chased at a cost of $100,000. By the operation of the Copyright Law two copies of each book, pamphlet, engraving, etc., copyrighted in the United States, must be deposited in the Library.

The Library is one of the great libraries of the world, and in some departments-notably in literature relating to America-it stands unrivalled. In addition to many rare and ancient books and manuscripts, every important work issued by American and foreign presses since the beginning of the century may be found on the shelves. There are files of all the principal American newspapers from 1735 to 1800, and the collections of magazines and newspapers since 1800 are without equal.

The Law Collection, a portion of the Library, is kept in the basement. It contains over seventy thousand volumes, and is the finest of the kind in the world. Every volume of American, English, Scotch and Irish court reports is to be found here, and also the statutes of all countries from 1649 until the present time.

The room containing the Law Collection was used by the Supreme Court until 1860. In the vestibule can be seen Latrobe's celebrated "corn-stalk" columns, the capitals being formed of ears of corn.

It was in this chamber that Clay and Webster, those giants of a former age, made argument before the Supreme Court, and here Chief Justice John Marshall rendered the decisions that have remained the highest law in the land to this day.

THE SUPREME COURT CHAMBER.

North of the Rotunda is the chamber formerly occupied by the Senate, but used by the Supreme Court since 1860. The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices, appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate, and holding their offices during "good behavior." The Court is in session from October until May, and during the rest of the year the Justices act as Circuit Justices in the nine judicial circuits into which the territory of the United States is divided.

The Supreme Court Chamber is a beautiful specimen of classic architecture. It is semicircular in form, its greatest length being seventy-five feet and its greatest width and height forty-five feet. The ceiling is a portion of a low dome. The Judicial Bench is at

the eastern end, and behind it is a row of pillars of variegated marble with white marble capitals. Overhead a wide arch spans the Bench, and around the walls are marble pilasters. On the walls are marble busts of the deceased Chief Justices. The central portion of the chamber has mahogany tables and chairs for the use of the lawyers and others having business with the Supreme Court. At the sides are rows of seats upholstered in red velvet for the convenience of spectators. Fine portraits of Chief Justices Jay, Marshall, Taney, and Chase are in the robing-room, west of the corridor.

The sittings of the Court begin promptly at noon, when the crier requests all persons to rise, and announces, "The Honorable the Chief Justice and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States." The Justices, clad in long silken robes with voluminous sleeves, advance from the robing-room and take their places on the Bench, the Chief Justice in the centre and the others in the order of their appointment. They bow to the members of the Bar and the spectators, and then seat themselves. The court Crier opens the session by speaking the ancient formula: "Oyez ! Oyez! Oyez! All persons having business with the Supreme Court of the United States are admonished to draw near and give their attention, for the Court is now sitting. God save the United States and this Honor

able Court!" The business begins as soon as the crier has finished his announcement. Then decisions, if there are any, are read by the Justices, after which the first case on the day's docket is taken up. The intercourse between the Justices and the members of the Bar is very pleasant and courteous, and patient attention is paid to the arguments, no matter how long or tedious they may be. Promptly at four the Court is adjourned for the day, and the Justices retire to the robing-room, where their silken gowns are removed by colored attendants. The sessions are held five days in the week, Saturdays being occupied by the Justices in consultation.

In accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, Congress created the Supreme Court by Act of September 24, 1789. President Washington appointed John Jay, of New York, as the first Chief Justice. The business of the Court at that time required the appointment of but five Associate Justices. On Jay's resignation in 1795 he was succeeded by John Rutledge, of South Carolina. Rutledge presided for one year, and his commission not having been confirmed by the Senate, was succeeded by Oliver Ellsworth, of Connecticut. Ellsworth resigned in 1799. In 1801, John Marshall, of Virginia, was appointed Chief Justice, and continued to execute the duties of his high office until 1835. It has been said: "It was he who established the power of the Supreme Court as we recognize it at the present day. It was he who, more than any other man of his time, carried forward the work of the Constitution in welding the loose league of States into a compact, powerful nationality."

Notwithstanding Marshall's greatness in great things, he was sometimes puzzled by very trivial matters. An amusing anecdote is told of him. While driving one day near Fredericksburg, a small sapling growing along the side of the road became entangled between the wheel and the body of his wagon. It was

on, and the Chief Justice was in a dilemma.

impossible to drive Observing a negro

near by, he called to him to come and cut it down. The negro, observing the situation, backed the horse until the wagon was free of the sapling, and the learned jurist went on his way wondering.

On the death of Marshall, in 1835, President Jackson appointed Roger B. Taney, of Maryland. Taney was a man of marked ability, but was unfortunate in having to render decisions on questions connected with the subject of slavery at a time when political passions

were very bitter, and he became the object of much undeserved obloquy.

Chief Justice Taney died in 1864, and was succeeded by Salmon P. Chase, of Ohio, who had been Secretary of the Treasury under President Lincoln. Chase died in 1873, and President Grant appointed Morrison R. Waite. Chief Justice Waite died in 1888, and President Cleveland appointed the present Chief Justice, Melville W. Fuller. The salary of the Chief Justice is $10,500; that of an Associate Justice is $10,000. By an Act of Congress, passed in 1869, a Justice may retire on full pay if he has reached the age of seventy and has been on the bench ten years.

THE SENATE CHAMBER.

The Senate Chamber is in the northern extension of the Capitol. It is one hundred and twelve feet long, eighty-two feet wide, and thirty feet high. The ceiling is formed of iron girders and crosspieces enclosing glass panels adorned with paintings representing Union, Progress, the Army and Navy, and the Mechanical Arts. Hundreds of gas-jets above these panels shed a soft, diffused light

The Vice-President of the United States is the President of the Senate. His seat is on a daïs at the northern end of the chamber. On his right sits the sergeant-at-arms, on his left the assistant door-keeper, while in front are the desks of the clerks and the tables of the official reporters. Arranged in semicircular rows in front of the President's chair are the mahogany desks and chairs of the Senators. Some were brought here from the old Senate Chamber, and were used by famous Senators of former times. On each desk is a silver plate engraved with the name of the occupant. Over the President's chair is a gallery for the reporters of the press, and directly opposite is that reserved for the members of the Diplomatic

Corps. The eastern gallery is for ladies and the western for gentlemen.

Behind the Chamber is the Lobby, and north of it the "Marble Room," the walls, floor, and ceiling entirely of polished marble. It is used by the Senators for consultation and for the reception of special visitors.

West of the Marble Room is the "Room of the President of the United States." The President comes to this room during the hurried closing hours of the session to sign the bills passed at the last moment. A bill passed by Congress within ten days of the time