The Portland daily press., 1870-01-15
1lify Hall,
DECOR ITIoNS IN HONOR OF THE LATE GEO.
PEABODY.

| might be suitably decorated to receive the re-
mains of the great philanthropst whose arri-
val at this port is daily expected. Yesterday
morning, by tho kindness of Mr.. Harry B.
Brown, we were permitted to view the decora-
tons, which were receiving the finishing touch
| es We have endeavored to give the public
| in the following SKETCH some idea of the taste,
| skill, and work that have been brought to bear.
to say nothing of the money expended, in Or
der to render the apartment fit temporary
resting place for the mortal remains of him
whose name will be handed down to future
generations as one of the greatest benefactors
| of the human race.
standing at the rear of the hall the coup
d@a is magnificent one. From the cen''ai
ventilator folds of black alpaca depend grace
fully to the sides of the hail. completely cover
ing the ceilino. and relieved by eight double
| festoons or white alpaca all converging at the
| cantra of the ceiling. These streamers start
| from the corners and centre of the sides of the
hall and are fastened at the point of conyerg-
ence with an immense white rosette. Around
| the borders of the ceiling, between the cor
inthian pilasters, are double festoons of black
alpaca, with a single festoon underneath,
caught up on the cap of the pi!asters with
black lozenges.
The twelve windows are draped in Gothic
form, the material being black over white al
pacca, the black folds drawn aside Just enough
to show the white drapery underneath
These windows are surmounted by trefoil
supported by large white rosette while in the
ce atre of the window, on the white drapery,
rests large rosette of black. Half way be-
tween the gallery and the border of the cell
ing are festooned bats of black alpaca the
head Of each bat surmounted alternately with
wreath and cross of immorteles.
The front of the gallery is draped in black
broadcloth, box-plaited, powdered with silver
stars and caught up, over the columns which
support the gallery, in festoons, over festoons
of white alpaca by silver cords which de-
pend from wreaths of mmortelles sur
mounted by black tiefoil plumes. On
the front of the gallery, on either
side Of the main entrance, are black es-
cutcheons, trimmed with silver lace and white
alpaca, bearing in silver letters the notices
"Kind hearts are more than coronets" from
Tennyson. and "Thou too, whose deeds bank
rupt nations gratitude" from Scott. Cor
responding escutcheons on the front of the
gallery opposite the main entrance bear
the notices from Scripture "But the greatest
of these is Charity and clay up for your
selves treasures in Heaven" On the front of
the gallery at the rear of the hall are escutche-
ons like the others bearing the notices "Vir-
tus Sola Nobilitat' virtue alone enpobles-
and "Luxuria ejus benefacere" luxury to
do good.
Underneath the gallery, all around the hall,
are festoons of black alpaca formed into bats
on the pilasters, and each plaster holds a
bronze bracket containing two long wax can
dies, making ffty-two lights in all.
The principal effect of the decorations is de-
rived from the upper end of the hall where the
catafalque rests. The whole side of the hall back
ofthe stage is draped in black broadcloth falling
to the platform in graceful folds. In the centre
is magnificent heraldic Star 18feet in circum-
ference formed of gas jets enclosing the mono
gram G. P. On either side Of the star are the
coats of arms of Great Britain, and the United
States, magnificent speciments of painting in
black and silver, each seven feet in size. I'm
derneath the American coat of arms, enclosed |
in scroll, is the motto, in silver letters, from
Sallust "Pulchrum est benefacere reipublic9,"
and under the English the motto from Phae- |
drus, "Nisi attile est quod fucinaus stuta est |
gloria" The Caps of the pilasters, over the |
drapery at this end of the hall, are surmounted
by seven large black lozenges edged with
white alpaca, and bearing white rosette in
the centre. Beneath each of the coat of arms
will stand superb silver vases, three feet high,
filed with the rarest natural flowers, dispen-
sing their fragrance, while at each corner of |
of xui1 ho n 81 IF o;o1,t lar
lights. The front of the stage is draped with |
black alpacca futed and over this will be fes-
toons of natural flowers.
Ths catafalque, which of course will be the
central object of interest, stands just in front
of the stage. The dais is IS by "a feet in size
and is ascended by flight of two steps. The
dais and steps are carpeted in black. The cat
afalque proper is fifteen by twenty feet in size
and twenty-five feet in height. The canopy is
surmounted by nine supurb black plumes, tip /
ped with white, each supported by an
elegant chased silver holder, and is
composed OF rich black velvet, with an
upper and lower border of silver fringe |
four inches in width. There are also eight |
festoons of silver lace on the canopy, one I'M |
der each plume, and containing silver star |
in the centre. The ceiling of the canopy is pow
dered with silver stars and from it sable folds |
of broadcloth depend gracefully to the das,
being festooned at the centre of the sides just |
below the canopy and caught up to the corner |
posts within foot of the floor, thus present |
ing the appearance of marquee with the cur |
tains drawn aside. There are four rich white |
lace curtains under the sable ones at each cor |
ner of the catafalqne. The bier is some four
feet in height, placed in the centre of the
dais and covered with black broadcloth bor-
dered with silver lace, and is festooned with
deep silver fringe looped up with silver stars
and tassels. On either side of the bier
stand three immense silver candlesticks hold
ing long wax tapers, and two at the front and
rear, each being fully six feet in height. Over
the bier will also be festooned quantities of
the rarest natural flowers. The only gas
lights that will be used in the hall are the or
namental star back of the stage, and the four
small gaseliers.
The City of Portland is indebted the cele-
brated artist, Mr. Harry B. Brown, for the APP
propriateness and elegance of the decorations.
Mr. Brown has labored night and day, as he
always does, in order that the hall shall pres
emit an appearance that would do credit to the
city, and the results of his efforts will form a
marked chapter in our local history.
r. A. p. D.-The Board of Trustees of the