Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-26
Glimpse Of Beautiful Decora.
tive Effects on Interior.
Exquisite Designs Executed by Best
Talent 0b.ainabIe.
All Who Visit the New Public Library are
Delightfully."- Surprised.

IT, commodious in every respect; 1t has
been pronounced the most handsome
library in the State. Well 1t might be-
for no pains have been spared in having
both the architectural and decorative
work done by the very best talent which
could be procured anywhere.
The building is of modern design on
the Romanesque Renaissance order of
architecture and constructed Of granite
over the entrance, facing SOUTH is an
arch supported by pillars with Corinthian
capplngs. On either side of the entrance
are two large panels inscribed with the
names OF Anne lca's famous men of let
tiers: Franklin. Emerson, Hawthorne.
Poe, Prescott, W. Irving, Longfellow
Holmes, Lowell, Bryant, Whitman and
Whittier. Beneath the windows and er-
tending around the building are round
medallions, on each of which are in.
scribed the names of the classical and
other world renowned men of thought and
letters: Virgil, Homer, Caesar Plato
Dante, Bacon, Luther, Moore, Heine
Burns, Lamb, Kant, T. Moore. Keats
Hume, Byron, Victor Hugo, Scott, Goethe.
On the east side of the building is a large
panel giving the pames, Petrarch, johnson.
Marlowe, Shakespeare, Spenser, Cervan-
tes, Milton, Shiller, Racine, Fielding,
Thackeray, Dickens, Newton, Monson,
Humboldt, Addison. Leasing, Chaucer,
Gibbon, Tennyson, Browning, Carlyle,
Ruskin, Bancroft, Hollam, Motley and
Parkman.
The windows are high and surmounted
by straight carved granite transoms, sup
ported by pillars of Ionic style of archi-
lecture.
The vestibule is wainscotted with
Swiss, Portuguese and Italian marbles
with walls in terra Gotta stipple work,
shaded with green.
The reception hall is large with pol
ished oak wainscotting and terra Gotta
walls. Directly opposite the entrance is
the librarian g room separated from the
hall by wooden partitions with daintily
is fireplace set in clouded lavender
tinted French tile, with handsomely carved
mantel and mantel face
On leaving the hall, on the right is a
rotunda which is to be used as special
reading aud catalogue room; directly be-
yond this is the reading room. This
room is exquisitely beautiful. The sys-
tenn of decoration is dainty and elaborate,
in papermache
The wainscotting of this room is high
and made up of white panels framed with
Roman, and Greek egg and dart work.
The pilasters between the windows and
fancy wood work about the walls and
ceilings are adorned with raised floral
designs in yellow and lemon-tinted gold.
Between the panels of the wainscotting,
and in the pilasters are pretty figures In
pendants, and ribbonning in graceful re-
lief against the smooth white face work.
About the room are small inches with
nile green walls and surmounted by ex-
quisitely carved arches in white.
The frieze is of the same style of raised
work in floral design of gold and white.
The ceiling and panels are nile green
with white supports decorated by richly
eilded corbals and Greek egg and dart
work.
Shields are placed at intervals in the
frieze giving the names of men who have
been famous for what they have given the
world. Washington, Lincoln, Columbus,
Vespucci, Calico, Magellan, Button
Fenelon, Huxley, Cuvier, Raphael, Oar
win, Hayden, A gasslz, Cicero, and kepier
The mantel piece in this room is fitting
ly ornamented to harmonic with TIT
surroundings, the same system Of 1lora
design and renaissance work running
through it. The tile work Is of peculiar
STYLE in imitation of faxed Italian
marble.
On either side of the fireplace are tw'
petite pilasters engraved In golden letter
with the names of Pindar and Sappho.
Over the plate glass windows are colore'
pictorial windows of the symbols used b.
the early printers their Trademarks
with which they prefaced their books,
The collection of these Is remarkable
one both for their beauty and characte
of the work employed. There are In tn
building, 50 in all, and the study OF then
would occupy life time.
The suggestion of these symbols
sometimes mysterious, Intentionally sc
on the part OF the owner. But more ofte
thew are clear and impressive, and one
inclined to respect their contrivers for tn
sterling character of their thought all
inpennity. 1t is seldom one finds any G
them far fetched, as in the case OF som
of similar attempts made nowadays
Neither are they flippant. They sho'
/ o-l thonphtfu1 nnrDOS(