The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-07-29
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
arches of American civilization with its satel-
lites of learning and art.

arches of American civilization with its satel-
lites of learning and art.
RICHEST TYPE OF ART.
Certainly, if the engineers and architects
were entitled to have their names on the
commemorative arch, so were the sculptors
and painters who have adorned every nook
and corner of the building with the most
original and spirited sculptures and the
highest type Of mural decorative art of the
modern world. Nothing in and about the
building are finer than the bronze doors OF
DIN L. Warner, and the Students, one
young man searching his book and the other
an old man lost in meditation, that are the
glory of the arch; or the bronze torch-bearers
and the sculptures of the grand staircase,
which was the work of Philip Martiny.
Garlands of roses and oak and laurels,
allegorical figures and classic heads are
chased and cliiseed on the walls and spran-
dels of that staircase in joyous profusion.
! Halfway up is buttress which serves as
pedestal of group, on one side of which is
africa and America" and on the other side
" Europe and Asia" The balustrade of the
top landing is ornamented with figures OF
children in relief, representing certain OF the
fine arts also, COMEDY with comic mask,
Poetry with a scroll, and Tragedy with
tragic mask. There also is 90 Painting, with
| pallet and brushes Architecture" with
compass and scroll, and behind him the pedi-
ment of Greek temple, and Sculpture
modelling statuet
Among the decorations of the ascending
railing of each staircase Mr. Martiny has in
troduced eight marble figures in bas-relief,
of little boys, representing various occupa-
tons, habits, and pursuits Of modern life
The procession, bound by garland hanging
in heavy festoons, includes such subjects as a
mechanician, with a cog-wheel, pair of
pincers, and crown of laurels, signifying the
triumph of invention a hunter, with his
| gun, holding up rabbit by the ears an
infant Bacchus, with ivy-wreathed brow, hold
ing up wine-glass a farmer, with sickle
and sheath; fisherman. with rod and reel,
landing his prize; a little wargod Mars
cleaning his helmet a chemist with blow
pipe, and cook with tripod.
On the opposite side is gardener with a
spade and rake, naturalist netting butter
fly, student with book, printer at his
case, musician with his Tyre, physician
mixing drugs in a mortar, an electrician
with a telephone receiver at his ear, and an
astronomer with a telescope measuring a
globe encrcled with the signs of zodiac
with pair of c0mpas5es.
Among the ornamentations on the walls of
the upper hall one finds tablets upon which
are inscribed in gilt letters the names OF
Longfellow, Tennyson Gibbon, Cooper,
Scott, Hugo, and Cervantes and white tab
lets supported by dolphins beneath 10 semi
circular latticed windows in the attic story
bear the names of Dante Homer, Milton,
Bacon, Aristotle, Goethe, Shakspere
Molere, Moses, and Herodotus. There are
female half-fgures in corners, each of which
Supports cartouche on which are success
siyely lamp, a book and other conventional
symbols of learning. also full-length figure:
of flying geniuses and succession of ale
gorical figures including Pans pipes symbols
: Mercury's staff, bow and arrows shepherd:
crook and pipes, tambourine, torch, clay
statuet and sculptor's chisel, books, ant
countless other mural paintings, OF which
more again.
TTo he roufinued1