Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-03

HAN century ago LEe question: Vi
providing suitable quarters for the Lii
brary of Congress was
Library OF under discussion, and fear
r...r... was raised lest it be kept
CohSies0' in the Capitol Building,
and thereby restricted in its growth,
which even then was confidently ex-
pected. The Star Of February "a, 1879,
says:
THE action of the Senate in favor OF
keeping the Congressional Library in
the Capitol and enlarging the building
to make room for 1t is sharply criticized.
The American Architect, while conced-
ing that reference library of $4,000 or
10000 volumes should be kept in the
Capitol for the exclusive use Of Con-
gress. holds that working library of
1000 900 volumes for the legislative body
would be an absurdity. The general
library-which may be called national,
since 1t Is intended to include the sum
Of American literature-forms library
which Is extremely valuable and invites
great variety of uses. So long as 1t Is
in the Capitol 1t Is less accessible for
those uses than II it were properly
housed by itself. Is less secure and is
absolutely in the way in q building
which ought to be reserved for legis-
tons to the proposition for charging
the Capitol to hold the books are thus
epitomized by the Architect:
There is no doubt that in some way
the building can be so adapted as to
make room for the Library as it is or
will be for q few years to come There
is no more doubt that to make 1t a
permanent nursery for child of such
gigantic powers of growth Is impracti-
cable. Every few years the same diff
Guilty would recur. The inevitable re-
suit would be the conclusion, when the
House had been spoiled, that after all
father and child could not live in 1t
together. Irrespective of space, legiS-
lative body and large public library
should not try to live together. Each
ought to have the supreme control and
the sole possession Of its building. and
they require buildings Of different kinds
The person whose Judgment in re-
gard to alterations of the Capitol is be-
fore ALI others entitled to respect Is the
architect who gave it its present FORM
Mr.. Walter. His Judgment. quoted in
the debate, was that to extend the CEN
trail fronts of the building beyond the
Is or 80 feet which he recommended
and intended when he added the wings
would be disastrous to Its design. Such
an increase as this would give but short
relief, and 1t Is not easy to believe that
the more violent alterations which are
proposed would be INTELLECTUALLY salts
factory. Mr. Conkling exhibited in the
course of the debate design which he
said initiated the advancing porticos in
front of st. Peters at Rome. two extern
sions being added to the wings of the
Capitol at lower grade on the descend
ing ground at the west. To criticize
design without having seen it is danger
Gus; but We should think from Mr.
Conkling'S description. so far as we UNI
derStand 1t, that the likeness to st.
Peters must be more in fancy than in
reality. while on the other hand most
architects are agreed that the things
which among the many additions that
disfgure Michael Angeles original con-
ception and do most discredit to it are
these very porticos."
The cause of co-education in America
was greatly advanced so years ago by
- the action of one Of
az Harvard ties in this country, as
a. AAoA ai"' thus told in The Star
of February %, 1879:
Harvard has at last thrown the door
wide open to women. No difference is
to be made between the two sexes as to
the studies which may be taken up and
as to the instructors in the studies. The
same privileges in all respects are to be
granted women, except that they are to
be considered as private pupils Of indi-
vidual professors, and at the close OF
their courses will receive certificates in
stead of graduation diplomas. AS all the
real advantages Of the institution are
granted to male and female students
alike. 1t Is hardly likely that this nomi-
nal distinction will long be retained. AS
the lady students do not recite with the
college classes. the privileges Of Harvard
may be enioyed and the objections Of
eo-educatior be ebviAted."