Stamford Union Free School - Camera Yearbook (Stamford, NY)

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EDITORIALS . - . l ml l - B 69' Ks X-J 4. 4,f at ' X .g 1 M .4 - ' ,f I ' N I' X H 5. 133 ' -. WASHINGTON Washington is the city no patriotic America can visit without a better realization of his citizenship, a city not of manufactures and commerce, yet a hive of industry. There is not the hustle and hurry of industrial activi- ties. Only a calm serenity rests about all as if such quiet were needed for the serious responsibility of great decisions. The location and plans for the nation's capital were decided by the man for whom it was named. These plans were drawn up by Peter Charles L'Erfant and were so elaborate that they called forth ridicule from many of the great men who saw them. It was Washington who looked beyond the immediate present and saw the need for the city portrayed in L,Erfant's plans, thus he ordered these plans executed. L'Erfant took as a piwot Capitol Hill, and from it all of the streets radiate as spokes from the hub of a wheel. These streets are intersected with cross streets and liberally sprinkled with beautiful parks. The streets and avenues are named after the states in the Union. The city grew slowly. When the government was moved there it was far from completion. lt was not until after the Civil War that the country realized the need for a beautiful and pretentious capital. Then trees were planted, parks laild out and new and beautiful buildings were erected. Thus we see Washington as it is today, with all its beauty and splendor.

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SPRING FESTIVAL GIVEN The Boy Scouts Trip to Fairylandf' an operetta, was given by mem- bers of the first six grades at the Gymnasium on Thursday evening, June 2. The operetta was under the direction of 'Miss Folger. CLASS BENEFITS The Juniors have already shown us that they are fast workers. 'LA Bunch of Fun, a comedy, was presented by the Juniors at the Gymnasium on the 17th of May. It has also been given out of town twice. Y The Annual '4Prom was held May 25 at the Gymnasium and a large crowd was present. We must say that it was a great success.

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Of the places visited by the sightseers let us take first the National Capitol. This has been called unquestionably one of the most beautiful public structures in the world. There is certainly, in all Washington, no more beautiful sight than the lighted dome of the Capitol at night. When entering the building, one finds himself in the vast circular hall of the rotunda. Many huge columned corridors spread out before him. The walls are decorated with paintings and frescoes. One hundred eighty feet above him is the great canopy of the dome. This is sixty-two feet in di- ameter. A tour ,through the Capitol includes the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court Room, the Senate Chamber, the President's Room tsaid to be the most beautifully decorated room in the worldl, and the Hall of Fame. This Hall was at one time the room of the House of Representa- tives and when it became too small the room was set aside by Congress for statues. ln this room are the famous echoes of the Capitol. A climb to the dome may also be included in the tour iwf it is wished. The Library of Congress on Capitol Hill is just back of the Capitol. This, visited at night, is one of the most beautiful places in all Washington. It is an immense building of whirte granite. On the first floor are the rooms of the library. These were intended primarily for the members of Con- gress, but they are usted by other people. Sight-seers are not allowed iln these rooms. On the second floor are collections of various kinds on ex- hibition. At the top of the central stairway is a piece of beautilful Mosaic work. The entire library is decorated with sculptures, statues, paintings and quotations. The White House, home of the President, is on Pennsylvania Avenue some distance from the Capitol. It covers one whole block and is sur- rounded by Lafayette Park. Visitors are admitted to the East Room only. The Bureau of Printing and Engraving is one of the most interesting places to visit. Here one may see the money and stamps made. The New and Old National Museums and the Smithsonian Institute should be included in a tour through the cilty. ln the Smithsonian are many collections of Various kinds that are very interesting. The New National Museum is sometimes called the Museum of Natural History. Here is seen the Roosevelt collection. The Old National Museum contains an art collection. At Seventeenth Street are a group of buildings well worth seeing. The Corcoran Art Gallery, the Memorial Continental Hall, the American Red Cross Building and the Pan-American Union make up this group. The Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial must not be for-