The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-20

heightened in way which tho designer
OF the beautiful hall never dreamed of.
ana II 1t happens that it is known to him
Ill his eternal consciousness he must
Iurn III his grave with vain protests and
indignation. One corner of the hall
just ut the rear of the statues of Gar
heiu, Oh Cass and of Ethan Allen, has been
sec apart as a ladies' reception room for
members of tho house.
Where Women CongreCnte
Inns corner and the scenes which daily
may be witnessed in it mar the picture
like blot of ink upon classical canvas.
Tho purity of the architecture. the white
statues, the dreams of bygone day of val
or, wisdom and eloquence which they in
splre, arc rudely broken upon by the
coarse laughter, the flirtations, the in
trlgues, the brazenness displayed in the
corner There all sorts ana conditions
or women come to see members of con-
gress. Like the Statesmen themselves.
they are good, bad ana Indifferent.
women With pathetic stories, with wild
ow's weeds, with tales of great ma
tons injustice to them and theirs. arc
compelled to rub elbows with painted,
schemlng creatures, with female lobby
lists, with congressional rakes.
1t was II happy idea to set this old
chamber apart as n hall of statuary. 1t
Is difficult to see what else could have
been done with it that would have been
half as seemly and impressive The sug-
gestion was made so long ago as 1864 by
Senator Morrill,, who was then n men,
Der of the house. Though nearly 30
years have passed since each of the states
of the Union was invited TO place here
statues i'll marble or bronze of two of its
great men, only Il few of the common
wealths have responded. There are only
two dozen statues and busts in the hall,
and OF these only two thirds have been
contributed by the states under the in
vitation extended them by congress.
Contributions of states.
Little Rhode Island was the first to re-
spond, sending an admirable statue of
Roger Williams, the pioneer apostle Of
religious liberty and foundcrof the plan
tation which afterward became the
smallest state in the great Union She
sent also General Nathanial Greene of
Revolutionary fame.
Connecticut was next. She sent marble
representations, of Jonathan Trumhull
and Roger Sherman. Few of the visitors
who gaze upon the statue of the former
remember that he was the intimate
friend of General Washington, and that
Washington called him Brother iona
than" thus giving rise to an immortal
phrase.
New York is well represented by stat
ues of George Clinton Dewitt Clinton
is better known to the people of the
country in this day. and of Robert r.
Livingston, the great chancellor who
administered the oath of office to Presi-
dent Washington.
Massachusetts sends one of the most
noticeable statues in the collection. 1t is
that of Samuel Adams, Father of the
Revolution" of whom it was once writ
ten, "All men should erect a statue to
him in their hearts," Massachusetts has
also statue of Governor Winthrop.
Vermont proudly erects heroic
statue of Ethan Allen and fills out her
| quota with Senator Jacob Collamer.
Ohio is represented by Garfield and
| William Allen, and her statues occupy
a post of honor next to the entrance to
| the house.
New Jersey has contributed the figures
of Richard Stockton, signer Of the De
claration of Independence, and of brave
General Phil Kearny.
Pennsylvania has erected statues to
Robert Fulton, inventor of the steam
boat, and Muhlcnbcrg. the heroic little
man who said there was Il time to pray
and Il time to fight and left the pulpit to
| 60 to the front i'll the Revolutionary war.
Michigan has erected statue to Lewis
| Cass, and now Illinois honors General
| Shields. Wisconsin will soon erect a
statue of Perc Marquette, the priest who
pioneered religion and civilization in tho
| northwest.
Heroes Who Are Missed.
There are other statues in the pan
| theon, but they were erected by the gov
ernment and not by the states. Con
| spicuous among these is the plaster cast
OF Houdin's Washington, the original of
which is ut Richmond, and the face Of
which was made from Il death mask, it
is said. Noteworthy also is the much
criticised statue of Lincoln by Winnie
| Ream, for which congress paid the large
! sum of $4,000. There isa fine statue of
| Alexander Hamilton and fairly good
one of Thomas jefferson in bronze. The
q