The morning times., 1896-10-19

Wednesday afternoon the cornerstone OF
the II all OF History, the first of the
great buildings to form the home OF the
American University will be laid.
Elaborate preparations have been made
for the event. Bishop Bowman The senior
bishop OF the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and President Cleveland are expected 10
take part. Other distinguished gentlemen
will be present. The program to be OBJ
served is as follows:
THE PROGRAM
Singing OF the American University hymn
which has been composed by the Rev.
George Lansing. Taylor, Ph. D., of Con-
necticut. Then there will be q prayer,
responsive reading OF the Scriptures and
addresses by the following persons: Bishop
John L. Hurst, chancellor OF the uni
yersity: Ex-Governor Robert E. Pattson
Of PENIS ylvania; Bishop A. W. Wilson, ID.
d.. Of Baltimore;, the Rev James NJ. Buck
ley, ID. D., editor OF the Christian Adyo-
cate, OF New York; Bishop Charles H.
Fowler. d. D.. of Buffalo, and Bishop
Charles C. McCabe, ID. D., Of Fort Worth,
Texas.
The LAYING of the corner stone proper
will be according TO the ritual of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church, and the stone VIII
be laid jointly by the Honorable Grover
Cleveland and the Rev. Thomas Bowman,
senior bishop of the Methodist Church. In
the cornerstone will be placed the coins
OF the United States, a history ofthe uniyer-
sity, articles from the daily papers relating
to the university and other things or
historical interest. After President Cleye-
land and Bishop Bowman are through with
their portion of the exercises the high
officers OF the Masonic bodies and other
organizations Will go through program aC-
cUrding to their ritual.
THE BUILDING.
From an unpretentious start six years ago,
when the idea of the institution was first
conceived, the project has grown with such
remarkable rapidity that thousands Of citi
zens in all pa rts OF the country now awaitits
accomplishment. Last March ground was
broken Tor the university in the presence Of
a distinguished gathering of Cabinet off
| GERS, Senators, Representatives and clergy
men.
Nearly 100000 have been collected
| by the trustees Of the university with
which to found the institution. The Hall
OF History, the first OF the buildings, Will
cost over $500 900 and Will be q Struct ure
worthy even to rank among the foremost
OF the magnificent government buildings
| for which Washington is celebrated. II
| will be constructed of white marble from
| the Columbian quarricS Of Rutland, VI,
l ana IIt WHICH VIII bt tl
the Ionic order, is the combined work OF
two leading firms OF architects in the
country.
The foundation story is OF rock-faced
marble. while all the walls, plaster.
pillars, frieze, and other masonry viii be
| tool-dressed. The foundation walls rise
about 81 feet above the ground and the
cornerstone is located at the northwest
corner. The plans call for the lower
- .,..Ii int. 1rl-S hnn ilh
| for the present will be used as class
rooms. The second or main floor VIII
be occupied by a library, museum, pro
feSSors' rooms, scminaries, and lecture
| rooms The upper story will contain an
| assembly room large enough 10 dOcomrno-
| date the entire department Of history.
| THE ORNAMENTATIoN.
Corresponding to the impressive appear
ance of the exterior the entrance. han anu
corridors of the main floor VIII DC tiled
and wainscoted in marble and the first
flights OF stairs will be Of marble. The
outer steps and base course around the
| building have been built OF Woodstock
granite. Probably the most striking fea-
| ture of the exterior Will be the pedinent,
| which will contain an allegorical group
representing history On a friezc around
| the building below the roof will be- carved
| in bold letters the names OF the celebrated
| Bancroft. Tacitus, Josephus, Froissart and
| XenophOn.
The hall of history occupies the most com
| manding site in the neigh borhood Of the cit y
| of Washington, being about two miles out in
| the suburbs and on the heights. From the
| roof, when completed. may be Seen the
| broad reaches of the Potomac in the south
| and the battlcfields of Bull Run and Fred
| eriCksburg. To the northwest lie the dis
| tant Blue Ridge of the Alleghanies and to
| the west the notch wherein lies historic
| Harper's Ferry.