Durango semi-weekly herald. (Durango, Colo.) 1899-1907, 1906-07-30

the most aristocratIc quarters of tn
! city The American ambassador ha
rented palace only two or thre,
/ blocks distant. and ut least two mem
, bers of the imperial family reside II
the neighborhood.
The legislative hall. although erect
ed FOR an entirely different purpose
Is altogether the finest, most conveu
lent and appropriate | have ever seen
" surpasses In every way our owr
hall of representatives, or the house
OF commons, or the German reich
stag, and every other parliamentary
chamber in Europe. II is twice as
large as the hall of representatives In
Washington, and has perfect light
ventilation and acoustics. The only
defect, but perhaps 1t may not be
considered one. is lack OF accommo.
dations for the public. The only
place that they can sit is a series of
boxes. similar to those of a theater,
hanging down between row OF pill
lars in the rear OF the members
seats
1t is splendid square room of per-
feet proportions, the ceiling between
30 and 40 feet high and the corners
rounded so as to furnish sounding
boards. The roof is supported by
arched iron Orders, resting upon
massive pillars of succeed brick,
| with simple Doric capitals, and the
| walls and ceiling are perfectly white
AT the end toward the garden is a
| large bay extending the entire width
| or the chamber and about so feet
deep. with walls of glass. This Is
used as lobby exclusively for men,
bers. Floods OF light come through
these windows and through a series
OF wide square windows under the
| cornice on two sides OF the room.
During the evening sessions the
chamber is lighted by five immense
gilded chandeliers. fitted both for
gas and candles. and rows of side
brackets around the wall.
On either side of the chamber are
immense withdrawing rooms. with
long tables, desks and comfortable
chairs for use Of the members and
such friends as they choose to admit
to this privacy. They we're audience
chambers In GATHERINGS time. These
beautiful rooms and the legislative
chamber open into an enormous hall
eliptical In form, AGO feet long and so
feet wide. which is used as a lobby
The ceiling is the same height as that
OF the legislative chamber, and from
II hang 20 or 30 massive giided chan
deliers. The semi-circular ends are
entirely Enclosed with glass which ad
mits light and plenty OF ventilation
No legislative body in the world has
such splendid accommodations, no
anteroom- .-.''' i-i'.',,i,a- haa such an
Between this great hall and the
main entrance are two large vesti-
bules and ante-chambers which are
fitted up for cloak rooms In charge
of liveried attendants. who take your
hat, coat and umbrella and give you
checks for them, for no one ia allow
ed to enter the official part of the
building with his hat on. There are
two wings branching on from these
vestibules, which are divided Into a
number of rooms. Those on one side
are used for caucuses, committees
and other official purposes, and on the
other side for restaurant, tea
room, smoking and reading rooms,
and similar purposes to which the
public are admitted. The newspaper
fraternity have a large. well lighted
and furnished room for themselves
where they can do their reading and
writing.
The interior of the chamber has
been fitted up with 564 fitting seats
like those Of theaters, arranged In
tiers rising about ~ or IA inches one
above the other. Each has n narrow
desk like those in a modern school
| room. and the name of each member
Ii on his chair. The presidents desk
or throne" Is in the center with his
back toward the great bay window |
have told you of. On either side. Just
little below the level OF the desk.
are two large boxes with "a comfort
able chairs intended for the ministers
Of state, and just beyond them on
either side are similar boxes, a little
lower down. for the newspapers. Be
low the president sits the secretary
OF Ine uDuna, WIN MS dbSlbtautb Oh
either side of him and desks for the
official stenographers. all Of whom
| are women. Ambassadors may be
admitted to the ministerial box or
accommodated in the gallery, where
| a special balcony in the center is re-
served for the car and his family.
1t has been vacant at every sitting
OF the douma thus far. and is not
| likely to be occupied in the imme-
date future. The public gallery will
accommodate only $50 persons. which
is probably intentional. or at least
In accordance with Russian ideas. It
is a measure Of safety, too. because
too large an audience might inter
fere with the proceedings and do SER
| ious mischief. No one can enter the
palace without pass signed by the
sergeant-at-arms, and II member
wishes to Introduce a friend he is
compelled to obtain a permit.
The entire woodwork Of the cham
Der Is unstained white oak, beanti-
fully finished. and the upholstery Is
lightish blue or steel color similar
. no ~ 10. ~ n.,c