Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-03-08

the hill, and at the other end Of tn
building that faces the river, the top Of
fupola, with the base and o part OF III
boly, hidden by the roof, Of the mal'
par, Of tho house. al FIRST sight though
that some of the supporting timbers ha'
given way, SO that the end of the 100
had sunken down, but after going roun'
a little further where | could see the en-
tire side Of the building, hp.roof was
presented fairly to view, and the cupol'
sitting on the side oft. but all the timt
looking as if it might slide down. This
end OF tho house has but two tiers o
windows, and the appearance Of but two
stories, ye. it has a broad ample door.
way, which, as we'll as the windows, all
set round with ornamental stone work,
while the other end of the building has
no extra work about it. My curiosity
was n little excited to know the reason
Of 50 wide O difference in the construc'
lion of the Two ends of the same build.
ing, which fronts four ways, but meet
ing with no acquaintance who could
give me any satisfactory explanation, |
after walking round town a little, and
seeing q number Of costly brick dwell.
ings, with hip roofs, some hipped all
round, and others at only one end, and
seeing well proportional brick build.
ing. but little ways back of the Court
House, with the words "Spencer Chapel"
carved in stone and placed in the gable
end towards the gable end Of the Court
House, these things put together formed
key in my mind 10 the explanation Of
the singular, and to me, grotesque up.
p9arcnce Of the Court House.
| thought, that, notwithstanding Mr..
West had drawn a plan TO- the build.
ing, the citizens Of lronton must have
had some consultation and disagreement
among themselves about the planning OF
it, and that finally as "compromise"
between those whom suppose to be in
favor Of hip roof all round. AMI those
who were in favor Of gables, the present
style with hip at one end, and gable
at the other, was adopted in order to
conciliale both parties, and TO preserve
harmony offeeling among neighbors, AMI
that the gable end was finished in a
plain way, in order tha, it might not
present an unseemly contrast with the
Spencer Chapel, whose worshippers, the
disciples of The great and the good John
Wesley, eschew all vain show, and
needless ornaments.
also went in, and took look ct the
Court Room, which consider is one OF
The best planned rooms Of the kind, in
his part OF the State, and will, think,
De found to possess many advantages
over Court Rooms, planned to suit busi.
ness under the old constitution.
The first Improvement that | saw was
a the Judges Bench. which is placed
we'll forwards towards the centre Of the
place called the bar, thus giving the
Judge better chance to hear the testi
nony Of witnesses, as we'll as to hear the
lawyers.
There was desk at each end OF the
udgment seat, which | was told was for
he clerks, the desks being so far apart
thought that probably the builders had
Intended to provide for the keeping OF
louble recorl. | took some pains 10
ind out where the jury were to sit, for
hat is department Of law business in
which am often called on to act; they
lad nos got up the jury seats yet, but
Mr.. St. Clair, one OF the builders, told
ne where they were TO be placed, they
are 10 be right in front OF the long
benches that sat on the little platforms,
On each side Of the bar. Ibid not learn
or what purpose these long benches were
placed there, so close to the seats Of the
regular jury; but everything in Law and
State affairs goes or so rapidly tha.
cannot keep pace with the times; how.
ever | thought that probably when the
new code goes into operation, there
would be consulting or advisory jury to
sit on the long benches.
For the satisfaction Of the people in |
his neighborhooI, you will confer lav.
Or, to let us know through the columns
Of the Spirit Of the Times whether the
builders Of the Court House have carried
out the plans of the architect! or whc,h.
er my conjec,ures in regard to the eau.
.es that resulted in the construction of
the building We have, are correct? In !
this latter ! have not time to say any.
thing about the Jail.
Yours respectfully,
BACKWOODSMAN.
Symmcs Creek, Feb. %, 1853.