Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-03-20
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL r. KENNEDY.


tons laws. One such cubbyhole is
Just OF Statuary Hall, opposite the
House document room, in a cut-or
portion Of what many years ago was
the cloak room of the House of Rep
resentatives when the House chamber
was in what is now statuary Hall.
This little Underway" corner is the
Capitol end of an underground carrier
system which PUSHES books to and fro
from the Library of Congress for use
of legislators and the Supreme Court.
The tunnel, constructed some IS
years ago, through which these books
and periodicals are carried by an end
less wire cable, Is about a quarter of a
mile long, seven feet high and four and
half feet wide. On the Capitol end
this tunnel Is entered by 40-foot lad
der There is bell signal system which
tells those In charge on either end
when the mechanical hands suspended
from the endless cable are starting
with another load.
In this way Senators and House mem-
bers In their respective chambers and
other Capitol employees can be sup
piled IN q few minutes with reference
material from the Library, as It takes
the carrier only four and half min
utes to make each trip.
In charge Of the Capitol end Of this
important service is Harold Lincoln,
q native OF Canandaigua, N. Y, who
has been on the job for % years and
kHa la tx-it - 10
dian" When Congress is not IN ses-
sion Mr.. Lincoln has other duties in
the Library of Congress and on Sun
days Is in charge Of the reading room
of the Library.
One OF the reference books which
he finds in considerable demand was
published more than 80 years ago and
contains an interesting biography of
his own grandmother, Mrs. Martha D.
Lincoln, author and journalist, who
was widely known by the pen name
Bessie Beach," She Is credited with
being the first woman admitted to the
Capitol press gallery. Her card Of adj
mission was signed by James @. Blaine
on January 81, 1878, who was at that
time o leading candidate for Repub-
hcan nomination for the presidency
Mrs. Lincoln was Washington CORE
sponderIt for some Of the largest met
ropolitan newspapers. She began her
literary career when only Is years OF
age. With two ether Washington news
writers on July 10, 1882, she organized
the Women's National. Press Associa-
ton, the first chartered women'ss press
organization in the world, Of which she
was first secretary and for many years
president. In 1891 and 1892 she was
delegate TO the International Peace
Congresses in Rome, Italy, and Berne,
Switzerland.
Another young man employed in this
Capitol terminus of the Library OF
Congress subway reference book serv-
ice who has done much important re-
search work for members Of the House
and Senate Is Charles H. Stephenson,
who has been serving in that station
for more than IL years-since he was
II years old. He Is now assistant Gus
todian Of the reference collection for
House research work in many fields
He is frequently called upon by men,
bers Of Congress, who make many
amazing requests-such as to find out
the origin Of certain phrases and the
tracing Of documents and speeches to
their sources.
Books Of all descriptions are on the
shelves Of this ready reference library
station and both Mr.. Lincoln and Mr..
Stephenson have a very comprehensive
knowledge Of their contents.
~
Some twoscore years ago small boy,
intensely patriotic, as only small boys
can be, was brought to the Capital City
on q visit, land on Sunday, with glowing
- - ~, -
proudly marched up the Capitol steps
Gus boys eyes within that majestic
building which represents the self-gov-
erning power and might Of the Amer
lean people.
You cannot imagine the sore disap-
pointment and the let-down OF spirit
when that eager boy was denied admit
lance, because the Capitol was closed to
the public on Sunday, even as Is Mount
Vernon today.
Decades passed and the memory Of
his disappointment remained in the
lads mind as one of the darkest hours
of his hfe-and with that memory grew
determination: The doors Of the Cap
itol would be thrown open to the public
on Sundays.
And so, when that boy grew in years
and influence and achievement and be-
cause Of proven ability was chosen to
occupy the office of architect Of the
Capitol, one Of his first acts was to full
fill that pledge he had made to him
self. Out of the grief of his youth has
come opportunity for all the youth of
the land to wander at will about the
Capitol Building on Sunday.
This Is q little story I cleaned from
David Lynn. architect Of the Capitol,
when on Washington's birthday I found
him busily looking to the comfort Of
some old men and women who came
without cards" to the Bicentennial
Celebration on the Capitol steps.
\ r 4
OF special interest to students Of the
history Of printing was the finding of
the original drawings Of printing inven-
tons up to 80 years ago. These draw
ings had been used for illustrating n
large atlas entitled THE Growth of IN
dustrial Art" printed by the Govern
ment Printing once in 1880. This
atlas contained the following prophecy
the development of type
setting machines:
Printers have been wont TO boast
that a practical type composing and
tusttfying machine presents a problem
tnat even Yankee ingenuity and per-
sistence could not solve. But In view
Of the progress made in this direction
during the last decade 1t can hardly be
doubted that complete success will be
achieved In the near future. It re-
mains. however, to be determined
whether or not the capital invested In
them and the casualties incident TO
and delicate machinery will
discourage their use In place Of com
positors, who own themselves, are al
ways ready, and for whom substitutes
can be found II one or another prove
ailing or cratic"
It Is interesting to note In this con-
nection that the Government Printing
Once at present has in operation APP
proximately 400 typesetting and casting
machines and that practically none Of
.he type for Government publications
b now set by hand.
Il \ Il
It was Washington himself who said
the free cultivation Of letters
mas had meliorating influence ON man
lind and Increased fha hIae ~iy-oe ~ "a