"Oh, papa, there are some words up there!" exclaimed Ned, pointing up to a
higher part of the arch. "Please read them."

"I will, son," replied the captain, "though I think you are hardly old
enough to fully understand them. This"--pointing it out--"was written by
Macaulay, of whom you will learn more when you are older: 'Of all
inventions, the alphabet and the printing-press alone excepted, those
inventions which abridge distance have done the most for civilization.'
This other is by Lord Bacon: 'There are three things which make a nation
great and prosperous: a fertile soil, busy workshops, and easy conveyance
for men and goods from place to place.' Those words are put upon this
building because in it are shown the different modes of travel in
different countries--on the sea also--at different times."

They stood for some little time longer examining into the details of that
wondrously beautiful doorway, noticing the splendor of the arches and
pylon, the stairway on each side, the roof of the pavilion and all the
other beauties.

"It is very beautiful, and a great satisfaction to have seen it," remarked
Mr. Dinsmore at length, "but perhaps it would be as well for us to go on
into the inside of the building now, reserving further examination of this
golden doorway for some future time."

With that he passed in, the others following.

Many of the exhibits there were more interesting to the older members of
the party, especially the gentlemen, than to the ladies and younger
people; locomotives and trains of cars such as were in use at different
periods of time, showing the vast improvement in their construction since