The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-04
THE STUDENTS As GUESTS
Columbian Uniyersity's Law
Lecture Hall Opened.
THE FACULTY RECEIVES
The Architer turnI beauties of the
New Structure-The Noot Court
Rooms Fcature-Spiendid Lii
nt Once.


The new Law Lecture Hall of the Column
bian University was formally thrown open
last night and the occasion was celebrated
| by reception rendered the students of
the two schools by the faculties.
| The gathering included some of the most
brilliant lawyers and scholars in the coun
/ try and the building in which the affair
| was held was the admiration of every per-
son who was fortunate enough TO partici
pate in the affair." The entire building
was ablaze with electric, lights and the
faculty proved themselves TO be gracious
| ly hospitable.
The entrance to the building is one Of
| its most artistic features. The visitor
first passes beneath the portco, supported
by four beautiful marble pillars before
reaching the large double doors of oak
which swing backward and forward at
the slightest pressure. The hallway in
side is paved with vitrified brick, of which
material the walls throughout the building
| are also constructed. Opposite the en-
trance at the farther end of the hall is
! the main lecture hall. This occupies about
| two-thirds of the space on the ground
floor, and is furnished in plain but tas e.
full manner. The seats are made of oak
and are placed in tiers circling round the
I roomy platform. which is about ten feet
below the level of the doorway.
The hall is lighted by rows OF incandes-
cent lights placed in the ceiling. Just
outside the lecture hall on the right is
large room set apart as the private Of
Y
of the District of Columbia, the dean of
the faculty of the Law School. Opposite
this room and on the left is its counterpart.
| the private office of Prof. Charles w.
Needham dean of the School of Diplomacy.
and in the rear of this is the office of the
secretary of the schools. Charles Ray Dean.
On the opposite side, corresponding with
it, is the janitor's room.
The furniture in all of these rooms,
with the exception Of the one set apart for
the use Of the janitor, is oak and the
floors are of hardwood. The second floor
! is reached by staircase on the right and
| contains four rooms Two large lecture
halls are placed over the main lecture
I hall, one for the senior and the other for
| the junior classes. On The left and di-
rectly above the Office of Dean Needham
| is the office of President Whitman. OPP
! posite this, on the right side is the pri-
rooms are furnished with large open fire
| places. in which fires were kept burning
and gave the rooms a homeiike appear
ance. The furniture OF these rooms is
| also oak and the floors are covered with
| soft Turkish carpet, Handsome paint
| ings adorn the walls of the office of the
| president of the university and that of
/ the faculty.
On the third floor the most magnificent
feature Of the building has been placed.
| This consists of a large law library, con-
| tanning about 5000 volumes. which occu-
| pies space as large as that taken up By
| the main lecture hall Gu the first floor.
| The books are placed in shelves around
| the walls Occupying nearly one third,
! of the south wall is an enormous fireplace
| which requires almost n cord of wood to
fill it. The space occupied by the fire
| dogs would easily hold four men, who
could place table between them and still
have room to turn around Above this
! has been placed large painting, which
| is fastened over a half mantel Large
oak tables will be placed down. the centre
| of this room for the use Of the students
and carpet will be laid ON the floor These
| things were not in place last night. as it
was here that the receiving party stood
and the room was filed throughout the
evening.
The moot court rooms on the third floor
| also form one of the features of the school
One of these is devoted TO law and the
other to equity. These rooms are fitted in
exact imitation of the real court room. with
seats for the judge and the clerk in a sort
of pulpit-like arrangement and chairs
! placed for the attorneys for the prosecu-
| tion and defense. Refreshments were
served in the law court room.
| Almost all of the students of both schools
We're present with their friends. and the
| receiving party was kept busy throughout
/ the evening greeting the guests The party
which included the faculties of both
schools and their ladies', consisted of Presi-
dent B. L. Whitman. Prof. Charles w
| Needham, dean of the school of diplomacy:
Justice Harlan and Justice Brewer, of the
| United States Supreme Court who occupy
chairs in both schools; Secretary Lyman
/ J. Gage. lecturer on international finance
and economies in the school of diplomacy:
| Former Assistant Attorney General VIII
| liam A. Maury, professor of common law in
! the law school; Justice Andrew C. Brad
| ley. of the Supreme Court of the District of
! Columbia, professor of commercial paper
and criminal law; the Hon. William Writ
Howe and the Hon. Willis Van Devanter
/ of the school of diplomacy, PrOfs. Lee Da-
| Wis Lodge. Melville Chirch and William F.
! Mattingly. OF the law school
Letters OF regret were received from the
Hon. John W Foster, lecturer on diplomacy
in the school of diplomacy, and Justice Cox.
Of the Supreme Court of the District OF Co
| lumbia, dean of the law school faculty
Both of these gentlemen were detained at
home on account of illness.
| The hall will now be used continuously
! for the purposes for which 1t was erected
and the classes will meet in the various
rooms as soon as the holiday vacation is
Tended.