Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1893-04-20

French and an American flag. On,
of the two beautiful old-fashioneG
candle chandeliers of heavy bras,
that formerly lighted the room i.
discernible, while glimpse il showa
in the background Of the grea,
eighteenth century fireplace that
once occupied about the same posi-
ton now held by the picture. Be-
meath the painting are hung. in
gilt frames, explanations of its fig.
ures and copies or the spseches de
livered by General Washington and
President Miffiin on the occasion of
the resigning of the commission.
when the brave soldier was informed
that 1.-The United States in Congress
assembled receive with emotions too
affecting for utterance the solemn
resignation of the authorities under
which you have led their troops with
success through perilous and
doubtful war;
Four large portraits are among
the adOrnments of the walls Of the
Senate chamber at present. They
are those ef the Maryland signers Of
the Declaration of independence
Chase, Carroll, Stone and Paca-.
represented in full length figures,
sitting or standing, and each hold
ing or haviL e near him an official
document, apparently the great de-
claration itself. On the east wall.
hung so high and in so poor light
that a good look at it is next to an
impossibility, is the famous Gilbert
Stuart portrait of Washington, con-
sidered one of the best ever painted
of the first PRECEDENT. On each
side of the platform are two old
fashioned steel engravings. on one
side Henry Clay and Benjamin
Franklin, on the other Andrew
Jackson and John Adams.
As the old room is represented in
washington Resigning His Com
mission so it looked pretty much
on that memorable day in reality,
December 23, 1888. So it looked
also in 1884 when in this chamber
the peace with Great Rritain was
ratified in the presence of Congress,
closing the long struggle for Amer
lean independence; so also in Sep
tember, 1856, when the first Con-
stitutional Congress met; so also at
the Inauguration of the Governors
of Maryland until John Lee Car
roll administration. The General
Assembly of that day passed a bill
for its remodeling and so-called i'm
provement, and succeeded in des-
troying the principal attractions Of
a room rich in historic associations.
True, the General Assembly of 1892
appointed committee, with Sena-
tor Thomas G. Hayes, of Baltimore,
to consider the advisability and cost
OF restoring the chamber to the con-
dition it was in when Washington
resigned his commission, and action
in the matter will probably be taken
at the General Assembly of 1894.
But this can hardly be more than
IA reproduction, for restoration has
been made difficult from the fact
that the furniture and decorations
have disappeared. Behind the con-
ventional and gaudy arrangement
of red brocade and ecru satin the
old niche, in front of which Presi-
dent Miffiin sat, is still intact. But
the imposing old chimney piece has
been walled up, the little gallery
for spectators has been torn down
and only a few fragments of it are
left, bit of stucco work treasured
by one family, piece of the mold
ing and a few of the columns by
another, while the superb old and
irons and tenders, the chandeliers
and the furniture generally have
gone the usual way.
1.-The Worlds Fair committee"
said Mrs. William Reed on Satur-
dny, Thought of making Senate
chamber exhibit, but this was a.
bandoned, as so little trace was
found of the old articles in the
room. 1t is said that beneath the
present crimson carpet that covers
the floor there is a mark designat-
ing the spot where Washington
stood"
There are many interesting por-
traits in other rooms Of the State
House, including those in the Gov
ernor's chamber. The portrait of
George Calvert, first Lord Balti-
more, by Mytens, is probably the