Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1853-07-30

"a
Washington to live to witness the fruition Of his
mighty labors in thecause Of his country ard
amankind; while his success in the calm and hon.
ored pursuits Of agriculture and rural affairs
was greatful to his heart and shed the most
benign and happy influences upon the last days
at Mount Vernon.
[From the New York Tribune]
The Crystal Palace
This edifce starts in its delicate beauty from
the earth like the imagining Of q happy vision.
Viewed at distance, its FURNISHED dome resem-
bles half-disclosed baloon, as large as cathe-
dral, but iSA brilliant, and seemingly ready to
burst its bands and soar aloft. In Ssery sense
the Crystal Palace is admirable. 1T us on this
side Of the water it is original spthing like it
in shape, material or effect hass Been presented
to us. If it were to coatain nothing, it would
alone be an absorbing attraction, and be beyond
all elSe in New York, an architectural curiosity.
The building is two stories high. The first is
in the form of an cctagon, the second of a Greek
cross. The center of this is dome, 148 feet
high. The four corners Of the octagon are fur
nished each with two towers, seventy feet high
These towers support fag-staffs, adding to the
Eghtness of their appearance. The construc-
ton of the building is similar to that OF the or
iginal in London as far as the CONNECTION of iron
columns, Orders, and so-forth, 60 butthe prin-
cipal parts Of the rest, the dome included, is
fashioned By the architects, Messrs. Christensen
and Gndermeister who devised the plan Of the
whole structure Us well as the details The
main budding covers Ia, 900 square feet, gal
leries Included; and the additional building
SO, 0p0,g being 2O6, 900 in oil. The additional
bnHdNg, u composed of a first and q second story
gallery, 81 feet broad and $50 feet long, lit
II,
Us TO form suitable place 5toSexhibit pictures
and statues. This additional building is con-
nested with the main building, by two one-story
wings, which contaip the refreshment rooms,
ssnd the minsfalegiSd department under the
charge of Prof. SilGman, il. ,'
There aretWelye stairways, the illustrates
of which are light iron tracery in accordance
with the general spirit Of the designs. The
stairways are at each point Of the compass, on
the sides and under the dome. Tie great cir
cular windows facing at four points, add much
to the charm of the effect
Walls, properly speaking, hebuilding has not,
being enclosed with glass sustained by iron pill
lars. This vast mass of crystal occupies Al, 600
square feets$
u The cast-iron weighs loo TINS, the wrought
800. Each pane of glass is 16 by SO inches.
The prevailing style Of the architecture is Moor
ings are painted in octagons in blue, white red
and cream color. A portion of the ceiling will
not be finished and will reveal the rafter and
girders, which is drawback on the general
effect. 5-
The decorative artist is Mr.. Greenough. The
Offices of the directors and artists are in imita
ton of satin-wood, their appearance being very
neat. z+a'fgz5 l~sff4i~~ SFS
The entrances of the palace are three, all
alike, one on the Sixth-av., one on Fortieth and
one on Forty-second st. Each entrance is forty
seven feet wide the central nave is forty feet
wide, and the aisles fifty-four feet. Within, at
the entrance, the visitor sees an arched nave
forty-one feet wide, sixty-seven feet high and
three hundred feet long. The dome is one hum
bred feet across. The building, though not
nearly so large as that Of London, is superior
in architectural beauty. 1t is magnificent or
to the city, and should be purchased by
the Council as permanent property. Various
ovations could be fifty celebrated in it. The
work assures a national renown to the architects,
Messrs. Christensen and Gildermeister. The
plans we're given in last July, accepted in Au-
gust, and operations commenced in November.
Besides an army of workmen in shops and
preparing the materials of the build
ing, there are now at work on it between six and
seven hundred. 1t is scene of rare industry.
Tricky resonant blows from the stalwart arms
of industry greet the ear in wild confusion.
Workmen perched, like autumnal pigeons, on
lofty boughs, cluster within and without the
vast edifce, and the magic web Of improvement
each day proceeds. Each man appears to be
engaged on his task, which
forms rivulet to meet in a wide sea of triumph.
And not alone is the cunning hand of the arti-
san in works Of iron, wood or eelors; for here
are now assembled the sons of tod and taste from
all parts of Europe. The Russ, the Italian,
Briton, Teuton, are all here engaged in the work
Of arranging their contributions. 1t is q great
battle of industry and love, and the God Of such
battles surely blesses it. ,E
In the Show Cases merely of the articles now
hurled from al quarters into this center, is
enough art exhfDlted to satisfy esthetic longngs.
We speak of outside shapes-of shells, of husks
and not Of contents, for they are hardly revealed
vet. g.