Central High School - Cog N Pen Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

Page 17 text:

SHAKING HANDS WITH THE PRESIDENT By ELsIE FUGELSTAD All aboard for Washington. It was on Saturday, the 19th of March, that I left on the 10:30 Capital Express. The trip was an interesting one, and long to be remembered. In Delaware and Maryland the fruit trees were in full bloom, and once in a while a group of children could be seen gathering wild flowers. Well, that was al! well and good, but when the announcement “Washington” passed through the train a great thrill of joy took possession of me. I had waited for the word for five hours, and now at last I was there—Washington, the capital of the United States, with its magnificent buildings, beauti- ful parks, and wonderful hotels. The ten days that I was there passed very quickly, as my time was taken up very much with sightseeing and observing the numerous places of interest. What about Washington monument? Yes, I was there, but not only was I satisfied to visit it, but I insisted upon walking up the 999 steps. It took one-half hour to climb the seemingly endless staircase, but once its height of 555 feet was reached a more wonderful pea view could never be seen. The day was very clear, fM and so enabled one to get a bird's-eye view of Wash- gm .f Ml ington and its neighboring states. In Washington “See. kad] an expression of the Nation’s life may be seen. The dome of the capitol is a thing of surpassing beauty. Its appeal is not alone that of architectural grace; it is a visible symbol of the Republic. In its beauty, strength, security, and permanence is typified all that America means to us—and so, with the assistance of a guide, I was taken through the capitol, the area of which is over three and one-half acres. First, I was taken to the rotunda, then visited the Hall of Statuary, the Hall of Representatives and its rooms, the Senate Chamber, the President's Room and the Supreme Court, where Chief Justice White sat as noble looking as the Rock of Gibraltar. Every- where richness of construction and wealth of decora- tion could be seen. “The rotunda portico is the scene of the inauguration; there the President takes the oath of office and delivers the inaugural address. The guide emphasized that it was where Lincoln delivered the second inaugural address on March 4, 1865. But time is flying, and it would require a volume for me to tell you the other numerous attractions in Washington which I had the opportunity to see. However, another point of interest I must bring out, which to me is the most important one. You all, no doubt, are fami liar with pictures of the Executive TOCOL issit (Continued on page 47)