Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-04-22
Neat but not Candy.

Our court house has been WOnderful-
ly changed by certain decorations re-
Gently placed thereon by an artist OF
the whitewash bucket variety. Some
seem to like the graceful touches, and
some do not, yet when we consider
that this is the first effort in two dec
AIDES at beaurifying that rather cold
exterior one wonders why objections
are made. On going near the building
it becomes apparent that something
has happened, one hardly knows what,
whether it has had a sick spell and it is
pale in sports, or whether recovering
from fever or small pox. or some dread
disorder. or whether other spots are not
the hectic flush of q fast decaying Or
ganism, is subject of doubt.
| But one finds various colors
scattered about it's columns, ceilings,
windows, floors and walls, indicating
the presence of whitewash, black
wash, redwash, and phyeical and men
tai agony; physical in reaching the
spots where it has been spread, and
mental anguish to determine whether
the spots not touched should have
been decorated or those decorated
should have been left in their accus-
toned state. The magnificent hetero-
geniety of the entire tout en- semble
cannot be grasped in a moment, the
effect must be studied to be apprecia-
ted. The pantheon shaped architrave
supported by four imposing columns
which stands out and over the front
door of this temple of Justice has not
been treated, but the supporting col |
umns have felt the ''soft touches of |
beauty" and snow white shaft shoots
up from dark brownish base unlike
in color-design anything in the
heavens above or the earth beneath.
The hand of the decorator was not
steady. at certain points his treatment
was rather dense at others a bit toe
light, and straight lines were not fol
lowed as closely as some great fresco
ers among the ancients, were won't
The ceilings over the county anc
circuit clerks office doors which art
20 the right and left of the front doc,
Is you enter were tried by the artist
Ind this effect must surely be stud
ed. Some of the design runs Cross
wise, some the other way and some no
way at all, making an effect entirely
Unique. If ceilings we're ever before
reated after this fashi on they still lie
buried in ancient ruins, and we trus'
will not be troubled by the arch2logist
4 when our people come to court mex
week they find themselves standing in
ront Of their court house shedding
ears, please do not point the finger OF
corn at us, or say to us thou art the
nan" who did it. l.
But the movement marks a PERIOD
f advancement in architectural
Never before would f
'uilding have been thus treated, unles,
was to be Immediately burned. Neve'
las there lived prior to this age decora.
ors who would have used that SCENE
color unless upon pig pen. Nov
70 find what the builders neglected {
ecoming the head of the corner. L
ur neigh bors hold their sides in laugh |
sr when they see it, and persons pass
lg jeer at what they may be pleased {
, call our crudity, we can retort that
ley who laugh best, laugh last, ant
they will only await remote perior \
zen as the millennium or judgmenf |
~ they may find most OF creation ! .
bed as these pillars in pure white,
Id the remainder in red, or black, or
own, or a mixture Of betwixt and
tween. But one pleasure is drawn
om the changed appearance. The
nnea flona f,nIv Goat four dollare. Ii