The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-28

the UyIvERsITY ARcHIrECrURE.
Classic Roman and Gr-cian styles Besuti-
fully Combined.

Tho original conception OF the Univer-
s'ty VAS essentially the product OF the
brain of Thomas Jefferson. Not confin-
ing his conception 10 the narrow limits
OF a provincial architecture. he formed his
designs upon the broad basis of the
most approved and enduring results OF
Roman and Grecian architecture Only
after years of patient study and European
travel did he mature his plan ana collect
his designs, which produced upon the
virgin soil OF the young republic a re-
production of the pure classic forms OF
old Rome and older Greece
The most prominent figure about the
building was the rotunda, the real hub
OF the University. whore flowed. all day
the streams of professors and students
This building was a copy OF the Roman
Pantheon, somewhat modified and d.
mtnished In size. also hereft OF its dis
fgur ng towers. erected by some mediae-
val architect, but restraining still all the
beauty and symmetry OF It's original
Greek model
The porch had thirteen Cornthian
columns. surmounted by carved marble
capitals and broad steps leading up TO
the base Of the columns IL was con-
structed OF brick and wood. Scarcely
was there an angle In the building proper
every line was a curve The veriest rus
Tic could not fail 10 be struck with its
beauty and impressed with it's complete
ness. High above all towers. was the
red Roman dome, announcing 10 the
scholastic pilgrim afsr of that the Mecca.
toward which he 1ourneyed had been
reached.
In order TO meet the demand for add-
tional accommodations the annex was
DI. tAsr H.. -
lid not mar, but gave II a more extended
and impressive appearance. This was
likewise OF the Corinthian style Of ar
chtecture with a porch at each end and
columns similar to those OF the rotunda
porch. The public hall was In the annex.
Here hung Bal7e's copy OF Ralphaers
celebrated School of Athens" presented
10 the University by its ante-bellum
alumni magnificent work OF art. A bat
tement, partly Of earth and partly OF
stone, surrounds the annex, adding mucn
10 It's general effect by counteracting the
disadvantage Of the natural slope of the
ground, thus seemingly making the found
alton on a level with that OF the rotunda.
Class-rooms were In both the rotunda
and the annex. In the rotunda, was tho
magnificent library containing 5000 vol
umea. and whose value cannot be es-
timated I'm dollars and cents. 1t con-
taiued hundreds of docuTcnts. manu-
scripts. and books that cannot be dupi-
Gated at any price. The marble statue
Of Jefferson by Gait. stood in the library.
besides many valuable busts and por-
traits from the hand OF celebrated artists.
In the library was the wonderful whs-
pering gallery which has attracted general
attention from visitors by the thousands.
AT The foot of the dome OF The rOtunda
was the old yellow clock, whose gloring
face has regulated many men for many
years and near by was its co-partner
and hebp-mate the bell. whose changing
sounds, regulated by old Henry Martin.
himself as much an indclible feature or
the University architecture as any OF its
carved capitals or broad porticoes, have
hurried men 10 the classic halls beneath
for more than half a century.