WHERE CONFERENCE MEETS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 113, 9 November 1921, Page 5

WHERE CONFERENCE MEETS

.WASHINGTON THE BEAUTIFUL.

; From 12th November the world will 'have a new capital. Mighty London, wonderful New York, delightful Paris, and all the other great cities of five continents will be merely of relative importance. The eyes of the world will turn towards Washington, where representatives of all the nations will assemble to grapple with vast problems of vital importance to every man, woman, and child on the earth's surface. What manner o! place is this city— this most beautiful city of the United States —of which so much will soon be heard?. An Australian just returned from tjiere explains in Sydney Sun:— Washington — lovely Washington —is 'reached by train from Chicago, through the historic counties of Civil War fame —Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. We croSßed these three States at Harper's Perry, where the first shot was fired, and the railway line then runs parallel with the Potomac River in rapids,, divided by a few yaijls only from the Chesapeake Canal. The entrance to the city is imposing, for the railway station, called the Union Station, is a magnificent building, the exterior being of white granite. Motoring through the wide"' tree-lined streets and avenues, you are at once struck with the width of the footpaths (or sidewalks) —some are as wide as Pitt-street. Every '< street and avenue :is asphalted, and all are washed at night with rubber brooms. STATUE OF FREEDOM. Looking up Pennsylvania-avenue, your sight falls on the Capitol—a mag- / nigficent piece of architecture, the dome surmounted by the Statue of Freedom, 307 ft above the pavement. From all sides the building is superb. The interior is teeming with interest. The Hall of Representatives and the Senate Chamber are lighted from above with glass ceilings, not a single artificial light being visible in either room. By day -and night the light never varies. It is always a soft daylight. , The President's room is wonderfully decorated. It contains portraits of famous American men, and the walls are lined with splendid delineations of

history, liberty, and religion, all so drawn that they turn and follow one | all over the room. Every nook and corner of the wonderful Capitol is fraught with interest, and thoroughlytrained guides entertain the crowds who throng to see it. The office building of the House of Representatives, which contains 410 rooms, and the Senate Office Building, containing 99 rooms, are connected by subways with the Capitol. Being the fortunate possessor of letters of introduction, I visited the State, War, and Navy Department, a. splendid building of white granite four stories high, containing two miles of white marble halls and 500 rooms. I had an inside view of the offices, which are not open to the general public. All are furnished in simple yet most modern fashion, and everything moves almost automatically. DIGNIFIED WHITE HOUSE. The White House stands close by, simple-loofefcvg, though dignified, and surrounded by beautiful lawns and gardens. ■ The Treasury Building, on Pennsyl-vania-avenue, is a combination of sandstone and granite, aad is one of the finest buildings in the United States. A trio of magnificent buildings lie close to the White House—three white marble edifices standing back on emerald green, lawns. These are the Corcoran Art Gallery, the American Red Cross Building, and the Pan-American Building. The exteriors call forth admiration; but one does not really appreciate th© last-named till an interior view is obtained. Entering by a Patio (courtyard) one comes to an exquisitely-designed fountain set in the centre and surrounded by rare plants and foliage from tropical countries. A removable glass roof makes possible the growth of these plants. Wide marble staircases lead up from the Patio into rooms splendid in size and in decoration. The finest is the "Hall of the Americas," 100 ft by 70ft, where wonderful balls are held,/and some of the meet gorgebus displays of America are made. Washington Monument,-' 555 ft in height, is an edifice of white marble, which is conspicuous from all points, whilst the Lincoln Memorial, though a different piece of work, is another object for admiration. Trouble was experienced* with the latter through a foundation flaw, but American ingenuity remedied it. ART AND THE LIBRARY. ...-Last, but not least, there is the Congressional Library, with its unforgettable interior. -,' In dreams its lovely white granite exterior and its wealth of interior decoration haunt* the visitor. Art in every conceivable form and its highest place has been introduced here. The entrance hall is a masterpiece—an architectural and 'artistic poem. The ceiling is so exquisite in its design and workmanship that visitors sit for hours at a stretch just gazing enraptured at it. - The public reading room is another revelation, with its wonderfully coloured marble walls. None save readeri, art allowed to enter the silent chamber, where sit students of all classes and colours. Visitors assemble in the rotunda above and gaze on this remarkable scene. In another room I discovered copies of newspapers from every part of the world, and readers of every tongue sit at a table and discover what is occurring in' their home towns. There are avenues of beautiful embassies, and avenues of homes of the rich. There are,-too, avenues of homes of the black population, and well. kept they are. ... One scene remain* vividly before my,, eyee. Motoring along 'the' speedway round the Potomac Park, below which runs the lovely Potomac River, I saw men, women, and children cultivating vegetable gardens' set out side by side on the edge of the park. These lots had .been granted durinc; the war for Bed Cross purposes, and when peace came each holder was allowed to retain his or her lot for private use. No fenced divide the gardens, and property rights are •crupulously respected. An Australian leaves Washington wondering whether Canberra will ever cease to be merely a name. The Americans are city proud, and' association with them causes a good Australian to dream dreams of another Washington in the "finest land on God's earth."