The New York herald., 1871-09-16
A TEldPLE OF MAIdMOM.
Opening To-Day of the Renovated
Stock Exchange.
The Changes that Have Been Madc-Appoaraucs
Of the New Board Room-The Most spler-
lid Commercial Hall in the World.

Tho altered ana renovated Stock Exchange hn,
ished yesterday afternoon, will be opened to-day
with appropriate speeches, and on Monday will echo
again to the shouts and yes Of bulls and bears. II
Is now the most splendid and most beautiful hall Of
the kind in the wide world. Its walls splendid with
the dull nash OF gold AMI bright with hangings and
decorations Of crimson and yellow ana gold, seem,
indeed, altogether too gaudy framework to
enclose the struggling crowd who make the
bowling pandemonium at the open boaru. One
cannot, also, help rejecting bow excruciatingIy
poignant will be the pangs OF some ruined game
ster, as he stands with pale face and dry lips and
throbblng terror-stricken heart In the midst OF all
this Obtrusive magnl1cencc. How exquisitey bitter
VIII be the contrast between this mutely eloquent
fnery and his empty purse Happy for him II IL
shall be merely i'll luck that presses him back into
the ranks OF Deggary Many and many miserable
wretch In like case, has been forced to cOntem'
plate, with the minds eye, as hideous and un.
avodable future the cell OF the felOn or the solitary
chamber OF the suicide. Ay and many and MANY an
other dreay tragedy OF the terrible species, and
tinged with the same dreadful tints Of crime and
avarice and treachery, Will work out Its dreadful
course in this new ana splendid temple that VIII be
thrown open again on Monday for the daily wOr.
ship Of Mammon.
1t is wonderful that the gentlemen to whom tho
charge Of the alterations has been con1ded should
have succeeded so well and so completely In the
limited time that was allowed them for The task.
deed has been done. On the New street side the
Changed Changed into INTO single gle nall. ifty feet in
height. Perhaps, on entering there seems to be
and the length and width OF the 1t is only 50
feet by r. and 1t has height therefore, just about
70 ITS With % yer rhe [r mas sra none
gers and the seat of the President to impart much
as possible on air OF just proportion. He has also
m IL
larlty OF shape OF the room AS 1t stands now vst-
tor would at once pronouncelt 1t rectangular, where
as the fact Is that the lines OF the wall stray conslde
rabiy from perfect obl0ng.
on each side four pilasters-that is to say, four.
teen pilasters IN all-have been carried up to sup
port the new roof. In technical phrase the room
has been ''treated with grouped pllasters.' The
git with peculiar dun gold which gives an air OF
Substantial magnidcence that is slnguary Imposing
PERFECTLY solid; through the centre OF each hue
runs up to the roof which has been utilized for pur
capitals.
Supported by these plasters, vanlted ceiling:
with ground OF blue, relieved by various forms or
decorative tracery, encloses the hail and forms q
noble and appropriate roof for This handsome build.
g the IS w dee
from the capitals of each column. Nothing could De
more effective, especially IN the admirable light
which floods the room through the windows facing
on New street. Round the base OF The room Is
pedestal course, with a base ana cornlce OF iron.
atins and heaIlns I the he room % Many Of our most
imposing modern structures are planned with
But the new Stock Exchange will be admirably
provided for IN these particulars; and its atmos-
phere, in spite of the vast multitude that VIII con:
stanty crowd Its narrow area, will be as pure and
sweet and fresh as II the buying and selling OF the
eg carried on Under h Gde Oh
This will, indeed, he great boon to the brokers,
especially as defects in this regard were the great
drawbacks OF the Old chamber. Besides the nuea
In the pilasters which constantly carry up the
vltlated to the root, there is fan and cold air
oh IL a
floor OF the Board room by means OF steam coils.
ana 1t Is introduced into the hall through the per.
iorations OF the walnscot The lighting Is done by
means OF q sunlight In the roof, ana the arrange
ments for increasing or leSSenlng the pressure or
The general decorations OF the hall may perhaps
be regarded by purists as somewhat over nord ana
extravaganza The lower windows are surrounded
by crimson cloth, with folds. Against the gold OF
the pllasters the crimson comes out with sngIlarly
good eject. The furniture of the Is IN dark
colored wood The Presidents desk Is a massive
p.ece OF WOODWORK and Is very chastely carved.
Away up over II Is the shield OF the United States
and the inscription New York Stock Exchange.n
In front OF the Presidents desk is little sort of
amphtheatre, with four steps, and an oval counter
III the centre. In this VIII stand the bidding bulls
and bears. On either side OF the desk are hat and
washing rooms, Which VIII be under the charge
OF clerks especially appointed for such duties The
strangers gallery Is at the end farthcst rom the
President, and with slender railing OF delicately
traced iron work, has singuarly graceful and AIRY
appearance. 1t may be doubted, though whether
visitors Will have at such q distance any fair chance
OF hearing distinctly the bids. But who but broker
can ever hear anything at the open board, except
II be catcalls and the scream OF roosters and,
haps, now and then, stanza OF ''Up in bali oono
or some equally humorous and popular song OF the
dayp
The entire Exchange has also been thoroughly
Overhauled. The government room has been en-.
larged, and now presents with It's rows Of solemn.
looking chairs, even more Impressive % demeanos NOR
been introduced. and the corridors and passages
thoroughly furbshed up and renovated.