Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-22


the basement to bindery, storage and
r.Ierks' rooms. The remaining stores
are divided into splendid apartments
for the use OF the various bureaus oi the
On the second floor OF the central
mari of the building is the private office
of the Secretary OF the Navy. In this
magnificent apartment Secretary Gof
naTlorms the duties OF his office.
Her. also you will meet the
Generals efficient assistants, Messrs,
"a. Moore, of Fairmont, and +. r..
Waterman, OF Parkersburg. The room
il sixty by thirty feet, with elegant bath
and wash rooms OF the most modern
style attached.
The Decorations
are efter the Oriental style; the ceiling
corrugated and OF the Egyptian pattern,
very handsomely frescoed; the walls
finished in gilt and colors OF the Greek
style of decoration; the tioor inlald with
mahogany, maple, apple aud cherry
work in Rhomboidal and Mosaic style
and covered with costly rugs after the
Chinese psgods pattern. The secretary >
desk, five by nine feet, containing thirty.
two drawers, is made OF the finest biack
walnut, beautifully decorated with trim-
minps, at cost of from SIX TO eight
hundred dollars. On the walls are large
oil paintings OF Washington, jackson
and Lincoln. The mirrors, furniture
and decorations are OF the most superb
and costly that could he made.
The Secretary arrives at his once
about 10 o'clock every morning ana
leaves AT three or four in the afternoon:
He very seldom walks; but goes to and
from the National Hotel, where he has
suite of parlors, in his elesani carriage
with a span of flyers and his
Saddle -Colored Coachman.
"a life on the ocean wave may nave
many charms for some, but 1t seems
much more delightful TO spend ones
time in marble halls and cosy rooms,
with beautiful mirrors, rich carpets ana
glowing CRATES. Persons paving their
respects TO Secretary Golf will be repaid
by extending their walk through the
Department. One OF the most beautl'
ful rooms in ii is the Secretary I'D ary,
which is said 10 exceed anything oil me
kind in this country, or III the worlu'
II is very imposing recepiloh-room,
thirty by forty feet, and is inlaid with
the finest English tiling. The centre
niece represents large blazing star
rhe walls are ornamented with panels
of malachite, from the Alps, with mar
row border OF Sienna, a yellow marble
from Italy, and wider border oi req
priotte from France. The whole panel
is encased in a massive iron irame'
richly bronzed. These panels are sepa-
rated by pilasters ot the
Corintbiau Order of Architecture.
In each OF the four corners OF this
room are inches faced with bronze metal
plates, containing heavy bronze statues
repres entinc "War" and "Peace. lib
ertv," "Art" ard Industry" each
weighing $50 pounds. Above the head
OF each statue protrudes magnificent
chandelier OF peculiar and unique WORK
manship. In the north and south
wings are four alcoves, fitted with iron
shelves and having capacity Tor l2,OOc
volumes. In the lower north and south
alcoves are elevators for transporting
books to the second or upper story oil
the Library, which is very similar TO
the 10 yer floor in its adornments.
Around the sides OF the second story
aud overlooking the reception room
runs spacious gallery with an elegant
bronze balustrade, having various myth
oIoglcil designs, Ill wh;ch, at regular
distan ,es are inserted sixteen CIR
cular transparencles OF Mexican
ONYX, the whole being supported by
immense brackets resting on twenty
columns in the Corinthian order OF arch
itecture.
In the four upper inches correspond
ing with the position OF the statues IN
the reception room are representatives
OF
Cleopatra's Barge
sailing down the Nile, each barge having
female figure head dressed in the Egyp-
tian costume, and over these are chan
daliers similar TO the ones in the recep-
ton room below.
In this room are also twelve marble
panels. the centre pieces being u very
handsome couglomerate marble from
Lake Champlain, Just on the border OF
Vermont. These panels are sur
rounded with border OF Sienna marble
and another OF Verde antique from
Geneva, Italy.
Over the entrance TO the reception
room from the corridor, the word Libra
rv is cut and gilded on slate Of Verde
ANTIQUE marble taken from the temple at
Pompeii in lsiS, and was presented by
a gentleman Of New York.
The Library is lighted by two immense
glass skyligh;s anu fourteen large win
dows. The lower skylight forming part
OF the ceiling oi the Library is OF ground
glass, thus giving soft mellow light.
The windows face three OF the cardinal
points OF the compass, those from the
east aiiording delightful view OF the
Capitol building and the
Principal Avenues Of the City.
Around the four sides OF the dome in
the centre OF the ceiling, which is sup
ported by columns similar to those the
gallery rests upon, are frescoes repre-
senting the starry heavens with rich
mosaic bordering in gold and bronze.
The gliding. bronZing and painting in
the whole interior OF the rooms show
the superior skill OF the artist in the
harmonious blending OF colois which
make it a wonder TO all who see il.
The room was designed by an Italian
artist, Of this city, by the name Of Rich
ard Ezaori. The painting and fresco
work was by Rakeman, also OF this
city, who was assistant for seven wears
with the late Prof. Broundie. These
artists were employed by Col. Casey, L.
S. y, and his assistant, Mr.. Green, who
deserve the thanks OF the Government
for their efficient services in giving the
ci,v OF Washington such an acquisi-
ton to her already numerous public
| edifces. J. F. i.
nf Grain