WASHINGTON.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 December 1921, Page 4

WASHINGTON.

-Whilst all eyes and all hopes are turned to Washington, with its unique gathering of statesmen and notables, an impression of the city itself may be of interest. Although an increasingly large number of husiness men make their way to the United States .year by year, practically none will go to Washington because of any particular business interest, for it is in no sense a city of commerce. It is what it professes to he—the Federal seat of Government, with the Federal Houses of Legislature. Government offices, libraries. museums, picture galleries, and many othoi buildings erected by the nation or by private munificence for the advancement of science and art or the general welfare of the race. Australians visiting the States might well turn aside for a few days from the busy marts to see this Queen City, for surely, of all modern cities, it best deserves the name. During a husiness visit last year the present writer "'as able to spare three days in early May, and though he had heard much of the capital, he could sav, with the Queen of Sheba, “that the half had not been told.” To Australians, Washington should lie of more interest, than as a mere show city. It is to-day what some day the future capital of Australia should be. One hundred and fifty years ago Washington no more existed than Uanherra does in 11)21. It is for us so to plan that the succeeding generations may turn into solid stone and chiselled marble the visions which are by n<> means wild if all the talk of these last lew months can he materialised into a steady stream of immigration. The site on the Potomac was chosen, like Canberra, that the Government might |, e free from the dose pull of the centres of population, and it is rather interesting to note that Washington is about the same distance from New York that Canberra is from Sydney. Washington is a city of beauty. I have no acquaintance with the Orient, but there is no city of the Western world that can compare with it in the superb setting of the Capitol, the lay-out of its boulevards and parks, the beauty of it , public buildings. The Avenue des Cl,amps Eiysees, gradually rising to the Place dc l'Etoile, presents a longer perspective than Pcnnsylvania-avenue, hut the latter, lending up to the great white mass of the Capitol, is dignified in the extreme.

TDK CAPITOL AND LIBRARY. The Capitol houses are the Senate, the House of Representatives, anil the Supreme Court. I was present for a short time during a session of the Representatives. The Im'luTics are placed in ;i huge semi-circle, thus giving quite a ditl’ereiit type of legislative chambci from what we are accustomed toMcssengei hoys were moving about freely whilst a member, evidently with m,e eye mi the journal of hi* parlicnhir (list riot, was mailing a passionate speech extolling the virtues of a certain regiment, doubtless largely to* ernited from .his particular constituency.' The building itself, with its great dome, remarkably like that of hit Paul’s -the broad flights of steps leadin,r up to the poilieoes of the two immense wings, which are supported by Corinthian (siluinns—is worthy of the great Republic which it represents. The Library of Coilgioss in front ol the Capitol is a dream ol marble and mosaic. 1 know of ... nothing in the Western world than can compare with the Hall of Columns and the adjacent staircases. The while marble of the columns warms with the glon of colour from roof paintings ‘““I f' lllJ . r mosaics. Such an effect one would look for in

Agra Ol Delhi, lint there is all the element of surprise to find it in a strictly modern building, housing a great collection of hooks, with lifts, a public restaurant, and made cointorlnhle in w intei by central heating.

the white house and pan AMERICAN BUILDING.

Hill the bunding that is essentially associated with Washington is the While House, llm official home of the IVcsi.leiil of the United States. There is nothing wonderful about it. Maui of the stately hollies of England are far more attractive from the outside at any rate. That which really livots the attention is doubtless just the fact that its occupant is the deliberately chosen bond 111 the greatest republic and that its doors will optui in the future, as 1 1 it*v have done in the past, to the jMiur hoy from the log cabin or the obscure lawyer Irotu the country town, it only there he the ability backed l>,v teal will tli iff character. It was expected 1 1 1111 the pau-Aiuerican building would he used In the I Aisa ■in a men t Coulerciiic, hut till' public functions are evidently being held in the Centennial Memorial llall. The pan-American building was erected largely, it not wholly, hv the late Andrew Carnegie, •md. as its name suggests, was intended for the direct benefit of the "hole oi the Americans, north and south. The piaclieal scheme lay in a regular meetill,* of all the representatives of the Aiit<*i iean Hepublies accredited ■<' Washington, with the United States Secretary oi' State as chairman. In that way it was hoped that a better understanding might, he brought .about, amt any occasion for friction avoided oi adjusted before it became .serious. The white marble building is planned .in Moorish fashion, with courtyard, plashing fountains, palms, and scarlet cockatoos. No pains have been spared t.) beautify it and to make it worthy. of th,* idea which gave it expression. The Union Railway Station is in keeping with lilt* rest of the city, spacious, admirably laid out and decorated within nml without.

THE'COLOUR PROIM.F.M

Those who have never vi»itetl she States might easily imagine that <vhito s am! negroes never mingle under any circiinistnilces. The visiloi U> the Northern States, and probably 111) per cent of the travellers do licit leave the northern sections, would sec the negro employed as waiter, "pullman conductor," porter, liftman, and the Idle. There would be nothing in New York ~r Chicago to suggest the feeling that lie was looked on with a degree oi colttempt. Th<i writer was first made conscious of the colon! line when leaving Washington for Mount \ onion.-* lb*' journey is made by street ear, though the distance may he ‘2O miles. Mount Vernon is in the State of Virginia, and notices are posted that by the law. of that State the ear conductors are empowered to direct coloured people to occupy certain seats, fn New York a

coloured man would sit beside a white, hut not so further south. Here is tho beginning of that colour line which cuts across the south-eastern States, and which in its larger intoiprettUioii presents the greatest problem and danger to peace in the whole world. MOUNT VERNON, in tm account of Washington would it he right to fail to mention .Mount Vernon as the home of George Washington. As already mentioned it is 211 miles from the city, hut all visitors make a pilgrimage to the home ol the great man who, with deep convictions of British-born I'reeoWn, would not permit Britain to trample them underfoot, and right at the inception of the republic laid deep those forthright qualities which finally triumphed over political and racial prejudice in HU" and in these later days are manifesting themselves afresh to the amazement oi the world. The house, a wooden twostory building, stands on a knoll commanding a superb reach of the Potomac River. Reverent hands alive sought to restore it as nearly as possible to what it was in the days ol the first l’resideiit. Bureau, liarpsicord, ITirtiiture, bedsteads, the huge kitchen, and tlie quarters for the slaves, stables, spinning-room, blacksmith's shop—all are preserved as a national memorial.

It was May time, and all the trees were in their first spring beauty ; lilacs hung thickly over the wall of Martha Washington’s quaint box garden. Down a gentle slope is the vault where lie the remains of the founder ol the great republic. King Edward tin Seventh when Prince of Wales deposit cd a wreath of silver palm leaves. It still stands close to the sarcophagus, and the present Prince, a year or so ag> paid a similar tribute. No Li'i.nn least of all if lie belongs to any ol Hit great dominions, should stand on moved before the shrine of George Washington, v, ho perhaps more thai anyone else settled the basis on whicl the great Empire of I lie 1 nion dock might lie seciirelv built.