Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-11-11

ly viewed. The finest materials have
been used in the construction ot the
building and the best artists that could
be employed have fashioned the mar
bic into forms of beauty and adorned
the walls with paintings of rare merit.
The exterior of the building shows
a structure of white marble, surmouut-
ed by dome of FURNISHED gold, and
with broad marble steps leading to the
main entrance. The style is almost
severe in its simplicity and hardly
prepares the visitor for the ornate
beauty of the interior.
Upon first visit to the library the
scene which presents itself when the
massive bronze doors have been passed
and the visitor enters the foyer is al
most dazzling in its effect, The chief
architectural features of the building
are the foyer and the public reading
room, although other rooms attract at
tention and are rich with paintings
and wood and marble carvings. The
glare of the Italian marble, the rich
harmony of colors on the walls and
ceilings, and the exquisite carving Of
the capitals, panels and arches in the
foyer complete a scene Of beauty that
is probably not excelled anywhere in
the world
The grand marble stairways on
either side of the foyer lead to gal
lery. The ceiling is supported by COL
umns of marble, all beautifully carved.
The walls about the lower floor are
ornamented with graceful forms cut
from the marble by the artists chisel.
In the galleries above the simplicity
and purity Of coloring which charac-
terizes the lower portion Of this mag
nifcent inclosure gives way to rich
ness Of brilliant coloring which Is
startling in its novelty, The brightest
colors have been utilized, but in not a
single instance are they lacking in
harmony. The ceiling is composed of
deeply sunken panels, richly gilded
and inclosed by carved and decorated
beams, which are themselves supported
by highly ornamented brackets.
The halls about the foyer, both those
in the gallery above and on the floor
below, have vaulted ceilings of inlaid
mosaic, beautiful in color and design.
The walls of the gallery are decorated
with carvings and paintings. The
whole effect is what strikes the visitor,
and as each marble figure and each
painting is but part Of the general
comprehensive plan, they are consld-
cred in connection with the whole
rather than for their individual merits.
The public reading-room, which is
located in the rotunda Of the building,
is not less magnificent, if less striking,
than the foyer. Here, however, the
colors are subdued and are formed
entirely by the rich marbles out Of
which the room is constructed. 1t Is
octagonal in shape, is 100 feet in di-
ameter and reaches in height to the
great gilded dome of the building l25
feet above. At each Of the eight an
giles of the room are columns Of dark
Numidian marble, standing upon ped
estals of brown Tennessee marble and
crowned by golden COrinthian capitals.
Directly above the columns are eight
colossal figures representing Science,
Law, Poetry, Philosophy, Art, His
tory, Religion and Commerce. Be-
tween the columns the walls are of
variegated Sienna marble Three gal
lenes surround the room, each with a
heavy marble balustrade, upon which
have been placed bronze statues of au-
thors and statesmen.
The galleries are divided into arched
alcoves, in which have been placed
small book stacks for the volumes in
most demand by the public. The
dome of this splendid room is also
beautifully decorated. The reading
desks are arranged in continuous rows,
extending around the room and facing
the centre, where the librarian s assist
ants, from whom the books are OBJ
tained, have their desks.
The Senate and House Of Represen-
tatives' reading-rooms are on either
side of the foyer and are very beauti-
ful in every detail. They are richly
ornamented and contain some Of the
most artistic carvings and mosaics to
be found in the building. All the
other rooms which are to be used by
the public are also beautifully though
not so richly finished. The corridors
on all the floors are of marble, and
furnish some of the best examples Of
marble finishing to be found anywhere.
The book stacks are in four wings Of