The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-30
! one OF FINEST
IN THE COUNTRY
Jefferson Hotel Pride to
all Rlcflmonders.
OPENED SIN YEARS AGO
t Was Erected by the Late Major
Lewis Ginter.
DESCRIPTION OF THE.sTRuCTuRE
Luxurious Smokers Room, Magnificent o.
flee, Splendid Dlnning Rooms, Ele-
CANT Parlors aud Splendid Fufs-
ished Bed Chambers-The
/ Galleries an Attraction.
Costly Roof Gsrden-
OPENED SIN YEARS AGO
DESCRIPTION OF THE.sTRuCTuRE

Costly R0of Garden-
The Jefferson Hotel was opened to
guests or the 1st of November. 1895. 1t
was built upon the site OF the property
owned by the estate OF Gen. Joseph X.
Andersen 1t extended the entire length
of Jefferson Street from Main to Frank
lin.
The people of Richmond had long been
clamorinS for a hotel Of the first-class
and it remained for Major Lewis Ginter
to give it to them.
The architects were NIessrs. Carrers
and Hastings. of New York, and the con-
struction of the building was under tho
personal supervision of Mr.. 2. B. Pol
hemus, of New York.
\ AfAGNIFICENT BUILDING.
The building was one OF the hand
soonest and best equipped for its purpose
in the United States.
Entering from Main Street. the visitor
found himself in the smokers room.
which was a veritable Ell Dorado to all
lovers of the fragrant week This COM
purtment was about fifty feet square and
was handsomely furnished. The settees.
lounges, and chairs were luxurious.
The office room had ample space and
sorgeously furnished. There hundreds
OF persons gathered at night to listen
to the music OF the band. which was sta-
toned in one of the galleries. Lovely
women in brilliant costumes. looked
down from the galleries upon the crowd
below.
The billiard and pool-room was one
of the most agnificently furnished in
the country.
The Turkish and Russian baths were
| fitted up without the slightest regard 70
| expense, and they were more perfectly
equipped than any other baths in the
! country
The Franklin-Street court combined
| beautiful architectural effects with syi-
van delights. An arcade. some II feet IN
| width. surrounded the court. Both we:o
of Pompeian design presenting a bri;
| liant effect. with the rich and varied
| coIors most admirably blended. The
| arcade was supported by twenty-four
| columns, and was paved with Nub Argent
| marble. Four small fountains were sit-i
| uated at the sides of the court. which,
| was tastefully laid out with turf ana
! sravel-paths. palms. ferns and saplingk.
| In the centre of the court and facing the
| F'ranklin-Street entrance, stood the
I statue of Thomas Jefferson. 1t was a tri-F
| umph of art, and stood as d perfectly
| true conception and embodiment of the
| author of the nations Declaration OF
| Independence.
| THE JEFFERSON STATUE.
| Following is a. description of the statue
I written a few years ago:
| From a careful study OF the best por-
| traits obtainable, and with the rare prtvi-
I leSe of being able to invest the model
| with a suit of clothing that belonged to.
! and was worn by MIR. Jefferson. Sculp-
| tor Valentine has succeeded ir. producing
| Il statue that is instinct with physical
| and Intellectual visor. Mr.. Jefferson,
! who was feet IL inches tall. is repre-.
| sented in a. statue Of little more than
Ite-size- The figure is elegant and Inn
pressive. and the posture easy and grace
| full. The left foot is slightly advanced. and
i most of the weight of the figure rests on
I the right foot. The left hand rests on
! & Doric column, and the lines of this
| column broken by q graceful con-
l tact of the folds of the great coat, which
I falls naturally against it. The right hand
! holds the paper that was so mighty in
the destiny of this great republic. and
| bears the faithful reproduction of the en-
dorsement on It's back as follows:
The Original Draft of the
Declaration OF Independence,
| Passed By the
Continental Congress
OF the
! United States of America,
! 4th OF July. 1i76.'
The drapery. which was modelled from
| JefYerson's costume, gives a delightfully."-
! picturesque effect to the figure, and con-
| sIsts Of a long great coat with orna-
| mental cape, covering a dress-coat. long
waisrcoat. knee-breeches. top-hoots. and
! i stock necktie. with lace fAfiies. There
| is an entire absence OF stiffness and con-
yentionaIity about the t1sure, and the
| ease and simplicity of it's pose accentuato
| the beauty OF it.
! The position of the head is slightly
bent, giving thoughtful air to the
| figure, and the face is pleasant, while
| bearing the lines of intellect. force. and
power which distinguish it The figure
In its entirety gives a grand and nooto
conception of the great statesman.
/ The statue is chiselled from the puress
! Carrara marble, and is absolutely flaw
less.
LADIES CAFE.
A visitor to the hotel soon after it was
opened, wrote this of the ladies' cafe and
other features OF the building:
..Lounging-chairs are placed round ths
arcade. which. it may readily be Imagined.
presents a soothing and deiiShnsut place
to spend an idle hour In. To the right
or the court is the ladies' cafe. which
is ot the same design as the court. and
decorated in the same colors. The room
measures 4xaD feet, and IS 0eAuftsuiiy
I furnished with mahogany chairs, uphot-
stered in leather, and dainty mahogany
l tables. while q large picture. entitled
..The Sheik,'' which was painted by e.
clairin last year, and was hung In the
paris salon exhibition last year. adorns
the walls. The picture. which represents
the Sheik upon an eminence reviewing ~
hordes OF cava.rymen. Is fun OF iRss char
acter. and coic-, and Is extremely pean-
/ tituI
..Iu addition to the ladies' cafe. the az;
cade contains two parlors for the recsD-s
zion and entertainnent OF visitors BY ens
guests OF the hotel. These parioss. asel0ss