work is
all ready for some Canadian artist to start
work.
A few of the portrait pair tings of past
speakers were saved from the fire to decorate
the dim, arched corridors of the new struct-
ure.
Canada has her Hall of Fame in one of
these corridors where statues and portraits
of her best-knoWn members are to be placed.
This hall ends at the entrance to the par
lament library which joins the building on
this side. The library corresponds to our
library of congress. 1t is not impressive as
a collection, it's 100000 volumes seem in
significant beside our national collection of
100000 books.
The Canadian official library is, however,
beautiful building. 1t is a polygon-a
siXteen-sided edilce-with spires to give it
height, and lavish ornamentation both out
side and in. The outstanding feature of the
reading room is marble statue of the young
Queen Victoria carrying a scepter and a
wreath in her hands.
The fire of 1916 came dangerously close
to the library, which joins the parliament
building on the side Yet very little
damage was done. The parquet floor, warp
ed by water which flooded it, is the only Wis
ible sign of the catastrophe. good many
books were soaked, though, and after five
years. these injured volumes are still drying
out. No artificial heat has been allowed to
hasten the drying process.
The library holds a firm place in the af-
fectlons and admiration of Ottawa. Other
wise, it would before now have been replaced
by a large, adequate structure with stock
rooms reading rooms and offices. This may
be done some day. But in that event senti-
ment would demand that the library be left
just as it is structurally. 1t would probably
be made a Valhalla, something like Stat
uary Hall in the capitol at Washington.
The new library is probably long way
off now The parliament construction bill is
costing Canada between $1O,OOO,OOO and
$11 900, 600, and it is not propitious time
for any but strictly urgent projects. The
parliament building was urgent and Canada
is making a god job of it. They claim it's
is so solid that it should stand s
years.