A Complete Collection OF THE Quotations and Inscriptions IN THE Library of Congress, BY Emily Loiseau Walter. FIFTH REVISED EDITION. Words are things; and a small drop of ink, The very leaf of the papyrus becomes a Shinar, BULWER-LYTTON. Zanoni. Bk. v., Ch. 7. WASHINGTON, D. C. 1902. 1890. CORNER STONE informally laid August 28, BUILDING Completed March 1, 1897. JOHN RUSSELL YOUNG appointed Librarian July 1, 1897. AINSWORTH R. SPOFFORD appointed Chief Assistant Librarian July 1, 1897. BERNARD R. GREEN appointed Superintendent of Building and Grounds July 1, 1897. HERBERT PUTNAM appointed Librarian, (after death of Mr. Young January 17, 1899), April 5, 1899. COPYRIGHT BY EMILY LOISEAU WALTER, 1902. PREFACE. Amidst the gleaming of white, polished marble, the gorgeous, golden ornamentation of the Vestibule touches, at once, the joyous keynote of coloring in the Congressional Library. As we seem to be lifted, spell-bound, into a region of perpetual brightness, so by the various quotations and inscriptions, which cluster and wreathe about its exquisitely decorated halls and pavilionsglistening and glittering with every ray and hue of noble thought and elevating sentiment-the mind is flooded with sunshine. Lingering, here and there, in a very aureola of glory, sunbeams of wisdom shed their lambent light around the deeply expressive, mural representations on every side. At first, we are lost in happy bewilderment, but soon we awaken to the sweeter consciousness of being gently led by some gracious Ariadne through all this brilliant maze of truth and beauty. For not only are painting and inscription ever charmingly interwoven; but the latter, in many 148158 |