Evening journal., 1900-05-16
FIGURED BY NATURE
PORTRAITS IN THE WALL OF THE
FAMOUS MARBLE ROOM.

pnrtment That shows u Perfect
Profile of queen Victoria and other
Interesting Pictures.
The often repeated statement that
Uncle Sam Is without sentiment is H.
lusuated IN measure IN the treasury
department. The famous marble room,
which cost the government $4,000.
although still place OF beauty, is no
/ longer an ornamental chamber only.
/ The room around which tradition has
woven many a curious tale, the room
/ Ia which General Grant received the
guests who attended his first inaugural
ball, Is now used as a cash room.
Long years ago when the architect
who planned the interior OF the room
saw his dream realized, when the
painters and decorators had cOmplet-
ed their labors and visitors were al
lowed TO gaze upon It's magnlfcence, It
was declared TO be the finNt room In
the country. Men and women Of ma
tlonal and international fame have
danced upon the marble floors where
today stand prosalc counters and
desks. The pretty gallery IN which sat
the famously beautiful women of those
days. where society gossiped and bellies
and beaus carried on flirtations, is still
retained. But It Is empty. and no one.
dnless II be the spirits OF those who
once adorned the room, looks down up
on the small army Of employees who
handle S202,OOOOO0 each year before
Il Is distributed throughout the United
States
This famous room OF the treasury de-
partment has been used for this pur-
pose for number OF years. The grow
ing demands Of the department made
this necessary, but the place has not
lost reputation even II It has become
: one OF the governments workshops
The marble room Of the treasury de-
partment is known fur and wide and
Is feature OF interest TO visitors on a
tour Of inspection OF the building. The
interior Is constructed OF marble
brought from sunny Italy, from France
; and from Vermont
II. Z. Spinner was treasurer when
p the room was built W. II. West wus
chief clerk, and A. b. Munett was the
supervising architect Hugh McChl-
loch was secretary Of the treasury, and
his assistants were w. u. Chandler
and ]. +. Hartly. This information Is
proclaimed by two murbic slabs placed
above the doors. All the marble Is
without doubt the most magnificent
that could be obtained. One OF the
squares, however, is particularly re-
markable. IL is a beautiful specimen
OF black Vermont marble. A crack
runs through the middle OF this square,
the most remarkable one In the whole
room. On II. as though drawn by an
artist, Is a picture OF Queen Victoria. a
full life sized figure OF an old Quaker
ess and the head and shoulders OF q
French soldier with his little round
cap set jauntiiy on the side OF hil
head, fastened with cord that rum
down the side Of the face and undel
the chin.
The discovery OF the faces and fg
ures on the marble was made by Mes
senger w. II. Elliott. One day, whlll
seated In front of the square, he was
1 startled by the lines of alternate blach
and white forming the figure OF the olu
Quakeress. A full side view Of the old
woman Is shown. The traditional poke
bonnet is pictured. shawl covers the
l. slightly dropped shoulders. and the
hands are folded complacenily IN from
of the body. II needs no steady gaze
TO bring out the picture. II Is as per
= feet as though drawn by a master
hand.
e The face Of Queen Victoria Is also
y remarkably true 70 life II requires
o no effort Of Imagination TO draw oui
G the contour of her face Only the pro
3 file and a small portion of the shOul
? ders are displayed. The face Of Queer
e Victoria on the marble has given tn,
u officials no end Of amusement Severa
y years ago, while a number OF young
q English women who had visited this
y country for the purpose OF attending {
g Christian Endeavor convention wer,
q being taken through the treasury de
s. partment. they were shown the face Ol
J. their beloved queen They were great
E, " amazed az the likeness, and man,
u exclamations OF love and veneratloI
were expressed. While admirlng the
queer designing Of nature one OF th'
young women declared that the Eng
lish government should purchase thu
I marble square.
The picture OF the French soldier q
: shown IN the lower right hand corne
OF the square. The figure is half llf
size and is IN profile, like the other two
The shoulders are thrown back just a
they are drawn by famous Frencl
= = military artists. Nothing could b
y more truly drawn than the round ca
= which is set half over the left ear
= There are other faces and figures 70 b
y found on the square. Dogs, birds an
~ countless grotesque figures can easll
be traced by following the llnes.-
Washington Post.
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