Madison High School - Bulldog Yearbook (Madison, ME)

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THE BOUNCER 7 reporters. The hall is surrounded by large galleries. Connected with the chamber are: the President's room, Vice President's room, Senator's Reception room, Public Reception room and the room of the Committee on the Distridt of Columbia. The Presidents room is set apart for his use on visits to the Capitol. It is beautifully decorated with paintings of the presidents. The building is altogether beautiful and impressive in its design and cannot fail to arouse patriotic interest. AMOS STEELE When We Met the President at the White House. cc ELL US something about your trip to Washington. These were about the first words that greeted me, on my arrival home from that great and glorious city. What should I tell them about first? This question came to me many times. There was so much to tell and everything was so interesting I hardly knew where to begin, but finally after due meditation I decided on what seemed to me to be the grandest thing of all, When we meet the Presi- dent at the White House. Thursday, the last day of March, and also the last day of our stay in Washing- ton, was the one upon which we were to meet the President. The White House is open to visitors from 10 A. M. until 2 P. M. and, as we wished to be among the first to have the honor of meeting President Taft, our party started out shortly before nine. After a short walk we arrived at the stately mansion known as the White House. As not all of our party were with us we agreed to wait for them on the steps of the State War and Navy Building just east of the executive man- sion. From here we could see every- thing that was taking place in front of the White House. Crowds of people were already slowly gathering and after waiting about half an hour we decided that if we were going to meet the President we would have to be moving. As we passed through the crowd an otiicer informed us that if we wished to see the President we would have to line up in double file. This we crowd followed our line extended down did. Soon all the example, and the the street as far as the eye could see. After another half hour of tiresome waiting had passed, the doors of the White House opened, and it was an- nounced that the President was ready to meet the people, but he would first re- ceive those from the State of Maine. So those people who had crowded up front were made to step back while the Maine people came to the front. The line moved very slowly, but after a minute or two we entered the long hall of the W'hite House. Here we were obliged to go in single file. Guards were stationed at every turn, and as we came to the third bend of the hall we were told to announce our name as we passed by the President's Secretary. This we

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6 THE BOUNCER Arlington, Our National Cemetery, G. E. F. '10 The Capitol. UR National Capitol is situated on Capitol Hill ninety-seven feet above the level of the Potomac river, where it can be seen for many miles around. The most noticeable part of the build- ing is the dome, which supports a large light crowned by, the Statue of Freedom, towering three hundred and eighty seven and one half feet above the esplandel The building is constructed of Virgin- ian sandstone. It is seven hundred and fifty-one feet, four inches in length, three hundred and fifty feet in width and covers a space of three and one half acres. Thebuilding faces the east, but it is usually approached from the western entrance. The walk extends across the lawns to a flight of steps which ascend to the open extending along the west front and north and south ends. A second flight of stairs leads to the rotun- da. The three east entrances are -ap- proached by marble steps leading to porticoes with large columns. The center portico is the scene of inaugura- tions. The main entrance leads into the rotunda which is in the center of the building. The walls are adorned with magnificient historic paintings, sculp- tures and frescoes, such as, The De- claration of Independence, The Sur- render of Burgoyne, etc. Above these is the frieze three hundred feet in cir- cumference. The top of the dome is reached by a winding stairway. From this point the view is magnificient. As one passes from the rotunda he next enters Statuary Hall, semi-circular in shape and one of the most beautiful rooms in the Capitol. In this hall above the door leading from the rotunda is the famous Franzonis Clock. Ranged around the room are statues and portrait busts contributed by various states. This was once the old Hall of Representatives. The new Hall of Representatives, in the south wing, is a legislative chamber unsurpassed in the world. It is lighted by a ceiling of glass. The speakers desk occupies an elevated position in the cen- ter of the south sideg around it in semi- circles are desks for the members. Open- ing off the hall, back of the Speaker's desk, are the House lobby and the mem- bers retiring rooms. Around the room above are the galleries reached by mag- nificent stairways. The Supreme Court Room is another semi-circular room. Here may he seen the benches of the Supreme Courtg the chair of the Chief justice in the center and those of his eight associates on each side. . The Senate Chamber is also a semi- circular hall. It is immense in size and lighted by a glass ceiling. The senators seats are arranged in concentric rows. The President's desk is on the north side, on the right of his desk is that of the sergeant-at-arms, on the left, that of the assistant door keeperg and in front are the desks of the clerks and official

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8 THE BOUNCER did, and before we knew it we were standing in front of the President. I re- cognized him at once from his picture and when I shook his hand he seemed like an old acquaintance, nevertheless after exchanging only a few words with him I was obliged to pass on and let someone else take my place. Before I reached the next bend in the hall I overheard the following conversa- tion, Aren't we ever going to meet the President. Oh I'm so tired, and have come such a long way. I should think they would have different arrangements, I can't stand it much longer. Why how do you do is this President Taft? I'm Mrs. Smith from Augusta. I'm awful glad to see yon, and I guess you would be glad to see me too if you knew how far I had to come, and what a hard time Ihad getting here. I did not have a chance to catch the President's reply, but I wondered if he were as pleased as he looked, and before I realized it we were once more out of doors. We then passed around to the east side through a colonnade filled with numer- ous kinds of 'palms and ferns. From thence we crossed to the basement corri- dor on the walls of which are hung por- traits of the mistresses of the White House. Here also are exhibited the different specimens of historic White House china. These are enclosed in glass cases to prevent them from being carried away or injured. From the long corridor we passed up the stairs to the famous East Room. The decorations of the walls and ceiling are in white and gold, with moldings and tablet ornamentation in, reliefg the window draperies are of old gold. Four handsomely carved mantels, one on each wall are surmounted by mirrors which reilecft the light from all sides. Most noticeable of all are the three massive crystal chandeliers which depend from the ceiling. While here we were told that if we wished to see the remainder of the rooms we must wait until twelve o'clock. Only a few of the party stayed, however, but those who did felt fully paid for their trouble. We waited about three quarters of an hour. The room was so filled with peo- ple that some were obliged to stand, while others sat on the floor. At last the doors were opened and we fell into line and passed out through the hall at the head of the stairs to the dining room. The State dining room is paneled in dark English oak and decorated with the heads of American big game. The white marble mantel is surmounted by an old Flemish tapestry depidting a country scene, and having in a panel a verse from Virgil in praise of hunting. In the center of the room, on a large art square, stands a massive mahogany table that will seat nearly one hundred guests. We were allowed to have just a peep in- to this room, for if we looked more than a minute the guard near by would say:-- Pass on! pass on, and let someone else have a look. From the dining room we passed to the Green Room. The Green Room has green velvet hangings and while enamel wainscoting. In front of the white marble mantel is a