The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-07-06
NasHvILLE---TlIE CAPITOL.

NAsHVILLE---TIIE CAPITOL.
s,sHvIrI.s And rIclNrrY-TlE STATE CAPT.
ne ~, c...yrsw FROM THs TowER-GURI0Us
wnIu OF ffIE ARCHITECT AND MIS- BURIAr. IN
THE waLI. OF THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
OF NASHVILLE ISsTgTU-
eTIoSs--gEsIDEScE OF MRS. P0LEs WIDOW OF
PRESIDENT POLK HIS T0AB--THEi ELABo-
RaTE DESCRIPTION UP0N TINS CURIOUS
w,LL-LgGrsLATIrE CUSTOM, &C.
fcorrcspondcnce OF the Richmond Dtspateh.1
RAMBIEs IN. JUNE.
The site OF Nashville is bold and PIC
furesoue. It's GROWING hill Is parallel Win
the Cumberland, terminating 10 point
somewhat like the poinmel OF saaoie'
upon which
THE CAPITOL OF TIE STATE
stands with prominence that enables the
snectator to behold it from almost any
poins as I. looks down upon the city anu
the plain. The hill from the capitol de-
sends with a sharp grade on three sides
10 its base. The building is In its proper
lions very imposing. There is colonnade
n. Zach end. and porch with coi0nnade ut
the centre OF each side. These colcnnades
rest upon the first story, which, being some
what like half the height OF the main body
OF the building, the columns have the APP
pearance OF being in the clouds, as It were.
/ am no architect and know nothing technl-
cal about the subject, but to my taste THIS
array OF columns from pediments at so
great q height above the base impairs the
grandeur Of the temple. It is so high itself
above the adjacent grounds that this defect
Is all the more noticeable. The columns
should have risen from the base. Ihey
would then have been grand indeed.
This edificc is admirably arranged for
convenience OF legislative halls and gov
eminent offices, and most solidly built. |
have no criticism beyond that have made,
save that the material, which is bluish-2ray
fossilated limestone, is OF unequal hard
ness and will wear unevenly. It is the
stone of the locality. Nashville is built
1pon the bed OF it, which underlles large
part Of the Cumberland basin.
DIMENSIONS OF BUILDING.
The building, which cost nearly million
OF dollars, is 23S feet long and 13S wide;
height OF building, Is feet 5 inches; ofroof-
ING. lSfeet; Of tower, 70 feet inches; Of
roof and tower and final, 81 feet-totaI. 206
feet inches. TO this tower assembled,
and saw there splendid view OF the coun-
try, and the fine mountainous ranges which
mark the rim OF the rich basin Of Nashville.
The Cumberland, winding amongth bills,
fields, and forests, seemed like ribbon OF
silver. We seeit away beyond the Hermit
age, and follow it with the eye as it flows
on by Nashville and away off in its north
western course, returning to Kentucky on
its way to the Ohio. I have never looked
upon a scene which, considered altogether
with the graces OF its elevations and its agri-
cultural features, was equally pleasing.
THE ARCHITECT-HIS PROPHECY AND BURIAL.
The architect OF the Tennessee capitol
was William Strickland, an artist Of most
fitful fancy. He did his fame, with some
drawback, great credit in the State capitol,
but he has left other monuments OF his skill
that do no credit to him. He was man OF
singular disposition. During the construc-
ton Of the capitol he predicted that bis own
death would happen ut its completion. and
absolutely left q crypt in the wall of the
building wherein his remains should be de-
posted. Strange to say, the Legislature
acquiesced in his wbim. Sure enough he
died in conformity with his anticipation,
and bis body was deposited in the place
prepared for it. A too common intirmity
OF enthusiastic men, it is said, fastened bis
death. But his prophecy, the Kindness u
the Legislature, and the manner OF inter-
ment, have no parallel that have ever heard
OF. In after ages, when the antiquarians
lind the remains of the Tennessee capitol
and the bones Of the architect within its
wall, they will conclude that the temple was
built to bury one mana king or prophet
The pyramids will afford examples for their
conclusion.
ARCHITECTURE OF NASHVILLE.
Nashville is place Of peculiar architec-
ture. 1t has many styles; but at present
there is a great mania for the Mansard roof:
which is my abomination. 1t humps itself
upon one story, and two stories, and three
stories. and rs many as the builders choose
to make. Then there is another feature in
Nashville not common elsewhere: a one
story house with recess entrance; yet,
az many OF them appear little. withdrawn
from thestre in a lot OF lovely grass (grass
is indeed lovely in Nashville, with Il few
roses-especialIy 1.-The Giant OF Battles"
which is brave in Nashville-I thought it
very modest and very pretty.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
The public buildings are in goodly num-
Der and very conspicuous. Besides the cor
poratc edifices, there are the Vanderbilt
SuC Il 2Sh 10 ch0
institution built with the money raised by
the Jubilee Singers (colored), and devoted
to eoiored teacbiDg-or, rather, to teaching
colored folks], the Baptist Normal and Theo-
logical Institution, and the Methodist ditto,
both for educating cofored people for the
ministry. Then there Is the Nashville Uni
versity, the Nashville Medical College Or.
Paul r. Eve principal, with sixteen profess
sors), recently commenced. There are also
priVate and common schools. The latter
have 8, 600 white and 1000 colored scholars.
RESIDENCE OF MRS. POLK.
Near the capitol is the residence OF Mrs.
James Il. Polk, the widow OF President
Polk, venerable and infrm, but still remark
abiefor traces of that grace and serenity Of /,
expression and demeanor that so distin-
guisbed her when presiding at the presiden-
thai mansion in Washington. The grounds
are spacious for city residence. The build
ing is long and parallel with the street, yet
with wide space in front. It seems rather
cumulative edifce: one that has been en-
larged at different times, with the entrance
at one end amidst tall columns, and the
dining-room, &C., at the other. 1t was the
residence OF the late Felix Grundy, the
well-known Tennessee senator, and pur-
chased after his death by President Polk.
THE TOMB OF PRESIDENT POLK.
The tomb Of the President stands in the
front yard. Tt Is covered by a dome sup:
ported by four limestone columns. MIR.