The National tribune., 1897-08-05

Their Capacity Produce Exquisite Results.
Some Allegorical Figures.
r yPON STEPPING WITHIN THE
entrance hall of the Library Build
ii ING one finds solid marble upon
~ which TO tread, while there is marble
above and on all sides. Entering
the adjoining balls the eye rests upon the
exquisite colors of the marble mosaic vaults,
giving restful variety to the painted sur
faces and beautiful stucco work.
The north. south and east corridors on the
first floor of the entrance hall have paneled
and yaulted walls and ceilings of Italian,
Vermont and Tennessee marbles in lovely
colors of white blue and brown. In all the
corridors the names of distinguished men,
placed upon tablets. are important features
of the decorations. The decorations typliy
the arts and sciences. and into each group
are introduced emblems to distinguish the
themes.
In the wings of the corridors are mural
paintings by famous artists. In the north
corridor are scenes connected with the family,
introducing such figures as Religion, Labor,
Study. Recreation. Rest. On a broad arched
border two floating female figures extend a
large scroll bearing these words from Con-
fucius: ''Give instruction unto those who
cannot procure il for themselves"
The family is a glimpse from Arcadia. The
father has lust returned from a days hunt
ing. and is the center of a welcome home
coming. The aged mother clasps her hand
over the head of her dstaff and the gray
bearded father puts by his scroll; the wife
holds ont his baby son and little girl clutches
his garment while an0therd daughter Is in the
background Beyond Is an open cave and
valley bounded by high mountains.
Recreation is represented by two maids
PLAYING with their musical instruments:
Study shows a girl teaching a younger one
with book and compasses; Labor Is typihed
by young men clearing a field; Religion, by
q youth and maiden kneeling before a blaz-
ing altar; Rest by two young women sitting
by stream with earthen water jars waiting
10 be filled In the vault of the corridor are
the names of great educators: Freelel, Howe.
Gallaudet, Mann. Arnold Spencer, and 50 on.
By the way. Herbert Spencer is one of the
three living men whose names appear among
the hundreds of names inscribed throughout
the library. the ether two being Bell and
Edison, the electricians.
la the south corridor the theme is Lyric
Poetry. Some of the compositions are very
beautiful in the grace and pose of the figures
introduced. The scene Is a wooded vista.
down which brook comes splashing from its
mountain source.
All the figures are feminine except one. and
Lyric Poetry. the central deity among the
goddesses, is crowned with laurel and with
ecstatic gaze touches the strings of a Tyre
improvising her verses. Her attendants are
Pathos, Truth, Devotion, Passion, Beauty,
and Mirth.
Secondary groups suggest poems by Tenny-
son, Keats, Wordsworth, Emerson, Milton
and Shakspere. There is Ganymede upon the
back of an eagle; Endymion asleep upon
Mount Latmus; Emerson's Urel, the Angel
of Scorn; Comus, the Enchanter. in guise of
q shepherd, and Venus and Adonis The six
American lyric poets whose names are in
scrlbed with the masters of Greek. Latin,
Italian and English poetry are Long.ellow.
Lowell, Whittier, Bryant, Whitman, and Poe
PRIMITIVE WHITING.
The east corridor takes for its subject the
ascent of man. The Cairn," showing a
company, clad IN skins. buildings a rude stone
monument on the seashoIe Oral Tradition,