Whatever women in the United States have accomplished beyond their sisters in foreign lands has been done because of the friendly, cordial, helpful encouragement of their husbands, brothers, and fathers; so in this Library the womanhood of the world is slighted in the house of her friends. XXIV THE PENSION OFFICE THE Pension building is situated on Judiciary Square, near G Street. It is the largest department building in Washington, being 400 feet from east to west and 200 from north to south, and 75 feet high. The walls surround an interior courtyard, two galleries extend around this court, and from these galleries access is attained to the rooms on the second and third stories. The building cost half a million dollars; it is of mixed architecture, not beautiful in appearance, but the best lighted, heated, and ventilated department building in the city. It is sometimes called "the Meigs (name of architect) Barn," because its outline is not unlike a Pennsylvania red barn. When the architect had finished escorting General Sheridan through the building, just after its completion, the former inquired enthusiastically, "Well, Sheridan, how do you like it?" "I find only one fault," said the General, solemnly; "it is fireproof." At the close of the year 1908 there were on the rolls 951,687 pensioners. During 1908 there were added 413,017, with a loss from death of 428,701, making a loss above all gains of 15,684. The number of pensioners should grow less each year. There remain on the rolls the names of no widows and but two daughters of Revolutionary soldiers. In the last report of the Commissioner of Pensions (1900) but one soldier of the War of 1812 survived. He was at that time (September 10, 1901) 101 years of age. Of the Mexican War, the names of 2,932 soldiers and 6,914 widows are still on the rolls; of the Indian wars (1832-1842), 1,820 survivors and 3,018 widows. The war with Spain left a legacy of 20,548 invalids, 1,145 widows, and 510 nurses, drawing pensions. Besides these there is the great army of Civil War pensioners. If the government would, at least twice each year, publish in each county the names of persons receiving pensions, the amount paid, and the alleged cause of disability, it would bring the blush of shame to the face of many a liar who now draws a handsome sum from his government. The money is largely paid into the United States Treasury not by the rich of our country, but by the laboring class of men and women. Patriotism which requires a lifelong stipend is of doubtful color.