New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-28
ART IN WASHING TON.
First Article.
THE CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS.

fIst Article.
THE CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS.
When that famous New ssl ndsr of the English bio
toran sha explore among toe ruins of mgnty city %
the banks Of the Thames for the evidences ofthe csz
ton of an extinct people, is to be hoped tha he viii
not have an idle day upon his hands wherein TO prose
cute his researches on the other side OF the Aaot
upon the banks Of the Potomac, in study Of the 70
mains of art left by the people who buiit there th,
Capital of great Republic. If however, the taiaa
for knowledge in that learned antiquary should prJn
him TO make this little excursion it is some co nfo
reflect that the ruins Of Grecsn architecture viii Iced
hin to ante date national existence by few tho
ssnd years with entire confidence while there viii h
nothing left whereby he msy correct that impre.
sion, arrive at any positive knowledge Of oar ssss
in the art Of interior decoration. We bear no anS6
patory i'll iii ward that coming ana curious traveller
but for bis sake well owR, rejoice in the BE-
lief that the classic shades Of Goose Creek will be
murky and dank With centuries OF solitude and decay
and forgeuulness be seeks its shades. Were I
otbeTwise-oid We bear HIN prophetic grudge for BIZ
better lack in living in thas age Ecgaod is ONLY
10 be remembered a semi civilized people Of esEg
period wo should feed n fat with the hops thit soos
caIeiu excaysiion would reveal TO bin, in toer2hb
peseryAiion, few Of the Toous Of o0r National Gap
itol IL would drive hin mad that worst Of all fren
zies the maoness Of bothered savant, whose knowL
e0ge, whose toll, whose judgment, whose couuSa
sense, and whose reputation made vanity sns
snare would possess him. and he would aud gibe
q pursus which batet all bis acateness and learn
ing II the pure Greek Of the Architectural ralsi
which he found scattered about on those varioaI
sminences convinced him tina. the peopls Of tas
Republic we've probably Colony from Athens aud nos
from Ell GLAND, thousand evidences in tho excavaki
chambers would bewild,r him VITA tie equal prosa-
bilty that they came from Pompeii or from Roae,
would torment him with suggestion Of Egypt, woald
plsgue BIN With "reminiscences OF the art OF Chsa sod
japan ard leave him at length wi tee conclusion
enough to conclude upon anything that kis
tory had made some grave mistake ia regard to skse
Americans, who could not have been q race Of pure
descent refined manners and cultivated TASTE bus al
utterly barssric and ignorant and probably bastard
people VITO came from nowhere in particular, aud
could hardly judging from these evidences OF their char
acter have hso any special purpose in this world.
But we take comfort IN the thought, as we said BE-
FORE that all thi. cannot be. Whatever trick our
imsgina,ions may play us no ~, thanks that alsgOh
cal parsonage with scyhe one hand aud an hear.
gass In the obsr, there VII be noiting LEFT 81 ~
prtssnt interior Of National Capito TO puxzfe tic
ds:sn. future. Life is short and art Is long, bras
everlasting and stone endureh forever but thanksw
benefcebt Nature plaster is perishsble, and PAIN,
pretence which no greater or more enlightened fscs
than negro white washer with oruso and bh Of
iIon.hoop scrspe and oto tue limbo Of 6is
and oblivion. This wilderness Of stucco, on weasa
danpness in some places, has already seized, 90 wnh
the fresco painting is IL oenain roons, already cck
ing, viii rapidly crumbs away under Times 'Sde'ssig
hreers even il 1t shak be held sacred from the black
fingers of the whse-washer. Stucco, like eyeryshi
else is good in its place. bat never before had vss
sense of how good thing 1t may be where 1t oasn
not TO be 1T ALL No thanks due to those persoss
who have had in charge tho interior decoration OF so'
CspiSo for they doubtless quite innocent 81 sDl
good int oton In doing their work In 81 SHABBY ana
ptrishabe rateral But rs they were to 40 wsSns'
ii is pleasant 70 thas it so done tas the ~n
could not last long. Reprehensible they nay be M
mskirg tho Capitol labyrinth Of painted Plss.es ass
succo ornament, 1t may BE- nrgod on tasir behalf IN"
as they were to bloneer, then b!nadsn we're Pat IN
material easIy removed, and Tor which uas g nS
long, oI,ring.
All peroIs-sli, At beast. OF any taste aud c'nrla
nstiou, ard knowledge Of srs-wao have ever v's'e'
Washington no doub, &c slons with Us readily Ia ia
Condemnation of tie interior OF our National Capitol
II Gt which ought 70 be our pride and car pessaesy
soarce of mortihck,ion aud psa. Nowhsrs els desc