dly looking at the girl with an
amused expression.

"Look!" cried Dorothy, "over that way, way far back. See the carved
figures?"

"Yes," answered Aunt Betty. "The one thing the arch typifies is study.
The youth eager to learn and the aged man contemplating the fruits of
knowledge. It is a very famous group. I have a postcard picture of it
that a relative sent me and I always remembered and liked it."

"Here is something I always thought was interesting, on this side,"
said Mr. Dauntrey, leading them to the other side of the hall. "These
two boys sitting beside the map of Africa and America. The one in the
feathered head-dress and other accoutrements represents the original
inhabitants of our country, the American Indian, the other, showing
the lack of dress and the war equipment of the ignorant African. Then
those two opposite, the one typifying the Mongolian tribes of Asia,
the other in classic gown, surrounded by types of civilization
indicating the pre-eminence of the Caucasian race in all things, such,
for instance, as your chosen profession, music."

"That would be a good way to study geography," said Alfy. "Then you
would hardly ever fail if you had those interesting figures to look
at."

Aunt Betty then called their attention to the ceiling which was
elaborately ornamented with carvings and stucco work with symbols of
arts and sciences. The southern walls were full of rare and beautiful
paintings, the most striking of these being, "Lyric Poetry," painted
by Walker. It represents Lyric Poetry in an encompassing forest,
striking a lyre and surrounded by Pathos, Beauty, Truth, Devotion, and
playful Mirth.

The east end of this hall which looks out on the reading rooms is
reserved for Senators and members of the House of Representatives. It
is decorated in subjects chosen from Greek mythology.

"Come in here," said Dorothy, entering the periodical or public
reading room. "See here, any one, no matter where he is from, can find
one of his home papers."

"Can any one stay here and read anything they want, and as long as
they want?" inquired Alfy.

"Yes. It is free to anyone," answered Mrs. Calvert.

Next they passed into an exhibition hall, where in cases of glass made
like a table they saw a great number of rare and curious books
representing the beginning time of printing and bookmaking. There were
a great many early printed Bibles and specimens of famous special
editions of Bibles. Some of them, so th