The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1912-06-07
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soles, in front Of each and almost de-
tached from 1t stand out the sculptured figures,
IN pairs, Of the goddess Minerva, one of War.
and the other Of Peace.
From this vestibule is entered the staircase
hall, an apartment unsurpassed in magnif-
oence and artistic beauty by any entrance hall
In the world. 1t is truly "a vision in polished
stone" with its vaulted ceiling 70 feet high.
its sides lined throughout with fine Italian
marble, highly polished, while on the sides rise
pairs OF magnificent marble columns with
elaborately carved Cornthian capitals. Through
the intervening spaces are seen glimpses OF
the rich coloring of the mural paintings and
the glittering gold OF the ceiling decorations
of the vaulted arches and galleries of the sec
ond floor
The grand double staircase with white
marble balustrades, one on the north and the
other on the south side of the hall, has prob
ably no equal in the western hemisphere The
newell posts, richly decorated with festoons
Of flowers and leaves. are surmounted by two
huge bronze figures of classically draped wom-
en- holding aloft a cluster OF electric lights.
The starcases highly ornamented with
miniature marble figures carved in relief rep
resenting in emblematic sculpture the vari-
Gus arts and sciences On the buttress OF the
south stairway are the sculptured figures rep
resenting America and Africa supporting be-
tween them a globe showing these continents,
while on the north side similar group repre-
sents Europe and Asia.
This spacious and magnifcently decorated
hall, taken in connection with the grand corri-
dors and the elaborately and artistically en-
bellished reading room. furnish the finest
marble interior in America.
From the east corridor a stairway ascends
to the balcony Of the reading room. On the
wall OF the landing OF this stairway is beau
of ha Of wi
dom, by Elihu Vedder Entering the visitors
gallery an excellent view is afforded OF this
spacious rotunda or main reading room. It's
vastness is but dimly appreciable from the
bare statement that II is 100 feet in dans.ter
and 125 feet in height, and that the pillars are
40 feet high and the windows 32 feet wide.
One Of its chief beauties is the harmonious
blending OF the rich coloring effected by the
dark Tennessee, the red Numidian and the
yellow shades Of Sienna marbles. sccentuated
BY the old ivory OF the stucco ornamenlation
OF the dome. Upon the eight immense piers
supporting the dome are placed female figures
Of colossal stature, above each being a quota
tion relative TO the phase OF learning or
achievement further represented by the Is
bronze statues standing in the gallery, two In
each OF the great arches which encircle the
room. In these statues Religion Ia represent.
ed by Moses and Saint Paul; Commerce by Co
lumbus and Fulton History by Tlerodotus and
Gibbon; Art by Michael Angelo and Beetho-
ven; Philosophy by Plato and Bacon: Poetry
by Homer and Shakespeare; Law By Soion.
Kent; Science by Newton and Henry.
In the collar Of the dome. which is $50 feet
In circumference. is a symbolism Of the twelve
nations and epochs which have contributed 20
the advance Of the,word each represented az
a seated figure bearing the enblems suggestive
OF its psehliaf 'htribute Egypt represents
Written Records; Judea, Religion Greece,