The Newtown bee., 1888-11-16
An Architectural Success.


 ed and occupied by the City National bank, 19 Wall street. The task is just and it is no figure of speech | or mere tlattery to say that no finer bank ing rooms may be found in the State than those of the City National bank. even to the minutest details, is in such perfect accord and harmoniZes so smoothly with it's surroundings, that the casual or hurried observer cannot, at first, comprehend the character or ex- tent of the changes that have taken place.
 All the resources of architectural art and of decorative skill and ability have been brought into acquisition and the banking rooms have been literally trans formed. Chartered oak, finest French plate glass, beautiful American, Italian, Belgian, German and French marble, costly Mexican onyx, dark, rich mahog- ony,-these are but few of the materi- als entering into and forming a part of the scene which greets the eye as one passes up the steps and into the spacious rooms. Externally, little change has been made, save to paint the front in brown stone and terra cotta; but, once inside the massive doors, it's seems like fairyland.
 As the visitor turns from the pavement, he sees two massive oak doors at the entrance to the bank. They are studded with wrought rivets and crossed by large ornamented hinge plates, with escutcheons to match. Twisted black iron handles, harmonizing with the other equipments of the door, give an appear ance of age united with strength and so- lidity. In the upper half of the doors and in the fan light above, exquisite wrought iron grills, made (with much of the best work in other parts of the building) from special designs by the ar chitects, rival in general effect and per lection of detail anything of which the 1Gth century can boast.
 The steps are of dark, heavy Belgian marble, selected because of it's hardness and enduring quality; on either side gleams wainscoting of purest Mexican onyx, whose beautiful surface is polished until the light is reflected as from mir TOT. Of each of the hundreds of pieces of onyx composing this wainscot, it may be said that it is like no other piece in the entire collection and at each succeeding visit some new beauty of color or ar engagement is observed.
 
 Broad stairs lead up into the banking rooms above and the staircase is regard ed as the most beautiful and tasty of all the works of art which make up the har- monious unity. The treads and risers of the stairway are of dark St. Anne marble from Belgium, which offers the most re- sistance to this kind of wear. On either side, to a height of nearly four feet, the walls are covered with Mexican onyx the most perfect to be obtained. Ad- ditional value is given it by the statement of the firm owning the quarry that the supply will be exhausted in two years or less and no other quarry can supply the peculiar colors seen here. French sienna marble of the rare golden tint blends with the more brilliant colors of the onyx and the whole is trimmed with black Vermont marble. Above the wainscot, walls and ceiling are treated in metal relief, the design being in oxy- dized old brass. Lattice work, crossed with ropes and divided by them into pam els, impress the on-looker with a sense of lightness and strength united with beau tiful coloring. Over the staircase land- ing, an opalescent jeweled dome in the ceiling pours flood of light over all. Ascending into the bank room, the vis- the room before him. And yet the col bring and decorations, general effect as we'll as each detail, all are quiet and pleasing. No effort is made at profuse vations and the various colors and ma terials blend softly one with the other. resting and refreshing rather than weary ing the eye. The floor of this room, which is public and covers 450 square feet, is tiled with Italian marble, with a border of St. Boumm marble from the Pyrenees and the counter base is of Bou- gard marble from Lower Germany. Around this space runs the screen which divides the public room from the busy workers of the bank. The woodwork is of rich, dark old oak, panelled to the height of four feet, surmounted by beY- elled plate glass. Above and below are bits of Italian Renaissance carving, ev- most infinite variety) has been cut by hand. It is indeed worthy place beside that done even by the carvers of olden time, when this art was at it's best, for no one examining it will doubt that an artists eye and touch are required. This screen is broken by four gates, for the paying, receiving and discount depart ments and for the savings bank, to which reference is made elsewhere. Special de- signs were made for these, which are of wrought brass work.
 Near the further end of this room are two circular tables for the convenience of the people. They form part of two old brass columns with Corinthian capi- tals, which support the girders in the ceiling. Two similar columns are at the top of the staircase. These two heavy oak girders divide the ceiling lengthwise and four similar girders cross from. side to side, forming great panels, which in turn are snbdivided by smaller beams, all of the same solid oak, the emblem of strength and tirmness. Here decorative