The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-31

place. and to the delight OF the con-
mittee there came TO l:ght the osIssnsl
delicate colors in which the found
delighted. which had been hidden Sv
generations OF useful but inars.ssi.
paint
When the architect took hold OF the
work of the second floor. which was
given over to the City chapter Of the
D. o. r. and whose restoration has
been finished by them. he was cor
fronted with 4 problem That might
have oaffled many less keen and p<rse-
verinS. This was restoring the rlusty.
divided council chambers To the stately
banquet hall where mingled the social
and official greatness Of colonial days.
Curiously enough. no description could
possibly be found OF the han. even in
the descriptions OF famous banquets
held there.
And where do you think they found
their clews In the celebrated Chew
house in Germantown. where the battle
OF Germantown was fought, :
And here Is the way they worked {s
out a late writer recorded thar Chief
Justice Chew was so impressed with
the great architectural beauty OF fine
colonial arch leading from the ban
quoting hall that he was having II re-
prodsced in his new home. Cliveden.
then building. IL only takes a few
minutes to set to Germantown. ana
there was the house. there was the
arch. there was the clew. and enthusi-
asm boiled up and over in the hearts
OF architect and committee.
Then the architect discovered an old.
old man living near him at D.von, who
owned up that when a young fellow hs
had worked at alterations In Independ-
ence hall Could he remember any,
thing? Well he thought he could. They
took him 10 the building. and he in
sisted that fireplaces were in certain
portions OF what seemed solid walls.
He persisted in his statement. and the
workmen examined the walls. There
were the fireplaces. in all their original
masonry and brickwork-even The very
smoked backs and hearths lust as
when they were last used, And a clew
10 the character OF the rnanteIs was
found in white carved wood Embedded
in the masonry
In the loft OF the statehouse they
discovered a heap OF square tiles that
had fashioned the hearths. and they
now are fitted into their old places.
They also found the origina! floor OF
the second story. which had grievousiy
Sagged under the newer supporiad
flooring put in when Peale's museum
occupied II. The locks on the doors
are the original ones. Every day dis
covers lovely trimmings. facade and
even marblework Overlaid by thicken-
ed ugly coats OF paint.
Probably one OF the most interesting
and available discoveries 20 the orch.
itect is the preservation OF all original
material where recent changes savs
been made. The original statrcases
were removed. but preserved Even
portions Of the mantels remain az the
heads Of doorwsys. The entrance 20 the
quarter sessions court is a part OF the
original Congress hall
"One Of the most obvious conditions
in the examination OF the whole
structure is the sedulous care while
adapting IL 10 preserve intact the origi
nal work of the building" IS the most
remarkable fact Mr.. Keyser points out
in a letter TO Mr.. Warwick.
when window Sashes were required
10 make the rooms more comfortable.
they were placed within the old win
dows and the sashes and pares of the
ola construction preserved where they
now remain. When the shingie roof fall
ed. IL was covered over. but left I'M
disturbed and .lnlntured and the tin
roof laid over II. but entirely separated
from IT. The original ohingie roof re-
mains there now. When the old fre-
places were disused. they were left un-
disturbed and bricked over. 80 that they
now appear in the restoration with the
arching and the backs blackened by the
wood fires. as they were left. When
the old clock faces and works were re-
placed by the present ones the works
were placed In the care Of one OF
the churches. to be used and return
ed when required By the city The vain.
scoting OF the lower rooms in Inde-
pendence hall mainly remains as origI-
nally placed there. The parts taken
down from the chamber OF tho Declara-
ton IN 1923 were stored away. and.
when better taste prevailed. restored in
great part as IL now remains The
whole statehouse, as originally con-
structed, rafters. joists. plaster. fire.
places. roofs. floors. windows and frag-
mcnts of tiles In fireplaces. being as
originally made. Underlying ali the
modern work, there remains the Oh
Of the colonial times and tho
Revolution"
Who knows what's IN the air from
his work Of the restoration" Gays a
writer. commenting on the restoring Il
independence hall. We may De on tho
'erge Of Revolutionary Juror. as ws
lave just passed through a Hapoleonlo
ne. VIII IL bring back knee breechss
md cues2 VIII the jewelers. display
gorgeous snuff5oxes. and VIII men and
women return 20 the stately manners
z last century, VIII the mlnuet take
he place 81 the waltz. and I'D English
y regarded al better than phoneti1
peiEng! Who can tell 20