Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1836-03-05
REPRESENTATIVES HALL.

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A writer for the Cincinnati Wing, thus
describes the Hall in which the Repre-
sen,atlves ,E Congress hold their session.
This by far is the most gorgeous,
though by no means the neatest and
most tasteful room in the capitol,
far eclipsing in show the Senate
Chamber, the Supreme Court room
and the drawing rooms of the capitol.
The Hall is in the South wing Of the
i Capitol, forming a half circle Of per-
ihaps fifty or sixty feet long, and from
the centre of the curve to its opposite
straight line. perhaps forty or fifty
/ five feet in width. Upon the circu-
lar side of the Hall is the Speakers
chair (forGerly it was opposite but in
consequence of the increase of Rep
resentatives an alteration was neces-
sary to make room for the larg n num-
Der. 1.-THE chair of the Speaker and
its various habiliments are most gau-
dy-weli representing a throne or
temple and more becoming from its
extreme display the chair of a King
than the place occupied by simply
one of the Representative of the
people. Red drapery hangs in large
folds with variegated tassles in all d.
rections around the chair. On its right
& left are situated two splendid pillars
composed Of the Potomac marble or
pudding stone as it is technically
here. Between these two pillars
eight or ten #. from the floor the chair
of the Speaker is raised. A few steps
below directly in front Of the Speak
er are the desks for the Clerks. Over
the chair of the Speaker is one of the
most splendid as well as the most APP
tpropriate representations ofthe Globe
having upon it the twelve signs of the
Zodiac. A beautiful clock repre-
sents the wheels of chariot, in
which stands one Of the Muses. moving
IN the chariot as its wheel, the wheel
of time, revolves. In one hand she
holds Book, and with the other a
pen noting down the passing events.
The whole save the; clock, is well de-
scribed by the Peruvian temple scene
of worship, to any one who has seen
a representation Of the tragedy of
Pizarro. A brazen presentation Of
the sun is there, and all around for
the purpose of supporting the drapery
there are great variety of brazen
ornaments. Upon the top of the OPP
posite wal! stands another appropriate
image larger than life, representing
the Muse of history. An Eagle in
the attitude of flying, sits beside the
image. In another direction is full
length portrait of Washington, and
at some distance beautiful copy of
the Declaration OF Independence in
an elegant frame which is supported
by two night watches. Upon the OPP
posite side of the Hall is the American
Flag with its stripes and stars ever
streamlng-under the flag is full
length likeness of Gen. Lafayette;
and under this in uniformity with the
|opposite side of the Hall another De-
! claration of independence bearing the
names of the signers of that hallowed
Instrument. The frame is similar to
the one under the likeness Of General
Washington. with spread eagle how
ering over the instrument which cor
tains the names of its venerated fra
mers and supporters, all of them now
no more.
Two circular galleries on each side
Of the speaker and straight gallery
opposite to him, are appropriated to
the spectators. In the former the
world go III and cat Il pleasure. In
the latter none are admitted unless
accompanied by a lady or introduced
by member Of Congress-there are
two entrances to the gallery each of
which are constantly attended by
some two Of the officers of the house.
/ But the most splendid part Of the.
interior of the building is the rich va
riegated columns of the Potomac
marble. the most beautiful as we'll as
the most costly stone in the world.
am told there is none like it in this
country or abroad, except the album
dant quarries along the Potomac
Within the House Of Representatives
there are twenty-five of these col
umns besides four square pillars in
other parts of the hall. The expense
of each of them | am informed was
more than thirty thousand dollars
You can form no idea of their sta
bility and beauty without seeing them