Mr. Douglass smiled at the boy’s grown-up airs, but said nothing more.
“Come,” said Philip, “I want to go over to the Manufactures Building. I saw in my magazine that one could register there, and I’m going to do it. Besides, I haven’t been in the galleries of that building yet, and I’d like to go. We won’t stay long, and we can meet there if we should separate for a while.”
They entered by the north door, climbed into the gallery, and found that some of the periodicals had arranged tasteful little rooms for the accommodation of the public. People entered these small compartments with a homelike feeling that was very pleasant to see. There were tables and chairs, books for the registry of visitors, and glass cases showing magazine- and book-work in full detail, besides many other things connected more or less directly with the subjects of the books and articles published. But, intending to return again, the boys did not linger over the exhibits, pausing only long enough to register their names. Here Mr. Douglass remained to talk to one of the attendants, as he expected some letters to be addressed to him in care of that exhibit, and the boys started together for the National and State buildings.
These filled a large part of the grounds around the great art galleries.
Their first visit was to the house devoted to Great Britain. They marched boldly up to the door, opened it, and stepped inside.
A guard came forward and politely told them that on this morning the building was open only on presentation of a card. The boys turned to go out, but one of the gentlemen in charge—a handsome young Englishman—courteously invited them to go through the rooms. They gladly accepted his invitation and guidance.
“This,” he told the young Americans, so politely that for the moment they almost regretted the famous “tea-party” in Boston harbor,—“is called Victoria House by the Queen’s own wish. It represents a manor-house of the Tudor period, of about Queen Elizabeth’s time; but was made by a Chicago firm.” Then he went on to call their attention to the fine ceilings, fireplaces, staircases, and inlaid cabinets; and the boys found the house full of richly carved woodwork and furniture. Of the chairs, one was a model of that in which King Charles sat during his trial in Westminster Hall, and others were quite as well worth attention, among them being chairs designed for the use of Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales.
VICTORIA HOUSE.
Our sturdy young Americans gazed with becoming reverence upon all this elegance and grandeur, took a few notes of what they had seen, and walked down the steps much gratified by the attention shown them.