DC By the Book

Excerpt: The basement, when finally we reached it, was one large room. Three tiny, grimy windows on the back wall let in dim streaks of light. I could see stage props everywhere--dilapidated furniture, some dressing screens. Old costumes hangin on racks and stacked on the tables. There were also several big trunks.

Excerpt: We could see the Capitol a long way before we got there. It sat on a hill, a huge white building that seemed to rise almost up into the clouds. Workmen’s scaffolds stood all about it because they were replacing the old dome with a much higher one made of cast iron. We caught sight of the rough seats that had been set up by placing limber on barrels, but they were filled. Crowds of people stood behind the seating area.