The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1876-11-23
Memorial Hall, Philadelphia.
SPRINGFIELD, VT, Nov. II, Is

2 fact that Memorial Habitat great TEN
e pie of the worlds art, is to remain il
t Paramount Park, as one of the enduring
monuments of this Centennial year,
: have thought that sketch of the Hall,
and brief notice of a few of its more
important paintings might be interest
ing to the readers ofthe JOURNAL. The
, site of Memorial Hall is one hundred and
: twenty-five feet above the Schuykill
river, which is plainly visible from the
grand balcony, elevated forty feet above
the ground. The building was erected
at cost OF sl,500O,000, by the State OF
Pennsylvania and the city of Philadel.
phia, and it is designed, at the close of
the exhibition, to make il the receptacle
OF an Industrial Art Museum, resembling
the South kensington Museum at Lon
don. 1t is q fire proof structure, COW
ering an acre and half of ground, is
365 feet long, 2l0 feet wide and so feet,
high, exclusive of the basement which is
II feet high. Surrounding the center,
and rising $50 feet above the ground, is
a dome, capped by colossal hall, sup
porting the figure of Columbia.
The main central entrance consists of
three arched door-ways, each of which
is 40 feet high and Is feet wide. The
long walls OF the galleries are screened
by arcades, each consisting of five
grained arches, forming pleasant prom
enades, outwardly looking over the sur
rounding grounds, and inwardiy over
beautiful gardens, ornamented with
fountains, and intended for the display
Of statuary. From the central hall,
which is SO feet square, the ceiling rising
over it, so feet in height, extends the
galleries. These galleries, with the
central ball, form grand hall, 2S7 feet
long and SO feet wide, capable of COM
fortably accommodating 5000 persons.
The building gives $4,000 square feet OF
wall space for painting and 10000
square OF floor space for standing.
Spacious as is Memorial Hall, it's Gu
pacity for the art display OF the exhibit
ton proved entirely inadequate, which
necessitated the building at an Art Gal
lery Annex, atfording 81, 900 more square
feet OF wall space available for paintings.
This latter building is also to remain a
permanent structure.
| will now mention few OF the more
prominent paintings among the thous-
ands that adorn the walls of the CALLER
les. We will first step into the United
States department. There is large oil
painting which is sure to attract the at.
tention of every soldier who fought in
in the war of the Rebellion, whether
Union or Confederate. Tits entitled the |
"Battle of Gettysburg" painted by P.
F. Rothermel,o of Philadelphia,and owned |
by the Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania. |
By those who were eye witnesses of
that terrible conflict, it is said TO truly |
represent the relative position of the
contesting armies in that memorable |
battle. In the same department Is an
other large painting which arrests the
attention of all visitors, especially Amer
leans. Ii is entitled, "The New Repub-
Iic." A little TO the left of the pic
ture stands Washington, the Father of
his Country, and the first President of
the Republic. On the right OF Wash
ngton stands the immortal Lincoln,
holding IN one hand the Emancipation 1
Proclamation while in front Of him IL 1
grouped little band of contrabands,
from whose limbs the shackles OF slav-
cry are falling and whose countenances
are beauing with the light of hope and 4
Joy unspeakable. A little 10 the right
of Mr.. Lincoln stands Mr. Grow, the I
author OF the Homestead Law; in 'front.'
of him are gathered some emigrants who
have just landed from a steamer IN the
barbor, On the extreme left of the
picture stands Rev. Henry Ward Beech
er, who is represented as q pastor giving
instruction 10 a group of Freedmen
standing around him. have wondered
why Mr.. Beecher should form so prom
inent q figure in that painting, as was
not aware that he has been intimately
associated with missionary efforts, in
behalf OF the Freedmen. President
Lincoln's Death Bed recalls the saddest
and gloomiest scene recorded IN the his
tory of the Rebellion. There are fine
portraits by different artists. of Abraham
Lincoln, Daniel Webster, Charles Sum
ner and Gen. Grant.
We will new walk into the Depart
ment of Great Britain. The most no
ticeable paintings there in are the Por-
trait of Her Majesty in Coronation
Robes, The Five Sisters of York, The
Banquet Scene From Macbeth, The
Death of Cleopatra, Samson and Deiiah
and The Death OF Gen. Wolfe. 4
We now pass into the French Depart
ment of the Art Gallery. One OF the
most prominent paintings there, Is the
Biblical scene of RiEpah, protecting the
Bodies of her sons from the Birds Of
Prey. It's h;deous picture, and, as a =