Another Trip to DC

This particular Saturday morning was not one for the children to sleep late; they were as the saying goes up with the chickens!

The occupants of the master suite were smiling. "Our children must be anxious for our visit to DC."

"I guess so." Maria said as she hastened to the bathroom. Then when she came from there she told Georg.

"I'll be happy when he grows more and won't crowd my bladder anymore!"

"It won't be too much longer."

"Good, I'll go downstairs so Kurt won't badger Katia about when breakfast will be ready. I'm sure she didn't expect them to wake this early."

"And I'll be down shortly."

Maria was surprised when Kurt calmly to her. "Katia said breakfast won't be ready for thirty minutes. But she is serving Fruit Cocktail this morning."

"I know that pleases you. Girls, who helped you dress?"

"Louisa and I did, Mom."

"I suppose this means all of you are anxious to visit the Library of Congress."

"I think all of us are anxious to see dad's article there."

"Yes, seeing it will make us all proud of him."

"Your dad also told me this building is magnificent."

"That gives us another reason to be anxious to go see it."

"Yes, I'm curious too Louisa."

Georg had arrived. "We will need to wait awhile before we leave. The library doesn't open until nine o'clock."

"Are we taking the bus again?"

"Kurt, it's the only way all of us can travel together! The eight-thirty bus will have us to DC in plenty of time for the short walk to the building."

Breakfast was now ready to be served and there was little conversation; everyone was eating. As soon as the dishes were washed and put away, the group was waiting for Isabel and Katia to come from their bedrooms where they had changed their clothes. And once they joined the others Franz led them to the bus stop.

Since it was a Saturday, the bus was empty. The driver asked. "Where's everyone going so early this morning?"

"To the Library of Congress sir. My dad's article is on display there."

"I read it. It's very appropriate for the librarian to want to preserve it for others to read. There's little traffic, we should be there well before the library opens. It's only a short walk from the bus stop."

Their ride was quicker than normal; not only was there little traffic, there was no one waiting at any of the bus stops so the driver didn't even need to stop once.

In a few minutes the bus did stop. "The library is just a short walk away. This street will take you there. You can't miss it."

The driver had been correct; its size startled everyone. "Yes, I know it's huge. But I can take you to where my article is stored."

Upon entering the entire group froze. They were viewing the most ornate and beautiful gigantic room they had ever seen. It had elaborate archways, columns and staircases. The ceiling with its curved sides held skylights in a blue mosaic.

"Dad, why is the library so elaborate?"

"Liesl, I was told it was designed from the library in Boston Massachusetts. It was the first public library in the new nation. The design of this room, named the Great Hall, came from the building in Boston."

"It's breathtaking." Liesl said as all of them had a good look at this mammoth room.

"Now everyone follow me. My article is stored where newspaper articles about current events are stored."

"Georg, what other things are stored here?"

"All kinds of things, Maria; every book printed, music, magazines including those called Comic Books. There's even the draft copy of the Declaration of Independence as well as a famous Bible, the Gutenberg Bible. I doubt anyone has seen all that is here. I'm taking you to a reading room where the latest editions of our newspaper are stored."

Georg led them from the Great Hall to this reading room. They were startled to see his article in clear view; it was clipped to an easel.

"Georg, did you know how your article was going to be displayed?"

"No, it was a surprise to me too. The complete newspaper is stored here too. The library receives several copies; one is placed in the reading for everyone to read and another is stored untouched to be saved as history.

"We won't see everything. There's just too much here. I do want to show you the children's library."

"Is it for me and Gretl, Daddy?"

"Well it does have small tables and chairs but it has books for all ages like Brigitta and Kurt might read. There's a reading room for them too."

"Dad, I've never seen so many bookshelves."

"Friedrich, I was told the Library of Congress has more than 164 million items on about 838 miles of bookshelves."

"Oh my! That is a lot! Now I know why we won't see everything today."

Georg smiled at his son. And then he led them to the children's rooms.

"Daddy, these tables are like what we have in school."

"I know girls. It even has lower shelves and some books are on tables. And next to this room is the reading room for Kurt and Brigitta; it even has comfortable chairs. And books of all kinds are on the nearby shelves."

Georg looked at his watch. "We should have lunch before we go home. I want to show you where we can get a meal really quick."

"Good, I'm hungry."

"I knew you would be Kurt. Stay together as we go back to the entrance."

Georg made sure everyone had arrived at the front of the building. "Once we get outside we're going to go down the street to the first crosswalk."

They arrived and waited for the car traffic to end and crossed this two lane street. "The place to eat is halfway down this street."

They had arrived and Kurt asked. "What does that sign say?"

"It says, Horn & Hardart Automat."

Kurt looked in the window. "All I see are tables and chairs and tall cabinets against the wall."

"Believe me, this is where we are having lunch. Let's go inside and I'll show you."

Everyone was as baffled as Kurt, still they followed Georg inside. "Listen up everyone. Inside each compartment is a food item. I have a bag full of nickels. One nickel will unlock the compartment; simply open the door and remove the item. For three or four nickels you can have a complete meal."

Kurt took the nickels from his dad and did as he told them. The first compartment held a sandwich; the next soup and crackers, he even got a piece of pie and he picked up a glass to get his beverage. He had his choice of a fizzy drink or milk.

Now all the others began to use the nickels for their meal. They sat at tables with four chairs. And they heard Kurt. "This is really good food."

"I was sure you would like it. Now we can have a leisurely walk to the bus stop."

They didn't wait long. The bus had them home in twenty minutes. And the comments about the library were numerous.