davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1923-06-04
THE Smithsonian Institu.

The Smithsonian Institution is
unique establishment for the further
ance of knowledge by carrying on or
aiding general researches in all
physical, geological, biological or an
thropological-the study of celestial
bodies. the earth, it's life, and man
himself-the promotion of art and dis
semination of the results of its in
vestigations by the distribution of
its publications throughout the world.
The Smithsonian buildings are on
the Mall about midway between the
Capitol and the Washington Monu-
ment. They comprise the Smithsonian
building. completed in 1855. with the
institutions administrative offices;
bureau of American ethnology, libra
ries. the national herbarium, the eX
hibits Of graphic arts. and the offices
of the International Catalogue of
Scientific Literature; the Arts and In
dustries building erected in 1881: the
Natural History building completed
in 1911. and the building for the Freer
art collection-erection begun in 1916
which was donated by Mr.. Charles
l.. Freer Of Detroit to house the ex-
tensive and rich collections of objects
of art presented by him to the insti
tuition.
The Smithsonian Institution has
six branches: the National Museum.
including the National Gallery of
Art; the international exchange serv-
ice; the bureau of American eth
nology: the National Geological Park |;
the astrophySical observatory. and
the new United States regional bureau
of the International Catalogue of
Scientific Literature.
Visitors are admitted daily from 9
o'clock in the morning until 4:30
O'Clock in the afternoon, except Sun
day.
Evening star., 1923-06-04
Arlington National Gene.
terN

Arlington National cemetery. where
sleep the heroic dead of the nation
Blue, Gray and khaki-iS on the Nir-
ginia heights of the Potomac opposite
Washington. This halDwed ground
is really a significant part of Wash
ington. 1t can be reached by the
Washington-E Virginia railway and by
sightseeing busses.
The Arlington House. generally
called the Custis-Lee mansion. was
built in 1902 by George Washington
Parke Custis. grandson of Martha
WASHINGTON, who, with his sister,
Nelly Custis. was adopted by Gen. and
Mrs. Washington of Mount vernon.
George Washington Parke Custis in
herited the great estate from his
father His only daughter. Mary.
famous as Gen. Lee, and, being the
only child of her parents, she inner
tied Arlington. 1t was upon its wide
front porch that the great Confed-
crate general. gazing across the river
at the then feeble lights of Washing
ton. pondered all through the night
and finally reached his decision to
cast his lot with the seeding states.
During the civil war the mansion
was used as a hospital and afterward
Arlington estate was taken over by
the government for a national Ceme-
terry. 1t is a place of great beauty.
a fitting spot for the repoSe of the
nations dead. On the monuments and
headstones will be found the names
representing the soldier dead of all
our wars.
Arlington may be reached by troll
lev from 18th street and Pennsylvania
avenue every twenty minutes or by
sightseeing bus. 1t is open to visit
orS from sunrise to sunset.
Evening star., 1923-06-04
tThe COrcoran Gallery of
Art

The Corcoran Gallery of Art was
given to the city Of Washington by
the late w. w. Corcoran. who built
the original building at the corner of
18th street and Pennsylvania avenue,
now the United States Court of
Claims. He left provision in his will
for the new building which now
adorns the corner of 18th street and
New York avenue. A school of draw
ing, painting, sculpture and design is
now established also in the art gal
lery, which has many beautiful and
famous specimens of painting and
sculpture. There is also a loan ex-
hibit always in progress in the hemi-
cycle, the small hall built for the pur-
pose.
The building is of Georgia white
marble. Thirty pillars of white mar
BILE support the enormous skylight.
Visitors are admitted free on Tues
days, Thursday, Saturdays and Sun
days and on holidays. Mondays. We'd
nesdays and Fridays an admission fee
of 25 cents is charged.
Open from am. to 4:3O p.m.i sun
days, from / to 1870 pm.
Evening star., 1923-06-04

The site for the White House was
selected by President Washington
personally in NO. 1 OF the seventeen
reservations set aside for public build
ings upon the plans of Maj. Peter
Charles LEnfant for the laying out
of the city of Washington In 1871.
James Hoban of Dublin was the archi-
tect. the plans having been chosen by
competition. He won the $500 prize
offered for the best plan. The corner
stone was laid October 13. 1892, and
Gen. Washington was present.
President and Mrs. John Adams
were the first occupants, moving in
in November, 1900. Mrs. Adams suf-
fered many discomforts because of
the incomplete condition of the man
sion as to adequate heating and light
ing. The only use she could put. the
great east room to, according to her
own word. was for drying the family
wash The house was burned by the
British in 1914, but was restored by
Mr.. Hohan, except for the wings at
each side. which had been used for
Offices and servants quarters.
The first White House appropri-
alton from the United States Treas
ury. made in 1900. called for SIS.
for furniture. Since then the man
sion has been enlarged and improved
in many ways, but the original plans
have always been followed. thor
ough overhauling. improving, re-
modelling and charging was done
during the regime OF President Roose-
Welt Congress appropriated $4G5,f55
for the work. OF this sum the archi-
tects returned an uneXpcnded balance
of S7,9O6.19. Architect Hoban mod
eled the structure after the palace of
the Duke of Leinster. The original
cost Of the mansion, singularly
enough. was not paid out Of the
United States Treasury but was de-
Evening star., 1923-06-04
The White House

frayed from funds out of the sale of
lands donated by Maryland and Vir-
Einia. The site is a part Of what
was then David Burns farm. it's corn
field stretching TO the waters of the
Potomac. about half a mile to the
south. When rebuilt after the fire
the long wings at the sides were
omitted. 1t is built of white sand
stone.
The Executive mansion is well
guarded, having it's own entirely ade-
quate force of police officers and secret
service men on duty inside the man
sion at all hours, while there is a
continuous patrol Of the grounds sur
rounding the mansion. Automatic
alarm signals are in different parts
of the house and grounds. and there
are telephones and telegraphs to the
adjacent military posts, where there
is a strong force of military police
and soldiers that could he summoned
without delay.
The corridors and the ground floor
are filled with historic mementos of
past and gone mistresses OF the man
sion. Bits of china used on the din
ing tables in former administrations
are shown in rooms of the ground
floor, which are used as dressing
rooms for the guests at the state din
ners as well as for the most distln-
eushed special guests It the state
receptions. Special blue cards arc
sent to these special guests in their
invitations. admitting them through
the gates of the south grounds and
by the small door under the south
portico The south side'Of the house
was intended in the original plans to
he the front entrance. but the plan
was changed before the house was
completed.
The mansion is open TO visitors
from 10 O'Clock In the morning to
. o'clock in the afternoon.
Evening star., 1923-06-04
*The Botanical Garden

The Botanic Garden has specimens
of vegetation from all parts of the
world. It occupies the block on the
south side of Pennsylvania avenue
at the foot of the Capitol
This stately and beautiful garden
will one day become a part of the
national boulevard, in line as it is
with the Capitol the Smithsonian.
Agricultural, A Washington Monument
and Lincoln Memorial and their
grounds. which will in turn be in
line with the proposed memorial
bridge which will join Arlington with
these other memorials.
The Botanic Garden will, by, that
time, he established in it's new home.
the tract of land which was once
the James Creek canal, which runs
eastward from about the line OF the
War College to a point south of the
Capitol The present Botanic Garden
IS the site OF the beautiful Bartholdi
fountain which stands in the middle
of the grounds on the north side. and
the Grant Memorial, occupying the
center of the east side of the grounds
These are two of the most beautiful
of all such works in the National
Capital.
Open during sun hours. Hot houses,
tD 4 40
Evening star., 1923-06-04
The Department of Agri'
culture

The Department of Agriculture. on
the Mall between 18th and 18th
streets. cost s2.50O,O0O. The scope Of
the work is now very extended in
cluding stlnly Of diseases Of live
stock. control of the inspection Of
import and export animals, cattle
TRANSFORMATION and meat: the enforce
Inent of the pure food and drug laws.
statistics Of crops. live stock. at home
and abroad: scientific Investigations
in forestry. botany. fruit culture. cui-
tivatton of textile plants, and diseases
of trees. grains and vegetables;
studies OF the injurious Or beneficial
relations to agriculture of insects.
birds and wild puadrupeds; investiga-
ti0nS as to roads and methods of irri-
gational chemical and microscopical
laboratories, and a vast number of
experiment stations. correspondents
and observers in various parts of
this and other countries
The museum in the rear contains
excellent wax models Of fruits, nuts
and natural foods: an interesting dis
play Of models showing the damage
wrought by insects to trees and
plants. also groups of mounted birds.
squirrels, gophers and other mann
mails. The library and herbarium will
interest botanists. The extensive
greenhouses are open at all reason
able hours.
A tower in the garden is composed
Of slabs OF foot-thick barks taken
from one of the giant trees in Califor-
MIA 1t represents the exact size of
that huge tree named General No
BILE" from which the pieces were
actually cut.
Open from 10 am. until pm,
Evening star., 1923-06-04
THE Soldiers Home

The Soldiers Home. northwest from
the center Of the city. is in a park OF
natural loveliness. cmbellished and
beautfied by the soldiers living there
in it's early DAYS. 1t comprises more
than 500 acres Of beautiful lawns.
gardens, ravines and forest land with
majestic trees. There arc many fine
views of the city and surrounding
country and lovely yistas here ana
there. From prominent point on
high elevation perfect vista of the
dome Of the Capitol is worth seeing.
1t was established in 1851 through the
efforts Of Gen. Winfield Scott at the
close of the Mexican war, and was
founded for the men honorably dis
charged from the Regular Army after
twenty years of service, or disabled
through wounds or disease, upon pay
ment of l. cents "A month.
Among those who spent all or A
part of each summer in the summer
White House were Presidents Pierce.
Buchanan, Johnson Lincoln, Hayes
and Arthur A handsome bronze sta
tue of Gen Scott done by Launt
Thompson. occupies q conspicuous
spot near the Scott building. In the
National cemetery. adjoining the
grounds of the home, is the tomb of
Gen John A. Logan of Illinois.
The home is open from sun to sun
and can he reached by street cars
going north on 9th street to the west
gate of the home, known as Eagle
gate.
Evening star., 1923-06-04
THE Union Station

The Union station exceeds the
United States Capitol in dimensions,
sneciaI wing in the east end is re.
served for the President Of the United
States and for distinguished guests Of
the nation. The main waiting room
has a height of 120 feet, and the cir
cular window in each end Is 75 feet
in diameter. The passenger con-
course. 760 feet long. is the largest
room in the world under one roof
An army of $4,000 persons could
stand upon it's floor at one time. The
station is built of white granite from
Bethel VT. 1t was designed by Daniel
H Burnham, and is of monumental
character. like unto the great tri-
umphal arches of ancient Rome. All
roads lead to the Union station, in
cluding the street railways. The
railroads from the south enter the
city through twin tunnels under
Capitol HILL
Evening star., 1923-06-04
+ The Public Library of the
District of Columbia

The Public Library OF the District
of Columbia is primarily a circulating
library for the more than 100000 resi-
dents Of Washington not entitled to
draw books for home use from the
Library of Congress.
The central building is at Sth street
and New York avenue and the two
branches at 5th and Cedar streets.
Tokoma Park, and the southeastern
branch at 18th and ID streets and South
Carolina avenue southeast. The cen
trail building is open from am. to
9 pm. on week days. except Wednes-
days and most holidays (Wednes
days the hours are from am. TO 3
p.m): Sundays. open for reference
purposes only, from 3 to pm. The
branches are open from 12 m. to 9
pm. Monday and Tuesday: Thursday
and Friday from IL m. to 3 pm.
on Wednesday and Saturday from .
am. to pm. Branches are not open
on holidays or Sundays
Over i 100000 volumes were circu-
lated during the last fiscal year.
nearly one-half of which were loaned
TO children under high school age.
One-half of this number was loaned
through collections Of books sent TO
the classrooms Of the public schools.
over $4,000 pictures were borrow ed
for home use.
Evening star., 1923-06-04
tThe Pan-American
Union

The Pan-American building is
work of art done in marble.
The building is located at the en-
trance of Potomac Park on Seven
teenth street. between B and c, facing
upon the Executive grounds. com
monty known as the White Lot. The
structure and grounds represent an
investment of S1.100,000. of which the
American republics contributed $780,
600 and the late Andrew Carnegie
sS50,O0o The Pan American Union is
the international organization main
tained by the twenty-one American
republics, as follows: Argentina, Bo-
Iivia, Brazil. Chile, Colombia, Costa
Rica, Cuba. Dominican Republic, Ecu
dor, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mex
ico Nicaragua Panama, Paraguay.
Peru. Salvador, United States, Uruguay
and Venezuela. The Secretary of State
of the United States presdes at the
meetings of the governing board of
the union. the latter being supported
by quotas contributed by each coun-
try. based upon their population. The
director general-of which there has
been but one other--is Dr. l. S. Rowe.
DR.. Francisco ]. Yanes is assistant
director, and Franklin Adams, coun-
selor.
Open to visitors from . am. to 4
d. m.
Evening star., 1923-06-04

The Capitol is the most impressive
public building on earth 1t stands
On a plateau eighty eight feet above
the level of the Potomac and one and
one-fourth miles from the White
House, and is recognized to be the
most perfectly proportioned building
IN the world. 1t is ISL feet 4 inches
in length from north to south and its
greatest width from east to west is
$50 feet. The building covers 153.112
square feet. The Senate wing of the
uld Capitol was built first. then the
House. and the two were connected
by wooden passagewaY. The first
dome was constructed of wood COW
cred with copper. 1t was designed
and added after the burning of the
e. pitol by the British in 1914. This
was replaced in 1856 by the present
remarkable structure of cast iron. IT
took nine years to build it. The
weight of the iron used is S.909.20G
pounds. Crawfords manificent statue
of Freedom. which surmounts the
dome. is 10 feet 6 inches in height
and weighs 14,9S5 pounds. The
height of the dome above the base
1ne is EST feet ) inches. The rotunda
is 81 feet 6 inches in diameter and
its height from the floor to the top
Of the canopy is $50 feet 3 inches.
Evening star., 1923-06-04
The Lincoln Memorial

The popular ideal OF a memorial to
Lincoln could only be satisfied with
a design combining grandeur with
beauty.
Such is the great Lincoln Memo
ria,-isolated majestic and serene.
There are many Interesting statis-
tics about this memorial-the figures
and measurements of it's majestic
dimensions and proportions; the fact
that IL cost quite bit more than
S2.O00.000; the consideration which
finally determined the site in Poto-
mac Park on the same east and-wes est
axis with the dome of the Capitol and
the Washington Monument. But there
are even more significant facts which
one does not get from figures. One
is that from the first digging to bed
rock for the foundation to the COM
pletion Of the memorial there was a
spirit of operation and devotion on
the part of all concerned, from the
members of the commission to the
stonecutters and laborers. The same
workmen who We're there at the be
ginning We're there at the finish.
There was no strike. The cost OF this
memorial was far less than would
have been the cost of a structure of
the same size for secular and COM
mercial uses. And in all the processes
of what builders call heavy operation,
from the quarrying of twenty-three-
ton DlOthS Oh stone iN,ubV Ittl up III
the Colorado mountains and trans
porting them to the banks OF the
placid Potomac to the dangerous
caissson work fifty feet underground.
no man was killed and none seriously
injured Ehis. too, in stupendOus
work that was in progress more than
ten years. counting from the date of
1911, when Congress created the Lin
coin Memorial commission, with
President Taft as its chairman. This
a I
Commission Of Fine Arts throughout
the undertaking. determined to OBJ
tain memorial which the American
people would for all time instinctively
feel to he worthy of bearing the name
of Abraham Lincoln.
Henry Bacon, the architect. called
as his associates Daniel Chester
French. the sculptor. and Jules
Guerin. the artist. and for the years
of their work together they formed
a virtual brotherhood in the spirit of
Lincoln. They read Lincoln and
studied Lincoln together.
Before one stone was placed upon
another in his marble home of memo
ries Henry Bacon determined that
the great central room should be a
place where the people could be
alone" with the Lincoln to be created
the lesser space. but not less sacred.
the paintings of Guerin would tell
again in allegory the meaning of Lin
coins immortal utterances.
One of the best of the distant views
of the memorial is to be had from the
heights of Arlington across the Po-
tomac. from the porch of Robert +.
Lees home. where Lee pondered and
chose the other way.
And it is planned-at least hoped
to put some, day. a monumental
bridge across the Potomac from the
memorial. from the great shrine hous-
ing the speech of malice toward
none.".to the other shore. where 5000
unknown and 25.000 known soldiers
of the Blue. the Gray and the Khaki
sleep together in peace.
Open to visitors from am. to 4:3o
pm. daily and from ] to 4:30 pm. on
Sundays and holidays
Evening star., 1923-06-04
tThe Arts and Industries
Building

This building was completed IN
1881, in time for use for the inaugural
ball of President Garfield. which was
one of the most beautiful scenes in
the history OF the country. \ band
was placed in each of the four arches
of the building. On the first hoor to
the west is the interesting collection
of Law figures of the mistrcsses of the
White House. from Martha Washing
ton TO the two wives Of Woodrow
Wilson.
Every gown shown is one worn in
the White House during the admins
tratiou of the wearer's husband. The
second Mrs. Woodrow Wilson is shown
i'm the black velvet gown in which
she was married 10 President Wilson
There is also valuable loan col
lection of laces, antique jewelry.
clothes. bonnets and other articles
representing the fashions in this
country as far back Is they have been
obtainable. and many articles have
been owned and worn by famous men
and women. including gowns worn
on the platforms of y. a. K. con-
crosses by the presidents general of
the society. In another section will
be found relics of George and Martha
Washington. Abraham Lincoln and
family. Gen. Grant and family. origi-
nal instruments and pieces of appa-
ra tvs of the Morse telegraph. the Bell
telephone. the Henry magnets. Edison
electrical. the Langley airplane, eX-
hihits showing the evolution and de-
velopment of the healing arts. yarn
the worlds forests and the history
and development of photographs from
the camera obScura to the newest
motion picture machines.
Evening star., 1923-06-04
IThe Treasury Depart
rnenf

The Treasury Department was com
pleted in 1S41. 1T is 466 feet long and
264 feet wide. Every stranger wants
to visit the Treasury. Girls may he
seen counting and recountlng" sheets
of specially made paper, from
which bonds and United States notes
are made. This is the first step of the
long routine OF money making" The
composition Of this paper is a secret,
though it is known to contain silk
fiber. The completed notes-about
million dollars in value at time
are brought from the bureau of print
ing each morning. being conveyed in
steel-encased wagon guarded by
armed messengers. They are counted
by three persons in succession and
then sent to the sealing room. United
States Treasury notes bear the en-
graved fac,Siniles of the signature of
the United States treasurer and the
registrar OF the Trea sury; but the ma
tiOnal bank notes are actually signed
before receiving the red seal of the
government
It seems incredible. hut it is a fact,
that the average woman counter
passes 30, 900 notes each working day
The paper currency as 1t becomes
worn is redeemed by the government
and put through macerators, which
are globe shaped receptacles of steel.
to the capacity of A ton of pulp, the
lid Of which is secured by three differ
ent Yale locks. The secretary OF the
Treasury has one key, the trea surer
another and the controller of the
Treasury the third
Each day at l o'clock these officials
or their representatives with a fourth
agent to represent the people and the
banks. open the macerators and place
within them a million dollars or so
of condemned currency or other Sc
curities. The lids are locked. after a
suitable quantity of water has been
added, and the machinery begins to
whirl around inside the macerators.
where $50 knives grind and cut the
soaking material until the notes are
reduced to useless pulp.
In front of the north entrance of
the Treasury Department there is a
beautiful green vine in a large urn,
luxuriant and ever-growing. This is
called the money plant.
Open from 10 am. TO 2:30 pm
Guides, 1910 to Il and l TO ..
Evening star., 1923-06-04
: The Library of Congress

Thomas jefferson, comprising $3.50
volumes. 4 second fire in 1925 ONLY
slightly damaged the library, but ift
1881 third and more disastrous fir"
destroyed $4,000 volumes which II
then contained Two thirds Of the
jefferson collection was included in
the loss. The new building was com
pleted in -
While the service OF the library is
as lis name suggests. primarily r.
Congress. it is in effect the national
library of the United States. For
reference use it is absolutely ant
without formality free to any reader
over sixteen years of age.
Open from . o'clock in the morning
until 10 o'clock in the evening on
week days: SundaNs from 9 10 10 2. m.
Evening star., 1923-06-04
Adjacent Battlefelds

Washington is girdled by battle
fields, each with it's history. Today
virtually all of the activities of the
Army are represented in the posts
surrounding Washington. During the
world war these posts contributed to
the work of organizing the armed
forces. One of the first officers train
ing schools was located at Fort Myer
Boiling Field has contributed air
plane development since the armis-
tice. These posts bridge the gap be-
tween today and the civil war de
fenses of Washington" In almost a
continuous circle they We're flung
around Washington.