Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-11-22
our state CapllOI Grounds-No. 4.


Not To oa hack further than two thousand five
hundred wears ago, which is certainly far enough
bacy we can refer TO celebrated example of arch-
tact,ral skill and beauty for an Illustration Of the
- -rb;ob we are trying to maintain The AcroDo-
n; a. Atens is precipitous bill, rising almost per-
ron5icula1.v in the centre Of the city 800 or
moro feet high and about 500 feet wide by HOO feet
long on the fiat plateau at the top On this plateau
! were erected numoer OF temples statues, 6c.,
| como of the most exquisite productions Of human
art in the way of architecture, which the world
Iyps ever seen. The hill being almost oval shaped
had its entrance stairway at one side of one end
| rising diagOnaly in regard TO the position
! of the buildings by immense flights of stems
with resting platforms, to the height above. In ar
irving at the top we have diagonal perspective view
of the great entrance lodge temple called Prepg-
lest going through this temple, we see not very far
Off on our left in a diagonal line the temples Mn
era POliqS the ETectheGn, and PdudrOsitn; on our
right we see, some distance Off looking diagUndly
the celebrated temple Of Minerva called the PartLe-
Thus we that every one of these buildings
are approached diagOBaEy 10 giveto spectators
the proper and most favorable of not only one, but
every one of these magnificent buildings. The spec
tator Is compelled first TO see them in this way by
the entrances being placed diagenay from the build
ings. Thus at this early day the Greeks by their
exquisite taste, have set an example for the follow
ing and future ages. Let us if cannot initiate
their taste IN this respect. even If ever so humblv.
To come to later times we could find many exeCE
lent examples such as: The entrance walks leading to
the National Palace at Brussels; the Queens Palace
London National Palace Madrid ;the alazzo Pitt ;
Boboh Gardens Florence ;Glyptothek, and the Bo- |
tanc Garden of Munich the Palace of the Peers, |
Jardn du Luxembourg Palas des Versailles Pare |
des Yincennes; Pare de La Malmaison the four o.
Paris the Ducal Palace GairdIns of Parma and
our own National Capitol Grounds at Washington
All of these, and thousands of examples from prl-
gardens might go to testify that the principle
of a diagonal or Obhque principal approach TO a
building is and has been well understood for centu
ries. But centuries Of example are OF no service 10
those who will not examine or profit by II, The
plan adopted with the corner entrance and o6hque
approach decidedly the best and It IS hoped that
no change will be made in the location OF the main
entrance though it would certainly not detract from
the merit of the plan small entrances were disposed
at the various fronts with plain broad flights OF steps
The cistern lately dug up at the corner mentioned,
could still be used and need not be filled up it might
be arched over and the walls of the lodge built over
it, leaving apertures the arch to pump the water,
&c.
Another matter which should claim public notice,
is the plan of fence or wall which has been adopted
and almost two-thrds completed, at least on the Ce
lar street front. There were two plans before the
for their consideration, plan and
he one which was adopted, proposed single long {
straight slope Fl ON the top of the hill to the lower
corner of the lot, as follows: