The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-06-08
9esrriptiue Artitles.
The Carroll County Court House.
Written for The Democratic AdrOcate
BY EMMA ALICE BROWNE.

During an afternoon ramble about the
beautiful environs Of Westminster-iust
previous to the sitting of the present Spring
Term-your correspondent was attracted
by the pleasant aspect of the grounds sur
rounding our time-honored Temple Of JUS
tice-The Carroll County Court House.
Every thing within the enclosure looked
so cool, quiet and inviting, as we peeped
through the neat iron railing with longing
eyes The verdant turf, smooth and rich
ly tinted as velvet carpet, was checkered
with the gold of the April sunshine, that
sifted through the ftfully swaying branch
es overhead. The thronging trees that
girdle the Court House were arrayed in
the glory of full leaf and blossom. The
stately columns that grace the front of the
building cleaned white as snow through
the empowering greenery.
This edifce, delightfully."- situated in one
of the most beautiful quarters of our pleas
ant city-was erected between che years
of 1880, is q handsome red-brick struc-
ture, S0x54 feet, substantially built, and
finished in a style of severe simplicity.
The grand fascade fronting toward Main
Street presents an imposing appearance,
being adorned with four massive pillars of
solid masonry, that guard the principal en-
trance. These pillars spring from huge
plinths of gray granite, and rise in un-
broken columns to the entire hight of the
upper story. They support an airy piazza,
overlooked by the auditorium of the court
hall.
Having expressed desire to explore
the interior of the edifce, the Janitor, Mr.
Elias Marker, politely invited US to enter,
and kindly showed our little party over
the entire building. We were much i'm
pressed by the orderly neatness everywhere
visible, the interior throughout having
lately under gone thorough cleansingand
renovation.
Upon the first floor wide breezy hall,
fifty y-four feet in length, runs through the
entire depth of the building, and includes
the front and rear entrances, and the stair
way leading to the court hall and Offices
on the floor above. Adjoining this pleas
ant hall, upon the first floor are-to the
right Of the main entrance-the Clerks
room, and the room of the County Com
missioners; to the left the Orphans Court
room, aud the Judges room. The Clerks
room, and the Orphans Court room have
attached to each a strongly constructed
vault, for the safe keeping of important
books, documents, etc. The rooms of the
several departments are lofty, airy and
commodious, and lighted by windows some
sixteen by four feet, as nearly as we were
able to calculate by eye-measurement; they
are comfortably fitted up, the appoint
ments being solid aud substantial and evi-
IDENTIFY intended for use and convenience,
rather than ornate display. Everything
was neat and orderly in the extreme, and
Mr.. Marker is certainly entitled to much
praise for the faithful and efficient man
ner in which he discharges the duties of
Janitor Having taken brief inventory
of the first floor we mounted to the story
above, and found ourselves in the pleasant
and spacious court hall. Unwonted fan
cies thronged the busy brain of one, at
least, of our party on entering the awe-in-
spring precincts ofthat arena Of the Blind
Goddess The place seemed the very
Temple and abode of the genius of silence
and solitude, in striking contrast with the
vivid memory we keep of the crowded and
excited audience that greeted our hewil-
dered vision when first we stood within
these walls The quietude impressed one
with the sense of palpable yet unseen pres
enee. Our footsteps fell noiselessly-our
voices sounded hollow and far off, as we
moved about. and spoke in subdued tones
Soft spring sunshine and shadow lay in
swaths and patches along the floor; soft
spring breezes rippled the branching green
cry without, and set the sunshine and
shadows dancing to some unheard tune.
Then suddenly a swift gathering cloud OBJ
soured the sun, and the genial April rain
came pattering down The low signing
of the wind, the rustic of the leaves, the
sibilant whisper Of the evergreens without,
and the faint, fitful tapping of the rain
drops at the windows, blent with the in
fuence of the place, inspired vague feel
ing of awe-as if ghostly, intangible pres
ences were about us Glimpses of faces,
once familiar here, seemed to shape them
selves Of the murk and mist of the passing
shower and peer in upon US; the faint pat
ter of the falling drops were the mufiled
echo of footsteps that years ago went over
yon threshold-never to return; the mur-
murs of the wind and rain were the inar-
tieulate utterances of lips long used to ST.
lence-of lips whose fervid pleadings were
wont to fill this lofty hall, and hold all
listeners spell-bound and enthralled by
their impassioned eloquence!
But the cloud passed by-the rain
ceased-the wind had rocked and sung
herself asleep in the grading boughs with
out; the blue sky smiled upon the earth
again-and, like child, the earth laughed
back at her through sparkling tears, The
sun, far on his westward trail, shot golden
arrows through the tall windows that look
toward the sunset, as, shaking off uncanny
influences, we resumed our common place
work-a-day thoughts once more, and hast
ened to inspect the court hall and adjoin-
[ ing rooms The latter embrace the room
of the Grand jury, the Petit Jury room,
Witness room, and School Commissioners
room. Here as elsewhere throughout the