Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-05-24
FIGURED BY NATURE
PORTRAITS IN THE WALL OF THE
FAMOUS MARBLE ROOM.

pArtmenI Tn2t SHOWS q fer1ect
Profile of Queen Victoria and other
Interesting Pictures.
The often repeated statement that
Uncle Sam is without sentiment is IL
lustrated in a measure in the treasury
department. The famous marble room,
which cost the government 100000,
although still a place of beauty, is no
longer an ornamental chamber only. |
The room around which tradition has
woven many curious tale, the room
in Which General Grant received the
guests who attended his first inaugural
ball, is now used as 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 compIet-
ed their labors and visitors We're al
lowed to gaze upon its magnificence, ii |
was declared to be the finest room in
the country. Men and women of ma
tional and international fame have
danced upon the marble floors where |
today stand prosaic 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 filrtations, is still
retained. But it is empty, and no one
unless it be the spirits of those who
once adorned the room. looks down up
on the small army of employees who |
handle $262. 100000 each year before
1t is distributed throughout the United
States.
This famous room Of the treasury de-
partment has been used for this pur-
pose for a number of years. The grow
ing demands of the department made
this necessary, but the place has not |
lost reputation even if 1t has become
one of the governments workshops |
The marble room of the treasury de-
partment is known far and wide and
is feature of interest to visitors on |
tour of inspection of the building The |
interior is constructed of marble |
brought from sunny Italy, from France
and from Vermont.
f. E. Spinner was treasurer when |
the room was built. w. H. West was
chief clerk, and A. 3. Mullett was the |
supervising architect. Hugh McCul- |
loch was secretary of the treasury, and |
his assistants were w. E. Chandler |
and ]. F. Hartly. This information is
proclaimed by two marble 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. 1t 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 it, 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 a
French soldier, with his little round
cap set jauntily on the side of his
head. fastened with cord that runs
down the side of the face and under
the chin.
The discovery of the faces and fig
ures on the marble was made by Mes
senger w. II. Elliott. One day, while |
seated in front of the square, he was
startled by the lines Of alternate black
Quakeress. A full side view of the old
woman is shown. The traditional poke
bonnet is pictured, shawl covers the
slightly dropped shoulders, ard the
hands are folded complacently in front
of the body. 1t needs no steady gaze
to bring out the picture. 1t Is as per-
feet as though drawn by a master
hand
The face of Queen Victoria is also
remarkably true to life. 1t requires
no effort of imagination to draw out
the contour of her face. Only the pro
file and a small portion of the shoul-
ders are displayed. The face of Queen
Victoria on the marble has given the
officials no end of amusement. Several |
years ago, while number of young
English women who had visited this
country for the purpose of attending
Christian Endeayor convention were
being taken through the treasury de
partment, they were shown the face of
their beloved queen. They were great
" amazed at the likeness. and many
ordinations of love and veneration |
were expressed. While admiring the
queer designing of nature one of the
young women declared that the Eng
Iish government should purchase the
marble square.
The picture of the French soldier is
shown in the lower right hand corner
of the square. The figure is half life
size and is in profile, like the other two
The shoulders are thrown back Just as
they are drawn by famous French
military artists. Nothing could be
more truly drawn than the round cap
which is set half over the left ear
There are other faces and figures to be
found on the square. Dogs, birds and
countless grotesque figures can easily
be traced by following the lines.
Washington Post.
A Nfottfar Tr.fFa