Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-06
AMONG FORMS OF BEAUTY.
Where Marble and Granite are Wrought
Into Exquisite Shapes

As one walking along Pennsylvania avenue
nears the capitol he is apt to hear in the dis
lance the musical climbing of mallet and stone
chisel. On the north side of the Avenue, only
few rods from the entrance to the capitol
grounds, is one of the most interesting bust
ness establishments Of this city. There is
large warehouse, and connected with it, ex-
tending far back toward the street on the other
side OF the square, is an extensive work-yard.
passer by glancing, as he cannot help doing,
into the spacious show-window filled with
forms OF beauty, and then letting his eye roam
down the deep perspective of the marble
yard adjoining with Its display in
'front.' OF stately monuments and glimpses
IN the rear OF long sheds for workingmen, and
an elevated railway for a travelling derrick, will
get some impression of the character and range
OF the business done there. This establishment
Is known as the nations monumental works 1t
mas claim to be of national character, for not
only In Washington, but in cities and cemete-
rles all over the country will be found beauti-
fuiiy wrought shafts that testify to the taste
ana skill OF the proprietor. Mr.. d. McMenamln.
and the artisans he EMPLOYS The monumental
works were established in 1860. 1t might well
be inscribed over the door that anything in
the marble line, from a tiny statuette
10 towering monument can be had there. The
handsomely finished sales-room is filled with
small figures exquisitely sculptured, for house
decoration; vases of graceful form. and busts
and statues. all endowed with the charm OF true
art translucent Partisan marble. marbles beau
tifully veined and notified and the snowy white
hard marble in which sculptors produce their
best effects, all combine to produce grateful
enect on the eve. Out in the yard. at
the side of the building, are grouped
tall shafts and statuary intended for ceme-
terry uses. There are massive monuments
ito al
the rear is the extensive workyard, fitted with
long sheds. where artisans with chisel and
square can be found sculpturing huge blocks of
granite or marble, reducing their rough out
lines to lines Of beauty, and adjoining them with
symbols and lettered inscriptions. A large
workshop near by is fitted with apparatus
worked by steam. that does the labor of a score
OF men. There are long iron arms that polish
the stones placed beneath them, and a huge re-
volvlng disk of iron on which the rough surfaces
OF stone blocks are smoothed. Another great
labor saving continuance is the travelling
derrick. MIR. McMenamin told STAR reporter
that with the aid OF this he can move block of
stone weighing ten tons from one end of his
yard to the other in seven minutes. Without
the derrick and its railway. he said, it would
take all the men who could ges around the
stone day to do the same work. Mr. McNIen-
amin said that persons who ordered monuments
or grave-stones nowadays usually select
forms that will be permanent. Slabs with
yoiuls NECESSARILY insecure IGat are apt TO
become broken or to topple over. are no longer
IN favor. Solid shafts with heavy blocks that
are preserved intact by their own weight are
now in vogue. In one part of Mr.. McMenamin's
establishment. III the rear of the salesroorl a
designer may be found at work drawing forms
to be followed by artisans in hewing out the
blocks of marble and granite. Persons order
ing monuments give their idea of the form they
would like. The designer then goes to work
and makes an elaborate drawing from which
the effect of the completed work in stone can
be judged. The addition to the estab-
lishment of large stock of statuary
and art works is new undertaking in
Washington. Mr.. McMenamin expressed HIM
self as confident that the art-loving portion of
the community would sustain him in his enter
prise.
The upper portion of the large building
erected by Mr.. McMenamin at No. 1873 Penn
sylvania avenue is now arranged in meeting
halls for public uses. The apartments are
large and well lighted and ventilated The
building is SO arranged that it can ultimately
be used for the accommodation of other
branches of Mr.. MclIenamins business when
he extends his large establishment
For the accommodation of lovers of art this
beautiful salesroom is open every evening till
10 o'clock.