The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-04-12


the southwest corner Of Walnut and Broad
streets. tits the most beautiful structure
in the South and them tasteful railroad
building in the United States. It is cor
rect in design; ample in its proportions;
highly artistic in its decorations ingen-
ious in adaptation reconstruction elegant
IN its appointments; convenient in it's ar
engagements, and is situated in the part of
the CITY where it stands almost alone in
its princely grandeur and serene beauty
as a splendid architectural triumph,
The style Of architecture is what is
known as the Romanesque, which carries
with it simplicity, massiveness, and
strength. 1t is built of the beautiful
Oolitic Bowling Green grey limestone,
which gives the exterior a subdued as
pect, but with a suggestion of durability
and strength. 1t stands four stories in
height. The main tower rises in graceful
outlines to the height of 22O feet with
final of bronze statue of Mercury, rep
resentative of science, commerce, and the
arts, as we'll as the graces OF life and the
patron Of travellers. The clock in this big
square tower, when finished, will be un-
ique in that it will have movable blocks
to indicate the hour instead of hands.
The main entrance to the building is
from Broad street, which has q space I'M
derneath for number of parallel railroad
tracks. One passes from the pavement
on the viaduct into the loggia or stone
porch, which is supported by seven mas
sive stone arches, three in front and two
on either side. These arches rise in grace
full proportions and are deliberately carved
in delicate tracery of stone work. The
central arch in front is higher and more
imposing than the others. The floor is
laid with ornamental thing, and rises in
the center by four steps to the level of the
floor in the main waiting room. The cell
ing Of the loggia is paneled in oak and
the roof is fat. There is fine sculptured
stone entablature near the top, upon
which massive stone balustrade stands
that rises above and surrounds the roof
balcony. The loggia connects with three
vestibules by trio of heavy archways
corresponding in height to the front
arches of the loggia, All these arches
are srtistically carved and present the
most perfect outlines of Romanesque
beauty.
The interior OF the main waiting room,
by its imposing beauty excites the most
enthusiastic admiration. The harmony
Of it's proportions leaves in the mind the
impressions of fitness, elegance and mag
nifcence. This hall is 100 feet long, 6;
feet wide, and G5 feet high. Its ceiling
forms one solid arch lighted by large
skylight OF ornamental glass in the roof
Tennessee marble is used in the wains
coting, with base Of black marble. Thu
wall between the Tennessee marble anC
interior corridor, which forms break IL
the continuity of the vertical lines at thu
second story, is done in rich olive o
colonial green, lighted up with the splen
dor of gold and capped by cornice als'
decorated with gold. The brackets which
apparently support the corridor are larg
IN size, giving an idea of support an
strength and majesty. Above the CORR
dor shades Of much lighter green are used
tipped with yellow or mauve, with bright
er golden tints. Higher up the gree
fades into yellow and green, which blen
in beautiful harmony with the art glas
in the panels that form the top ofthe arcf
The whole fresco work of the walls
splendid in execution and gives an adde
glory to the magnifcence OF the hall.
At the eastern end one is struck with th
significance OF the symbolical figures don
in metal. Rameses and his queen, wit
all the insignia OF royalty, are seated in
chariot Of antique pattern. Thong
clumsy in the extreme, there is an aw
acme harbaric spIeBdor in its slow NOV
ment. While a number of slaves wit
zones over their shoulders are drawing Il
chariot, two other slaves follow behir
the vehicle, one carrying an earthern We
sel filed with water, or it may be vim
the other bearing palm leaf and holdir
4 as sunshade over the heads Of Il
roysl personsges, The whole desii
brings to one's mind the stately pomP, Il