Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-05-17
FIGURED BY NATURE
PORTRAITS IN THE WALL OF THE
FAMOUS MARBLE ROOM.

A Slab of stone In the Treasury De-
partment That shows IA Perfect
Profiks of Queen Victoria and Other
Interesting Pictures.
The often repeated statement tAat
Uncle Sam Is without sentiment is H.
Illustrated in a measure in the treasury
department. The famous marble room,
which cost the government 100000
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
In 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 its magnificence, 1t
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 flirtations, is still
retained. But it is empty, and no one,
unless ii be the spirits of those who
once adorned the room, looks down up
on the small army of employees who
handle S262,000,0O0 each year before
it 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 it has become
one of the governments workshops.
The marble room of the treasury de-
partment is known far and wide and
is a 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. Il. Spinner wns treasurer when
the room was built w. II. West was
chief clerk, and A. B. Mullett was the
supervising architect. Hugh McCul-
loch was secretary of the treasury, and
his assistants were w. Il. Chandler
and j. Il. 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. It 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 1t, as though drawn by an
artist is n picture Of Queen Victoria,
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 a cord that runs
down the side of the face and under
the chin.
The discovery of the faces and 1g-
ures ON the marble was made by Mes
senger w. Il. 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, and 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 small portion of the shout
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 Endeavor convention were
being taken through the treasury de-
partment, they were shown the face Of
their beloved queen. They were great
ly amazed at the likeness, and many
ordinations of love and veneration
were expressed. While admiring the
queer designing OF nature one Oh tne
young women declared that the Eng
lish 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 n 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 tbn square. Dogs, birds and
countless grotesque figures can easily
be traced by following the lines
Washington Post.
A Mightler Tribe.