Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-10-17
Attend Congress Session.


public utilities was under fire in the
House of Representatives. The i'm
portance of the issue and the mass
of evidence and high feeling on both
sides brought a packed gallery and a
surprisingly large attendance of con-
gressmen. Some of the congressman
remarked at the loveliness of the
chamber and did not know which of
the unfamiliar groups to join, the
crowd or those on the floor A for
mer theater usher was doing a big
business selling cigarettes to con-
gressmen who had heard that there
was smoking in the balcony, and who
did not like their movies from the
'.foist' floor anyway.
Slowly rising on Washingtons most
elevated slope is huge cathedral of
18th century Gothic architecture.
The walls, of Indiana limestone, are
a minimum of So feet thick. Several
late statesmen are entombed here.
Delicately carved figures adorn the
stone everywhere.
Undoubtedly. Americas most or
nately decorated building, the Library
of Congress, was almost awe-inspir-
ing in its dimensions also. Every
known available book is here in one
or more copies.
If one has ever done any amateur
museum tramping he knows the UNI
ending volumes which could be writ
ten in mere description of the famous
Smithsonian Institute. Known to
many only for THE Spirit of st.
Louis" which hangs therein, it is
recognized by science and laity alike
as probably the peer of all museums.
Guarded like Public Enemies No. 1,
2, 3, and 5, we toured afoOt the Blu
reau of Engraving and Printing and
saw tremendous quantities of stamps
and paper money. Near the end of
one balcony is spot known as
Stamp Collectors Leap" where seven
philatelists have been overcome by
seeing all the stamps which they do
not possess and have ended it all,
dashing themselves cruelty on the
millions of miniatures of George
Washington, stacked below. The ad-
hesive, that pleasant substance with
the sugar and spice taste, is placed
on the backs of the stamps as they
are printed.
We. wish to state here emphatically
that it is not true that six thousand
underpaid girls with pins laboriously
punch the holes in the stamps. Not a
pin was in evidence, not even a bobby
pin.
Other departments too numerous to
describe were visited during our two
weeks tour of the city. One day we
donned dark glasses, wishing to be
inconspicuous, but were Immediately
hailed as La Carlo and Monsigneur
Chevalier, and were made to auto
graph memory books of adolescents,
automobile tenders, purses and even
pair of false teeth.
On a romantic moonlit evening we
took to the high seas and boarded
typical river paddle-boat for a restfui
excursion down the Potomac as far
the middle of the stream, we suddenly
came upon an island amusement park
where hundreds of carnival f1ends
boarded the boat and literally
strewed it with popcorn. watermelon
rinds and sections of ferris wheels,
and then left.
Some members of our party had
not been up in the Washington monu-
ment before, so we boarded the ele-
vator and went aloft to satisfy that
human craving to look down from
high places and argue about momen-
tum. The chief beauty of this huge
finger is in its place in the panorama
as a whole, when viewed from afar.
At the Fourth of July celebration
we observed the usual patriotic dem
onstrations by the usual parading
bodies and an elaborate fireworks
show. not differing greatly in its en-
tirety from the average middle-west
ern patriotic revival.
On jaunt into Virginia we visited
the Unknown Soldiers tomb at Ar
lington. near Washington.
We likewise did the United States
Naval Academy at Annapolis, Nd. and
saw several of the young men who
needed the ''join the navy" sidewalks
posters, receiving the enlightening
and uplifting benefits of training ship
life in the harbor near the academy.
A week Of vacation remaining, we
headed back toward Niagara Falls.
Enroute we stopped at the Gettysburg
battlefield with its thousands of his
toric markers. and at Jamestown
New York. where we visited the fam
Gus Chautauqua Lake.
New York was surprisingly heavily
forested throughout the entire section
which we crossed. despite its being
one of the earliest populated states.
After crossing the Niagara river we
proceeded across southern Ontario.
This narrow neck of Ontario had lit
tie of the quaintness of northern and
eastern sections. but one could feel a
difference" nevertheless. between its
atmosphere and that of the states sur
rounding.
Large vineyards. dotted with wine
presses covered the entire stretch.
Amazingly reasonable prices were
asked for all manners Of fruit.
Returning to our own state, We
made short work of the remaining