Evening star., 1939-11-05
Capitol SideIights
BY WHl P. Kennedy

When "President-maker" James A.
Farley was in Ireland recently he had
an opportunity to study first-hand the
exterior. and interior architecture of
Leinster House, Dublin, where he, with
the American Minister, John Cudahy,
were guests at luncheon Of the Taoiseach,
Prime Minister de Valera. He was told
that Leinster House, the palace built by
James Fitzgerald, first Duke of Leinster
In l745, and now occupied by the Dali
Legislative assembly, and Seanad (Sen-
ate), was used as a model by James Ho-
ban, the young Irish born architect from
Charleston. s. c., who made the plans
for the White House under George
Washington's supervision. Both famous
buildings have the same sort of front or
public entrance with q broad hallway
leading through to the exit down curving
steps to the more private garden-side.
The entire interior, even more than the
exterior, Is laid out on the same general
plan rs the White House. When the
young Irish architect designed the White
House, With the flrst funds-3200, 900
given jointly by the States Of Maryland
and Virginia, and won the competition in
which Thomas Jefferson offered prizes,
Leinster House was the outstanding ex-
ample Of progressive architecture In the
Irish Capital City.
With Thanksgiving Day proclaimed for
November % this year by President
Roosevelt. considerable attention will be
given by the next session Of CONGRESS,
which meets in January, to definitely
fix by law the last Thursday in Novem-
Der for that celebration. Representative
Francis H. Case Of South Dakota has In.
troduced such bill. He emphasizes
that the observance of an annual day Of
Thanksgiving and prayer in America is
older than the United States itself, and
twice Is old as constitutional government
In the United States. 1t was observed
16s years before our form of government
was set up $50 years ago Mr.. Case also
points out that historically Thanksgiving
Day has not always been on the same
day OF . month, or even in the same
month. The first THANKSGIVING Day
proclamation of George washington.
however, selected the last Thursday in
November, possibly in keeping with the
day appointed in the prayer book of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in America.
Observance Of that day was not uni
form even then until 1868, when Abra-
ham Lincoln formalized the tradition of
the last Thursday with definite procla.
nation. So it has stood until President
Roosevelt Quoting Representative Case)
without advance notice to church
leaders, calendar makers, football
coaches, college-term registrars or Con-
gress- announced that it would be on
the third Thursday"
Miss Jeanette Rankin of Montana,
the hrst woman ever elected to Consress
who wept In her seat in the House when
the vote was being taken on entry of the
United States into the World War, and
who has since been active in a Nation-
wide drive for peace. was q visitor to the
House on Thursday during the closing
hours Of debate ON the neutrality bill.
Representative William l.. Nelson of
Missouri, who has received many heart.
warming letters from his constituents
during the past II years, was prompted
to make speech In the House In thanks-
giving for such f1ne folks In the heart
Of Missouri" Here is an extract from q
letter he received during the neutrality
drive: MY opinion Is that % out Of every
100 Of US do not know . gol darn thing
ab- 1T that bin. I admit do not, Vote
to your own satisfaction ON the neutrality
bill. We elected you to attend to the
business for U.s." He recently received q
post card from . constituent who wrote:
TITS great to live In country where YOU
can carry camera instead Of . gun and
. picnic lunch instead Of . gas mask"
LADY Liberty" has just celebrated her
SD birthday anniversary. Representa-
tive Vito Marcantonio of New York has
called that event to the attention Of all
the world and has placed in the Congress
sional Record the proceedings commence
rating the gift Of the Statue OF Liberty
to the United States by France. It was
emphasized that this Lady Liberty has
always welcomed the immigrant ana
held hsr torch Of freedom outstretched
toward him"