The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-02
THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
A Comfortable Change of the Seats i'm
the ROom-Somet About tho
Pictures Oh the Walls, &c.

With a view to greater comfort OF the
members and the more convenient transac-
ton oi business, the Sergeant-at-Arms OF
the City Council has, with the approval OF
Council Presidents Bass and Ellyson, made
an entire change i'm the desk and seating
arrangements OF the Council chamber.
Heretofore the presidents OF the two bodies
have occupied position against the south
wall OF the room-a very warm and disa-
greeable place to be in in the summer for
several hours at time. The presidential
seat has now been changed TO the western
side of the room, which is accessible to the
breezes that come through the windows on
either side. The desks OF the members
have been arranged in the form OF horse
shoe circle, by which plan all the members
face each other, and no member sits with
| his back to another, as heretofore. The
changes will certainly prove beneficial, and
| be quite acceptable to the members, who
should be made a. comfortable as pos
sible in the discharge OF their duties:
for there Is no body OF gentlemen
who labor more faithfully in the in
terest Of their people than the Council
OF the city Of Richmond, and an immense
deal Of the work done by them in northern
and western cities is performed by paid
commissioners. While our Council cham
| ber is not is handsome as the one i'm the
new City Hall will be- it is neatly furnished,
is OF splendid size, and when brilliantly
| lighted at night is quite an attractiyc-look-
ing room. There is qnite acollection of or
naments i'm the room, including some tine
oil-paintings. Over the presidents chair
hangs the picture OF lin whose name VIII
be honOred and loved while virtue and pa
triotism hold place fn the hearts OF men
George Washington. Opposite this lie
size painting Is One OF similar style OF the
man who, though born in the sunny land
of France, loved America with child-like
devotion, was the trusted comrade and
true friend OF Washington, and whose
sword. drawn in defence OF our homes,
was returned to its scabbard untarnlshed
by spot or blemsh. Our Council honor
our city by honoring the memory OF La
fayette. The land of ltaly, too, is repre-
sented: for on the left OF Washing
ton may lie seen tie portrait OF
Christopher Columbus; and Just opposite
! is the likeness OF Am"ncus Nespucius.
ON the south wall is fine oil-painting OF
him long since gone to rest, and now
sleeping beneath the qula shades OF that
sacred home Of so many OF our dlstln-
tingulshed dead, dear old shockoe Hill
| Chiei..Justiee John Marshall, Americas
greatest iurist. On the right Is a picture
l(engraving) OF that glorious soldier Robert
L. Lee, while on the LEFT the eye lalls on
the likeness of his Lieutenant who said
lust before his eyes closed upon the light OF
tbjs world TO awaken in the golden dawn OF
brighter, "Let us cross over the river and
rest in the shade OF the trees" These
pictures will OF course adorn the walls OF
our new City Hall. The desk oil one OF
the officers OF the Council Is ofnamented
with the genial face OF one OF creek Ma
tion's faithful representatives, although ne
came in at the last meeting in charge OF the
Sergeant at Arms; and il his picture don't
odorn the walls OF the new City Hall he is
a worm advocate and worker for II. On
This same desk is a handsome picture
of a once deservedly-popular eA-alderman,
taken in his iishing-sulit Ills Ilsh-basket
hangs from his back, the rods are In his
hand, a "horn" is on the front OF
his hat, and one IN the shape OF
a little black bottle peeps out from
his pocket, labelled ben funch." W.
course the picture OF eX-Counci'man A. &.
Babcock occupies place with These last
named. Beneath the picture oi General
Lee is valued memen'o Oh the Mexican
war. n i the sword of the gallant Joe
Selden. presented to him by the city Of
Richmond as a tribute to his gallant con-
duet during the Mexican war, and after
his death returned TO the city by the Hon.
lanes LYONS. The sword Il kept In neat
mahogany case, and bears this inscription
:. Presented TO Lieutenant Joseph Selden,
~ the limited States army, rs testimonial
Of the pleasure aud pride with which Rich
moud regards the distinguished services
Of her former citizen, the soldier whose
wounds are witnesses to bis gallantry, and
whose nodesty alone equals his merit"