Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-02

by the famous dtA1an-Amer1-
can artist. Constantine Brumidi. The nn-
finished fEieze"-and SO, far, far into the day
lecture the competent official guides in the big
white house The Hill"
They tell their story succinctly and well in
the time allotted tour through the richly his
tDrical building and visitors go AWAY assured
that they have learned a good deal and viewed
the most important points of interest in their
Capitol.
Residents of Washington know their Capt.
toll think they do. But lets you and
You and yon secure the services OF an 'tmof-
fetal guide"-an attacne connected with the
Legislative end Of the building for thirty-odd
gears. Surely he can point out delightful hits
here; fascinating facts there: remnants OF his
tory little known to the multitudes-surprises
TO yOu-and to me.
Forward then, the enlightened brigade!
Listen to the unofficial guide. Ask questions
IL you like First of all, humble and abashed,
properly so, we pause before the main entrance
II the Senate chamber Our guide draws at
5ention to three small electric bulbs over the
door CThey scarcely noticeable to the
6aNaal Observer. when lighted these red
lamps indicate not fire" but ''fireworks"-that
the honorable Senate has gone into executive
session; shut its door IN the face of the pub
3ic barred itself to tnquisitve reporters.
We stroll along the Senate corridor and
pause before a tall, grandfathers clock and
are told that it is 128 years old. Several of
the party are from Missouri; there are no dates,
inscriptions figures to indicate the age OF
the timepiece so how does the guide know its
exact number of years? Look carefully below
the clocks face at a wooden shield which
are carved IT stars. Ohio was the seventeenth
State admitted into the Union, becoming a
member of the big family in 1903. Eighteen
hundred and three dsduct from l931-.
Count it on your fingers you Missourians
What next? A painting by Eastman john
son of Senator Morrill, of Vermont, who served
from 1867 until his death in 1893. Fine-look-
ing old gentleman, splendid career, excellent
painting; anything else of interest connected
with it? Laconicallyi from the guide, '"well,
he was the last man in the Senate to use a
quill pen. Although justices of the Supreme
Court continue the quill pen in preference to
steel ones"
bust of James Sherman, Vice President under
Mr.. Taft. 1t is by Bessie Potter Vonnah, per-
haps the first woman sculptor to successfully
carve eyeglasses on subject; certainly the
only be-glaEsed statute in the Capitol Mrs
Nonnah was amazingly successful in hitting
CLASHES rims to the face; the effect is per-
feet. No one ever saw Sunny Jim" Sherman
without his specs; they as necessary
part of him as his engaging smile.
Nearby is another marble bust. that of
Theodore Roosevelt the head thrown forward
in his well known rearin' togo attitude. But
how queerly unfamiliar, unfinished he appearsl
What's wrong with the picture? The famous
Roosevelt eyeglasses are missing. Missouri
speaking: why didn't James Frazer, the sculp-
tor, supply Tie 1ough-riding President with his
ever-present eyeglaSse5?" well, he tried to
kMt failed Roosevelts glasses were tlv rimlesS
kind fitted on with an arclled spring, sitting
high up on that fine nose and corralled to
the head by an eyer-preSent hacE ribbon