Evening star., 1942-11-15

ne anu OCnerS pray over tQeu, as CQey
loudly vent their SORROWS"
Society's Headquarters.
The old Colonization Society Building
on the Avenue was begun in 1859, but not
completed until the following year. An
old description tells US: "The Colonial
ton Society has erected on the corner of
Pennsylvania avenue and Four -and-a-
half street (now Fourth street, a large
and beautiful four-story building. The
lower story is Of iron, divided for stores;
above, it is of nght-colored stone and
ornamented windows, with balustrade
on the top and iron castings and
holdings"
Back in its very early days the society
met in building on the north side of
Pennsylvania avenue between Fourteenth
and Fifteenth streets. Later its Offices
were on the north side Of that thorough
fare between Third and Fourth streets,
from which place they moved to their own
building across the way at the southwest
corner Of Four and -a-half street.
Like many OF Washingtons old build
ings, which were constructed in a very
substantial manner, the old Colonization
Building, at the time it was removed,
appeared as strong as it did when first
erected, and looks strong enough to stand
century longer if permitted to do so.
From this building the society moved,
about 1913 from the Avenue location to
the Southern Building. Henry L. West
was then the president and Paul Sleman
secretary-treasurer.
As to whether the Republic Of Liberia
has ever been success, the writer Is
unable to say, since he has not given the
subject close enough study to express an
better place for colonization might have
been selected.
On African West Coast.
Where the Republic of Liberia is To-
Gated, on the west coast of Africa, be-
tween Sierre Leone on the west and the
Ivory Coast on the east, it is said to be
swamp and fiat and the climate very
warm. The present coast line is about
$50 miles long, extending from the Mano
to the Cavally.
In all, the area of this republic includes
about 10000 square miles, which would
be almost as large as the State OF Vir-
ginia. Only the coast strip, which aver
ages about miles, is developed and ad-
ministered. The interior, we are told, is
elevated and clothed with valuable for
ests of gum trees, oil palms and pepper
and naturally productive and is the
abode of elephants and buffaloes. Coffee
is the staple product, while other exports
include palm oil, piassava palm kernels,
rubber and ivory.
Before the First World War, about 10
per cent of its trade was with Germany,
and about that time it had a population
estimated at 100000 including from H.
900 to $1,000 America -Liberians and 40,-
900 civilized and Christianized natives,
mostly Episcopalians.
= Education in Liberia, according to sta
tistics, does not seem to be making heavy
strides, for at the time stated there were
but 113 public primary schools for some
thing like 400 pupils, though the mis-
sion schools are taking care Of 5000 addi-
tional pupils. The government has a
college for higher education, with about
100 students, and there are few other
similar institutions. The capital of LIZ
IBERIA is Monrovia, named after our Presi-
dent Monroe.
The east end OF the National Gallery
Of Arts Building stands near the site of
the Colonization Building, and close by
to the south was, until about 1881, Mis-
souri, avenue, once q very fine thorough.
fare and at one time desirable residen-
tiai section tor members Of Congress.