resentatives and the northern one the Senate chamber.

"The central portico," remarked Mrs. Calvert, "I would like to have
you notice particularly. It dates back from 1825. The allegorical
group cut in sandstone was designed by the President, John Quincy
Adams."

"What does it represent?" questioned Alfy.

"The group represents the genius of our beloved America," answered
Mrs. Calvert. "America is resting her shield upon an altar, while an
eagle rests at her feet. She is listening to hope, and points in
response to Justice."

"I think you have told us a very good story of that piece, Mrs.
Calvert, and as you are just as well, perhaps better acquainted with
this place than I am, do you mind explaining the things occasionally,
so as to help me out?" asked Mr. Ludlow.

"Why, it is a pleasure to me, I assure you," answered Mrs. Calvert,
gracefully. "You see I have been here often and I have my
indispensable Rand, McNally guide book."

"Right here where you are standing," interrupted Mr. Dauntrey, for he
wished them to understand that he had been to Washington before and
knew something of the place, "is where all the presidents of the
United States since the time of Jackson have been inaugurated, the
chief justice adminstrating the oath of office here in full view of
the onlookers."

The large bronze doors were thrown back, and all entered the building
itself. The entrance takes one immediately into the rotunda, which is
of enormous size. The floor is of sandstone, the rotunda being nearly
100 feet in diameter, and almost twice that high. A balcony runs
around it, and strangely interesting is the fact that this balcony has
a very good whispering echo. The decoration of this huge place is
confined mostly to the walls, but there are a few pieces of statuary
on the floor.

The great wall space is given to historical pictures of considerable
size, and all are familiar to everyone through their reproduction on
postals, currency and postage stamps.

The whole party made a tour of the room with much interest, viewing
the canvases.

"We might divide these pictures into two classes," said Mr. Ludlow,
"the early historical and revolutionary. The former are, I suspect, to
a degree imaginative, but the latter are accurately true to the times
and scenes they depict. In the first group are the following: 'The
Landing of Columbus at San Salvador in 1492,' 'The Discovery of the
Mississippi by De Soto in 1541,' 'The Baptism of