The evening times., 1899-10-12

Gibbons, assembled at 10 O'Clock this /
morning in Mcmahon Hall at the Catho-
lie University for the purpose Of holding |
their annual conference. The three alb
sentees were Archbishops Chapelle, Hen
nessey, and Fehan. The utmost secrecy !
was maintained by the prelates relative |
to the subjects Mat were discussed and |
whether any innovations viii be recon- |
mended can only be conjectured. That !
there was q free and full exchange of
opinions as 10 conditions prevailing in diff
ferent parts of the country, there is no
doubt, and it is quite certain that the
archbishops talked over the Indian school
situation.
At 1 O'Clock a recess was taken and !
luncheon served, after which the confer |
enee was resumed.
During the afternoon large number OF
people, prominent in Catholic circles. Wis |
tied the university TO attend the ceremo-
nies of the dedication of Holy Cross Col
lege. the last one OF the group OF college |
buildings TO be finished. The ceremonies |
were arranged by Rev. DR.. J. A. Zahn, I
provincial superior of the Congregation of 1
the Holy Cross in the United States, with 1
headquarters al Notre Dame, near South /
Bend. Ind
Exercises to Be simple.
The exercises will begin at o'clock, and
will be simple but impressive. They will
be opened with an address by Right Rev.
John Lancaster Spalding. Bishop of Peo-
ria, H.. which will be delivered in Nc
Mahon Hall to all the archbishops, bishops,
other eminent priests. and large number
OF laymen. The subject of the address will
be THE University as a Nursery Of Higher
Life" and il will be a learned discourse
on higher education. Bishop Spalding is
known far and near as one OF the foremost
educators, has written several valuable
works on the subject, and il is therefore
expected that his address will be very in
structiye.
After he concludes his remarks. Cardinal
Gibbons, escorted by Mgr. Martinelli, the
Pspal delegate. and the other archbisops.
bishops, priests. and laymen, will walk TO
Holy Cross College. where the Cardinal
will offer PRAYERS provided for in The ritu-
a.. the responses being made by those pres
ent. This DONE Cardinal Gibbons will
bless the building, and then pronounce the
benediction.
In the evening the Cardinal. archbishops.
bishops and others TO the total number of
forty. will be the guests of the college at
a dinner.
The College Site
Property for Holy Cross College was
purchased less than year ago and the
erection of the central or main portion of
the building was begun the latter part of
last January and ii was completed fully a
month before the date called for in the
contract. The land of this institution
comprises a tract of five acres known as
the Rosemont estate, fronting five hun
dred feet on HarewOO1 Road, just opposite
the Soldiers Home grounds. The site is
almost the highest point in this vicinity,
well covered with shade and fruit trees.
From the college building view can be
obtained of the country for miles around
reaching far into Maryland, beyond Hy-
attsville; 10 the eXpanse of the Potomac
River from the Arsenal to Alexandra, and
the Virginia shoes beyond, and TO the
heights OF Georgetown, making this loca-
zion most admirable building site.
The plans for Holy Cross College as
drawn by A Won Herbulis, the architect.
embOdy some of the most attractive fea-
lures of such famous and imposing struct-
ures as the PalaZzo Jarnese OF Rome and
The Lichtenstein Palace in Vienna, while
the style is the pure classical. Corinthian
architecture, perfect and clear-cut in all
its details.
The exterior of the edifce is built of In
diana limestone, perfectly smooth, with
trimmings of Vermont granite. In general
structure it is imposing but simple. with
only small amount of ornamentation to
bring out the external beauties of the
building, so that the edifice has both dig
nifty and repose. The building has 'front.'
age of 136 feet with width of AZ feet at
the ends and as feet at the central portion.
Beauties of the Front.
TIE central front is a balcony extension
built at the first floor of four sandstone
columns connected by circular arches form
ing an entrance to a small porch, which is
accessible from a flight of granite steps
and leads TO the front doors Above at the
second floor is a wide portico ten feet by
forty feet, made beautiful by granite bal
ustrade surrounding it and the presence of
four magnificent Corinthian pillars in solid
pieces twenty-six inches in diameter, fif-
teen feet ten inches in height with finely
carved capstones twenty-eight inches ad-
ditional in height. These pillars sup
port a gabled roof with a cross in
its end. The name. Holy Cross
College" appears in plain bold letters in
the cornice on a level with the second foo.
balcony. A feature Of the front appear
ance of the building is the plain rectangu-
lar arrangement of the upper and lower
SONS respectively, while the middle or cen
traI row of windows have divided tran
SONS surmounted with gabled arches cor
responding with the central feature of the
buildings front. In the rear of the build
ing an exit is effected from each OF the
three floors to a porch built of iron, to
which fire escapes are attached and where
shade and fresh air may be enjoyed by the
students during their leisure.
The interior arrangements have received
particular attention as to their purpose for
accommodation as well as the artistic feat
ures of modern architecture and are MOD
eled after the best college institutions III
the country. A special study has been
made of the sanitation provisions and the
plumbing and yentilating appointments are
considered perfect. Water has been sup
piled by the District Commissioners, only
after a personal expense of over s., 600 and
the diffusion of many difficulties by the su-
perior Of the college, Very Rev. p. J. Fran
ciscus, c. S. c. For so high a location the
water has the remarkable pressure OF
seventy-two pounds. and half force is too
much, while in the city the pressure is but
eight and ten pounds. Every precaution
mas been taken against possible destruction
by fire. A minimum of inflammable build
ing material has been used. fire extinguish-
ers and fire hose have been plentifully pro-
yided and fire plug is being placed both In
front and in the rear of the building.
The entrance on the first floor leads into
a wide hallway in full sight of the stairs
with three flights to a floor. On the left OF
the entrance is located the library and then
the main chapel, which is to be fitted up
with magnificent new altar reaching TO
the ceiling Three ly~a