Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-05-17
SlOElIehTS ON CONY
HIGH SPRING VACATION
TRIP TO WASHINGTON, D. G.

IhI ~ WAOnINUlUN, y. D.
Among the many pleasant incidents
connected with the Ccny High Wash
ington trip was their meeting with
President Harding. At this time the
party was accompanied BY Senator
Hale and Congressman Nelson and
they had q fifie chance to See the
President, both in q formal and an In
formal mood. When they entered the
Presidents office. he greeted Senator
Hale with CHEEKY Hello Fred" and
this was followed by a short chat with
Congressman John Nelson, In which
he told Of his pleasure at having Mr..
Nelson in Washington.
| After he had shaken hands with
each member Of the party speaking a
word to each and as the party was
leaving the Office. he called the two
men back and invited them to stay to
lunch. This Is really a mark of dis
tinction as many in both branches of
congress have never had that priv
ilege.
Congressman Nelson had also ar
ranged for two Of the best guides in
the Capitol to show to the Cony High
pGrty the various places OF interest.
some OF the members Of the party
had the privilege Of sitting in the
Speakers chair in the House Of Rep
resentatives and in the Presidents
chair In which he sits when he signs
all documents.
At the time OF their visit to the
White House they were singularly
fortunate, as Mrs. Harding was to
give dinner that evening and in pre-
paration for this event the green, red
and blue rooms through which they
passed were banked with flowers. The
dining room was resplendent with a
fine gold service and in the center of
the table was q beautiful mirrored
plaque.
They were taken by Mr. Nelson to
Statutary hall which used to be the
house of representatives. Here they
experimental with the unique whis-
pering gallery. In this gallery, a per-
son standing on certain stone can
hear the whispered conversation of
another person standing at the other
end OF the hall on another certain
stone. At the close of their tour of
the Capitol they dined at the Sap
itol restaurant where the Congress-
men are in the habit Of dining.
They visited the n-American
building and in the room where the
Shantung treaty was signed, they
were interested in its peculiar acous-
tic powers. The thing about this room
that Is so striking is that although a
spoken word carries to all part of the
room. there is absolutely no echo.
Through the courtesy of Congress
man Drain of Florida, the party was
able to visit the navy yard and to go
through the gun shops. They after
ward visited the Presidents yacht, the
MayHower, and upon returning ashore
they inspected the testing building in
which the models of all sorts of bat
tie craft are tested in q large tank of
water. This operation was going on
at that time and was watched with
great deal of interest by the students.
Another thing that some of the stu
dents will remember for a long time is
tho ride on the elevator which they
had in company with "Uncle Joe"
Cannon. Realizing that they were
school youngsters, Uncle Joe asked
them IL they were learning how the
thing was done. They were greatly
impressed by this man ofsnation- wide
fame
When the party visited the Senate,
a lengthy debate on the tariff was
going on. As the party was escorted
10 the section of seats reserved for
them. Vice President Coolidge who
was in the chair and who had evil
IDENTIFY heard that a New England
PARTY was to occupy the seats, bowed
to them. Shortly after they had been
seated Senator Walch of Massachu-
sets asked for roll call and in this
way the Cony students had the priv
iloge OF hearing many respond to their
names. Senator Fernald was not
present at this time as he was con-
fined to his home by illness.
Tho party paid its respects to Con-
gressmen White and Hersey although
Mt the time both men were in the
House. Congressman Beedy Of >the
First Maine Congressional District Of
fered to show them any courtesy Of
tho Capitol
When they visited the Cochrane Art
Gallery, they were fortunate in having
the personal attention of DR.. Brig
ham. professor of art at George Wash
ington University. He pointed out to
them a Corot valued at $4,000 and
an Inness valued at 100000.
At their visit to Mount Vernon they
had fine group picture taken. This
picture will be treasured by every
member Of the party.
On their stop in New York, they
made hurried trip Of the city. Two
things stand out in this tour of New
York. The first is the house owned
by Mary Pickford and the other is the
half hour passed at the aquarium
was one of the most interesting and
instructive parts of the trip.
In Philadelphia on their trip to
Washington they passed a pleasant
hour Mt the great Wanamaker store.
They paid visit to the tennis courts
on the roof and while there they saw