"Washington, Our National Shrine" an illustrated lecture by : Charles Colfax Long

              WASHINGTON
Our National Shrine
An Illustrated Lecture by Charles Colfax Long

Figure




A Pilgrimage to the Nation's Memorials
MR. CHARLES COLFAX LONG introduces the first of his capital series of travel talks, Washington: Our National Shrine, illustrated with magnificent views, exquisitely colored, artistically produced and interestingly and inspiringly presented.  A lecture that is a combined study in art and a course in patriotism.  An exceptional opportunity to see the most artistically beautiful collection of pictures ever shown of the National Capital.  Many vivid views in natural color photography.



WASHINGTON: Our National Shrine.
COPYRIGHT 1923, BY CHARLES COLFAX LONG

MR. LONG'S appreciation of and love for the beautiful is evidenced in every picture of his remarkable collection of Washington, and in each word of the inspiring lecture with which they are accompanied.  He succeeds in so harmonizing his words, with the series of exquisite photographs, that his audience is carried along as if on a river of fascinating color and sound.

After a successful career as a constructing engineer and executive, Mr. Long spent seven years in Europe, where he traveled extensively, investigating picturesque scenes and treasures of art.  When the war broke out in 1914, he took an active part in helping non-combatants leave the danger zone, serving on The American Committee at Lausanne, Switzerland, and on the French Committee of Evian Les Bains, until he returned to the United States.  As soon as our country entered the war, he threw himself whole-heartedly into volunteer war work, serving almost continuously, for the full three years.  As Chairman of the Committee of Meetings and Speakers of the Second War Fund Drive of the Red Cross, he originated and organized the ALLIED DAY, which was later adopted by the Liberty Loan and other war-time organizations all over the country.  During these years he gained a wide reputation as a speaker of interest and charm.

In addition to his business career and his participation in volunteer war activities, Mr. Long has always been identified with the furtherance of charitable, literary and artistic movements.  He is a member of the Board of Governors of Emergency Hospital; the Board of Trustees of the Archaeological Society of Washington; a member of the National Geographic Society, Metropolitan, Chevy Chase and Alfalfa Clubs of Washington.


'By special invitation of Mrs. Anthony Wayne Cook, President General, National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, Mr. Charles Colfax Long, on the evening of April 12, in Memorial Continental Hall, presented to the delegates, visiting Daughters, and their friends of the Thirty-third Continental Congress, his now famous lecture, Washington: Our National Shrine, that carried his audience along on a fascinating visualization compelling in its exquisite diction and illustration.'

'Mr. Long has the distinction of being endorsed and recommended by the President General, National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, to all Regents and Chapters, an unusual honor never before conferred.  In a comparatively few months he has attained, through his marvelous presentation, lecture, and pictures, a position in the foremost rank of big platform attractions.  He is a master in word painting, an unusual man of charming personality, whose earnestness in the message he conveys emphasizes his genuineness and high ideals, and Washington: Our National Shrine, superbly illustrated, is not only one of the most brilliant, most scholarly, most interesting, most entertaining lectures ever heard, but a really great inspirational appeal that has attained for him a phenomenal success.  Mr. Long is not one who is heard and soon forgotten.'

'The pictures are the last word in artistic photography and so marvelous in coloring they create an allure irresistible and delightful'

'Mr. Long has the distinction and unusual honor of being endorsed and recommended by the General Federation of Women's Clubs to all Federated Clubs.




WASHINGTON: Our National Shrine.
THE term lecture has been so abused, and has come to be associated with such dry and uninteresting entertainments, that it is not the appropriate word to use in describing this wonderful program.  All those who have attended the lecture—filled with scholarly references to the art and history of ancient civilization, the heroic figures of our own historic background, and observations of buildings and monuments, which escape most of us; the key-note: patriotic love of country,—have gone away with a feeling of uplift and inspiration, meaning real progress in the betterment of civic and social conditions throughout the country.

The distinguishing feature of the pictures, is the quality of bringing forth the indwelling value architecturally, or from a standpoint of pure beauty, the note-worthy places of the national capital; and in making the beholder realize that all the buildings and beautiful natural scenery—of which Washington is rightfully proud—stand for an ideal; the ideal of America!

There is something about the exquisite pictures, with their true, soft colorings, that brings forth the elusive, many-mooded beauty of Washington; and long will the views remain in memory—the Capitol with its dome bathed in a flood of silver moonlight; the white marble of the Library of Congress softened in the faint rose tint of early dawn; the Lincoln Memorial, mirrored in its reflecting pool, and silhouetted against a crimson and gold sun-set; the white shaft of the Washington Monument rising against the tender blue of a May sky, while at its base, the cherry trees form a pink girdle around the placid Potomac Basin; the mellow lights of the White House glowing in soft brilliance on new fallen snow—because the lecture visualizes in a new and illuminating manner, the beauty and grandeur of Washington.

The lecture is one which is of real value and of unusual interest for it shows the National Capital as it should be known.  The subject is treated, not from a local, but from a national point of view; not as though it was only of interest to those whose homes happen to be in Washington, but to all good American citizens, whether they live along the Potomac, along the ocean shores that wall us in, or within the confines of an inland state.  The program arouses interest in and love for the beautiful Capital of the Nation, and is a powerful impetus to deeper and finer patriotism—as it is OUR NATIONAL SHRINE, and there are many shrines within this shrine.




WOLF, WYOMING,
July 19th, 1923.

MY DEAR MR. LONG:

Ever since I saw your pictures of Washington, I have been intending to tell you how much I enjoyed them.  I have long known that Washington is a beautiful city, but since I heard your lecture and saw your pictures, I have viewed it with a new appreciation.

I consider them with the lecture, an important adjunct in the National Campaign for Americanization.  They will give the people throughout the country a better idea of the beauty of their capital city.

From the standpoint of artistry, I have never seen your pictures equaled.

Very sincerely,
MARY ROBERTS RINEHART.

DEPICTS THE CAPITAL CITY AS A REAL NATIONAL SHRINE


Washington: Our National Shrine, is the title of a remarkable lecture given publicly by Mr. Charles Colfax Long, for the first time yesterday afternoon in the Auditorium of the Corcoran Gallery of Art before a distinguished invited audience.  As the beautiful colored slides were flashed on the screen during the course of the lecture, spontaneous applause broke forth, for behind the pure enjoyment of the lecture and the pictures, the audience sensed that here was an educator of the greatest value, who was inspired to immortalize the glories of Washington, because they are not known and appreciated by the American people at large.—
The Evening Star, Washington, D. C., April 21, 1923.

BEAUTIES OF WASHINGTON SHOWN BY CHARLES COLFAX LONG


The Charles Colfax Long collection of photographic slides of the beauties of Washington and the impressive lecture, Washington: Our National Shrine, was given yesterday afternoon in the auditorium of the Corcoran Gallery of Art.  It was indeed hard to select the most beautiful pictures as each new slide entranced the distinguished gathering, for never before had such an equisite collection been shown.  Particularly fine is the group of the Capitol, taken at all seasons and at all hours.  Exquisite too, is the Lincoln Memorial group, Arlington and the Washington Monument.—
The Daily News, Washington, D. C., April 21, 1923.


Washington: Our National Shrine, the superbly illustrated lecture given yesterday by Mr. Charles Colfax Long in the Corcoran Gallery of Art held the audience, that filled the auditorium, transfixed by the witchery of the beautiful pictures; each glowing with color and combined with the most persuasive and absorbing dissertation on the beauties of the Capital, casts a spell, the magic of which could not be resisted.—
Vista, April 21, 1923.

NATIONAL SHRINE LECTURE BY CHARLES COLFAX LONG TO BE REPEATED


Washington: Our National Shrine, the illustrated in color lecture by Charles Colfax Long, will be given on the evening of June 7th, in The New Masonic Temple, for the benefit of The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation.
Since the lecture was given by Mr. Long in the Auditorium of the Corcoran Gallery of Art on April 20th, before an invited audience, there has been an insistent demand that it be repeated and there is no doubt that a large contingent of the citizens of Washington will avail themselves of this opportunity to see these exquisitely beautiful colored views and to hear Mr. Long's inspiring talk.
The lecture presents the great memorials of Washington in all their grandeur of enduring marble through the varying moods of the seasons and drives home their impressiveness, giving a new perspective and a new vision to the most ardent lover of our Capital.—

The Washington Times, June 2, 1923.



Washington: Our National Shrine.  Arranged and Produced under the Personal Direction of CHARLES COLFAX LONG
Assisted by

ERNEST L. CRANDALL, Art Photography
DOROTHY TAYLOR RANKIN, Slide Colorist
CLARENCE A. PHILLIPS, Natural Color Photography
NORMAN PERRY MOORE, Artist
DANIEL CALDWELL LONG, Publicity.


SEASON 1924–'25

For information and bookings address
CHARLES COLFAX LONG
2500 Massachusetts Avenue N. W.
WASHINGTON, D. C.