The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-29
The Progress
OF the World.


of representatives. Those decorations
are being roudly criticised; and it
must be admitted that they are in some
instances trine gay for the quiet tastes
of the average rural Legislature. But
as specimens of art they command APP
probation, and reflect creditably upon
the skill of Leon ID. Dabo, the artist
who gave them birth. The following
description is taken from the Pittsburg
Times: The effect of the interior is one
of stately richness. The color scheme
as a whole is red. green and gold. The
ceiling is divided into obong panels,
richly ornamented with modelled orna-
mcnts in the renaissance style. The
walls have been covered with felt and
the old wainscoating of imitation mar
BILE replaced by a handsome paneling of
San Domingo mohogany.
over the speakers chair is a group of
Statuary, with figures showing Law,
Commerce and Agriculture, indicating
the highest human development. This
idea is carried out throughout the room.
In fact, the feature which attracts most
notice is a frieze of allegorical figures
painted upon gold ground. 1t was at
first proposed to have Pennsylvania
decided, after consideration, that capitol
hill was already gifted with much such
material, and that for the hall of the
house, the progress of the world should
| be symbOliZed.
The frieze is five feet in height and
| extends all around the room. The prob
lem as a whole is, under the benefc
| ence of good laws, mankind progresses
! from barbarty to the highest form of
civilization, the fine arts and sciences
! following" The composition proper be-
| gins at the left of the speakers desk
| The two boys with fishing implements
| lead the procession and are Immediate
| ly followed by men of arms, a partiCu
| larly robust, half-nude man holds in
| check two large-looking dogs Behind,
| another figure, whose clothing from a
mere sheepskin has already assumed
the cut worn by earlier persons, sounds
the battle cry, the rejoicing of victorious
arms. A youth on one knee is adjusting
his sandal straps and is followed by two
particularly strapping nude men bear
! ing IN a pole carried on their shoulders
a wild fowl, the proceeds of the chase.
| This is followed by some women with
flax thread, a particularly fine old man
is weaving a primitive carpet, illustrat-
ing while primitive man hunted FOR a
| living his women folk at home made
such rude articles of attire as they
need, eliminating, as intelligence grew,
in the weaving of those wonderful rugs
of the Orient, which are to this day our
admiration.
The panel to the right of the rostrum
represents what may be termed the
dawn of civilization proper The pro-
cession is headed by a Greek woman
playing the double flute. Two men gea-
ticulating represent commerce. Here
are introduced two stalwart carriers re.
ceiving instructions from a superior as
to the destination of a large bundle they
are carrying. The arts are represented
, | by some women. One, a strong, well
painted nude with uplifted hand, de
claiming, represents dramatic art. Thi:
is followed by architecture and paint
ing. The procession is brought to
close by agriculture. This is represent
ed by cart filled with produce drawn
by oxen, showing that man had alread!
made the beast subservient to him. Th
. cart is accompanied by farm laborers.
, Facing the rostrum and directly owe
the entrance door, is a panel represent
ing Justice, symbolized by a strong
handsome young woman clothed il
white She holds in one hand ball o
crystal, symbolical of the purity an,
; perfection of justice. Her sword /
t leaning against her throne. Beside hen
seated on the semi cular stone seat
are the figures of Law and Record. TW
old men are standing beside an ope
volume in a position of attention an
study. They are followed by a seate
woman teaching her child obedience t
the maternal law.
on the left of this panel is an allie
cory of education. The procession
facing Justice and is led by man whc
with a compass in his hand, is measul
ing a globe. a seated woman is deepl
n engrossed in deciphering a scroll. Fo
lowing her is an Egyptian holding alo
d a papyrus scroll. representive of tn
oldest sympathied learning. Two nud
| youths and young woman are leanin
over a stone table with cuneform in
scription held by the central fgur
Immediately behind the youth are tN
orientals representing Astronomy an
= Astrology, which had its origin in II
n Orient. An Indian yogi, or adept,
: accompanied by a young girl with
# flower, representing Botany. This
G followed by a monk with a skull. I'll
a monk is representing the carly Chri!
= tian, who fostered and retained what Ii
!, tie learning there was at that time. III
~ priest is accompanied by boy bearir
, a portfolio. An older boy holds IL
i earliest known form of Indian lutte, III
D. next figure is a beautifully drawn hal
l. nude young woman, kneeling before
|, marble bust of Science, and with
f. stylus in her hand she is tracing II
IS words "Sapientia," "Philosophia," "B
g taniae," "Astronomia," "Arte." Ne
Ia is a young woman leading a nude bo
s. who seems to be very unwilling to
z, led to Science. Another woman fC
ID lows advanced by girl a blind you
j. assisting a decrepit old man represen
+. the medical science. A young womi
ir with Cloisonne vase completes II
: panel
er On the other side of Justice is a re
l. resentation of the harvest, and VIII
II Education represents the moral t
i umph of man, this is the material
lu physical victory over the earth. T
s. opening group is sheep shearing. 4
v gathering of wool is followed by sol
spirited young girls with lutes a
> other sylvan instruments, while 9th
le women bear sheaves of grain. ADO
"a the centre of the panel is a marble ca
~ vatide of Ceres, goddess of plenty.
-, nude woman is singing a hymn
- praise in Thanksgiving to the diety
~ the harvest. The woman in blue
l., holding aloft basket of fruit for viii