THE TORCH OF REASON, SILVERTON, OREGON, AUGUST 3, 1899.
2
with him many minutes he sub- fire easy chairs that I doubt one Turner, I met Prof. Gill of the
scribed for a good amount of stock, being able to read much. The Smithsonian Institute, with whom
and gave me a letter of introduction Library building cost six million I had a very enjoyable time. Prof.
BY P . W . G EER.
Gill is an excellent man, and has
to the Secularists of Washington dollars.
Major
Philadelphia contains some very and vicinity. This letter had a
The Capitol building of course great faith in science.
interesting studies for lovers of his- splendid effect, for it made many must be mspected by all visitors Pechin of the War Department is a
torv but I did not find the fond- friends for me among some of the and tourists. Several guides ar delightful man, and I had the
nessfor ancient things that one is ¡finest people I ever met or ever on hand to show you the wonders; pleasure of an enjoyable visit at his
bound to notice in Boston. The hope to meet, and it also brought of the building, and some will give house, where I spent my first even­
principal and most noted relic of good support for the Liberal Uni- their services for two dollars, but ing in Washington. Mr. Pechin
the early davs of our government versity.
“8° 1°"8 "8 “ 18 J™. a"d J™ « * and the young folks aided in mak­
is Independence Hall, on Chestnut
After dining with Dr. and Mrs. from a istance, t ey wi s ow ing the evening very pleasant in­
Street It was after the hour for Croffut, the doctor escorted me to y««» everything for twenty-five deed. I met Dr. Wm. Tyndall at
admitting visitors when I went to the new Congressional Library cents providing you refuse to pay his office in the District Govern­
this old historical building, but building, the finest building in the
larger amounts.
I he main ment building, and had a few mo­
since I had travelled so far, the'world. I would like to spend a lobby, with its paintings and decor- ments pleasant chat. Dr. Tyndall
janitor admitted me through the „eekin that magnificent building alions, is very beautiful, and there is deeply interested in the Liberal
rear door, where the Old Liberty with all its wealth of knowledge, is something grand, wonderful, and University. One of the pleasantest
Bell met my gaze. I was shown aH it was I could only spend an enchanting about the old Capitol men I met in Washington wras
Gen. Wm. Birney, who had read
into the room where the Declara­ hour or so. The central part of the building, exceedingly so to poli-
tion of Independence was adopted, building is in the shape of a dome, ticians. I visited the representa­ the prospectus of the Liberal Uni­
versity, and was already deeply in­
July 4th, and signed August 2, and contains the reading room and tive hall, the senate chamber, the
1776. The original furniture is the gallery. The interior of this supreme court room, and the loh- terested in our work. I discussed
still in the room, ar.d consists of dorae is the finest architecture 11 bies, corridors, and halls. All is our plan with him, and find him to
be very enthusiastic and anxious to
the chairs in which the members of ever saw in my life. The railing of quiet at this season of the year.
No one should go to W ashington help us to success.
the Continental Congress sat, and the balcony which overlooks the
the table on which the Declaration large circular reading room below, without visiting the pension build­ My second evening in Washing­
of Independence was signed. Por­ is lined at intervals with statues of ing. There you will see the finest ton was devoted to sight-seeing and
traits of the signers of the Declara­ the noted artists, musicians, writers, hall in the world, where the great exercise. Early in the evening I
tion adorn the walls, and a splen­ and thinkers of ages past. The inaugural balls are held. Of course called on Mr. Blount, at his beauti­
Mr.
did statue of George Washington, whole structure is made of the finest you must visit the White House, ful home in Georgetown.
The “ book and you will find it just as it has Blount is a Unitarian, and ot course
carved in wood, stands in the centre imported marble.
of the room. Across the hall to the stacks,” containing thousands and been described to you many times. is interested in the progress of the
west is the state supreme court thousands of books, extend fr >m Visitors are allowed to inspect the Liberal University. From George­
room, with the original court chair». this central dome in three direc­ east room — the most wonderful town I walked to the bank of the
Potomac, and seeing a bridge, I
Other points of historical interest tions—north, south, and east—the thing about it being that it is a part
crossed over it into Virginia, where
in the vicinity of Independence entrance being on the west. The of the \\ kite House. As I left the
the virgins live. It was two miles
Hall are Carpenter’s Hall, between book stacks are connected with the White House I met Secretary Alger
farther to the National Cemetery at
Third and Fourth Streets on Chest­ reading room by means of pneu­ going to see the President, and I
Arlington (Gen. Lee’s old house),
nut, where the first Continental matic tubes, which convey the wondered if he were going to hand
Congress was held in 1774; Frank­ books almost instantly to the read­ in his resignation. I visited the and I walked on. The sun was just
lin’s grave, S. E. corner Fifth and er. The whole structure thus far war department, which is the larg­ about to disappear behind the hills,
Arch Streets; and the Betsy Ross described is entirely surrounded by est building I ever saw. The trea­ and a soldier informed me that 1
building on Arch Street, where the a building extending on every side. sury building is near by, and I could not enter the grounds after
first American flag was made. So This forms a large square building, went in to see the money but didn’t the sun went down, so I increased
Philadelphia is not at all uninter­ covering acres of land. The ar­ see any. My visits to the Smith­ my speed and my long legs got me
esting to the history loving traveler, rangement of the main building in sonian Institute and the National there just in the nick of time. I
while the people seem up-to-date in a square, with the large central Museum were very pleasant indeed. walked through the west gate into
everything. But while the Phila­ dome connected with it by means At the museum I had the pleasure the city of the dead, and halted to
delphians are up-to-date in their of the book stacks and the entrance of a visit with Prof. Lester F. Ward, read the epitaphs on the tomb­
ideas, they are not up to breakfast hail, leaves four beautiful courts a pronounced Secularist, and one stones of some of the noted dead.
until a late hour. Philadelphia is within the structure, and a more of the most important and best in­ Just at sundown I reached the old
formed scientific men in Washing­ Lee mansion, nestled among the
a sleepy city. Sometimes through beautiful building I never saw.
the day the streets are well crowded,
The Library is just opposite the ton. Prot. Ward will be in Oregon evergreen trees, on the crest of a hill
but the people are not in such a Capitol building, facing it on the in September, and I hope to meet overlooking the Potomrc valley and
the city of Washington in the dis­
rush as they are in Chicago, nor east. An immense fountain stands him there.
Nearly all the scientific men in tance. What a delightful place for
even in New York City. I expected in front, with steps leading up to
to find Broad Street narrow and the building on either side. As one the govern meat employ are Secu­ a home! The house was open for
crooked, but instead I found it to approaches the Library and climbs larists, and they are well educated inspection, and I had time to make
be rightly named, and it is a broad the steps, lie is struck with awe in the cause of Secularism too. a hasty survey and read some in­
and beautiful street. The public with the grandeur and beauty of Washington seems to be a very scriptions on the tablets on the wall
buildings are fine.
the architecture. Busts of artists, Liberal place. It is strictly a cos­ before the janitor came to close the
1 left Philadelphia on the early poets, and scientists adorn the cor- mopolitan city socially, and right place and take down the Hag. I
morning train for Washington, D. nice on the outer walls. As you ideas seem to predominate. I don't walked out on to the old colonial
C., where I arrived at 11 o’clock pass in through the great massive know where one can meet with more front porch, and leaned against one
a. m. Washington is the most bronze doors, a sight greets your wise people than are to be found in of the large pillars to enjoy the
beautifully laid out city I ever saw, eyes that you will see equalled no- Washington. The social and intel­ view to the east. Mrs. Turner had
and I was not there ten minutes where. The architecture of the en- lectual atmosphere of W ashington described the place to me while I
until I knew how and where to find trance hall ft beyond description, is refreshing, while the climatic at- was in Atlantic City, hut it is more
any street and number in the city. It is impossible to describe it on mosphere is depressing. I don’t beautiful than I expected.
It was growing dark so I walked
The depot where I landed is near paper. It has to be seen to be ap- see how people can think rightly
the Capitol, and I walked up and predated.
No one can imagine and well in such a climate, hut it down the stops and along the path
took a look at the great govern anything so grand and beautiful, seetns that many of them do. W hat through the woods to the east en­
ment building. I had the address The mosaic is the finest I ever saw, a pity the Capitol of the United trance of the grounds, while the
of Dr. Croffut, and I was not long and the decorations are rich though States is not located at Silverton, lightning-bugs lit up the way. I
from i The climate and atmosphere
there waited a while for an electric car
finding his home, where, though a tastefully w selected. Just
___ off
_____
*
---- either
--------:J
-------
J are * both
*' conducive
lucive to right think- which carried me to Arlington
stranger, I was given a splendid the ‘ hall on
side -----
are ** the
read-
welcome. Dr. Croffut was deeply ing rooms for the members of Con- ing, and our government would
w<
be Junction, and then, rather than
interested iu my story of the Liberal gress. These rooms are so richly run on a more satisfactory plan.
wait an hour for another car to
University, and before I bad talked idecorated and provided with such4 By the kindness of Mrs. M. M. 1 Washington, two miles distant, I
Abroad.