The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-05-25
sTATUARV HALL,
A Liits Talk About an Interesting Room
In the National C.pltei.


The old hall OF the house Of repressn-
tatiyes. nov known as Statuary hall,
II one Of the most beautiful and i'm
posing rooms In the capitol. II occu-
pies a part Of the space between the
rotunda and the present house Of rep
resengStivea Like the supreme court
room. Il IL In the form OF a seml-cirele,
and Its domeliks ceiling Is paneled.
and frescoed In subdued. rich eOiors. II
Ia ninety-nvs feet In length and sixty
Feet to the apex OF the dome, from
which rises a cupola through whose
windows light 70 the hall IL admitted.
Around the seml-circle II a colonnads
OF native variegated marble. with
white Corinthian capitals. Back Of the
space formerly occupied by the speak
ers chair, IL a loggia with eight CO.
losaal marble columns, similar to the
others. supporting a fine arch. Within
TIE tympanum Of the arch IL a majes-
Tic figure Of Liberty. with extended
hand holding a scroll, while beside
ner, with unfolded wings. Is our ma
tional bird. the eagle. Above the en-
trance leading from the rotunda. Is a
beautiful piece Of sculpture represent
ing the Muse Of History on the winged
car OF Time. The wheel OF the car IL
the dial Of a clock The figure stands
with pen and tablet in hand, and
seems about 70 record the events a.
time rolls on. The whole IL supported
on globe. around which circles the
zodiac. BY act Of congress In 1854.
this hall was reserved for a national
memorial hall. and each state was in
vited 70 contribute two statues Of It's
most distinguished citizens In bronze
or In marble A number Of states have
responded. and within lis walls are
statues Of Ethan Allen. Robert Fulton,
Daniel Webster. George Washington.
Alexander Hamilton. Henry Clay. ABB
raham Lincoln and others. Among the
latest contributions IL the statue OF a
noted missionary Of pioneer days from
the state Of Michigan. Maryland also
sends one Of alate senator. which
stands shrouded In white, waiting the
usual unwilling ceremonies. statuary
hall has peculiar acoustic properties
Words whispered In certain corners
sound as II spoken aloud In others.
and a conversation may be carried on
by persons whose faces are turned 70
opposite corners OF the room. Near the
center Of the floor. a few feet apart.
are two stones. which afford an in
teresiing puzzle 20 a visitor. Persons
standing upon these stones and con-
/ yersing are surprised to hear the sound
| OF their voices come from above them,
as II dropped from the ceiling. These
are not the only peculiarltles Of this
hall. In the yarlegated marble Of the
columns one can see faces. birds. plants
and many other pictures; often tss
imagination is flexible enough to rec
ogniKe some OF these faces as belonging
TO prominent legislators and senator's.
The names Of Webster. Clay. Adams.
Calhoun and others as illustrious are
closely associated with this historic
place. A room adjoining IL made mem
orable by the death within It's walls
OF John Quincy Adams A metal star
In the marble floor Of Staiuary hall
marks the spot where he fell. stricken
With a mental illness during a session
OF congress In the early years Of the
war. soldiers were CHARTERED here, as
In other parts Of the capitol. and the
room was also used as a hospital for
| the sick and wounded.