The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-06-22

soles ~ front Of each and almost de-
.acnea Fem It stand out the sculptured figures,
= paifs OF the goddess Minerva one of War.
aao Inc Other of Peace.
Iiom tnls yestibule is entered the staircase
Z uAl, - apartment unsurpassed in magnid-
:, o'A1e ana artistic beauty by any entrance hall
= lAe word. 1t Is truly "a vision in polished
. asone' Witn Its vaulted ceiling u feet high,
e sues nned throughout with fine Italian
1 soie, hisnly polished, while on the sides rise
4 p -. y magnificent marble columns with
a. carved Corinthian capitals. Through
i. ~ ia,.eiYeling spaces are seen glimpses of
.a Az 1, III. colorang OF the mural paintings and
ae sntterlng gold Of the ceiling decorations
ond floor 80
Inc grand double staircase with white
marble balustrades, one on the north and the
o " On the south side of the hall, has prob
Il spy no equal in the western hemisphere. The
4 a = posts, richly decorated with festoons
B - nowers and leaves are surmounted by two
Auss bronze figures of classically draped WON
M NJ ppiolhg aloft cluster Of electric lights.
.ae stalfcases are highly ornamented with
Aiuialure marble figures carved in relief rep
III emblematic sculpture the yari-
sas aus ana sciences. On the buttress of the
ss1sn stairway are the sculptured figures rep
ss"aeiiis america and Africa supporting be-
~, ~ 1hem globe showing these continents.
a lte " the north side q similar group repre-
Il senes Europe and Asia.
ms spacious and magnifcentlv decorated
49, 'akeh In connection with the grand CORR.
s s,s ana the deliberately and artisticaIly en-
ss sl.sheu reading room, furnish the finest
marble interior in America.
fiom the east corridor stairway ascends
sa, ,ns paicony of the reading room On the
"a, = ne landing OF this stairway is a beau
A.. ,noselc OF Minerva, the goddress of wis
.an s' W Emu Vedder. Entering the visitors
sass, an excellent view is afforded OF this
r.sta.u ioeunda or main reading room It's
h ~ is but dimly appreciable from the
~ statement that it is 100 feet In diameter
Il -. 80 leet in height, and that the pillars are
IN. ~ nigh and the windows 80 feet wide.
Ma ], y It's chief beauties is the harmonious
s.,n sains Of the rich coloring effected by the
sa,, a 4 eahnessee, the red Numidian and the
~ !, shades Of Sienna marbles. accentuated
( II ~ ~ oio ivory Of the stucco characterization
snnnas., uoine. Upon the eight immense piers
d. ea,a cling the dome are placed female figures
ton s sssS stature, above each being a quota
aehanslse 10 the phase OF learning or
bronso ement further represented by the is
eacb - statues standing in the gallery. two In
rDom : !, me great arches which encircle the
ID IL ~ u these statues Religion is represent.
lumbps Uses - ana Saint Paul; Commerce BY Co.
Gibhon. Sao fuiton; History by Herodotus and
zen. ph, ATT oy Michael Angelo and Beetho.
" Honaa osophy BY Plato and Bacon; Poetry
Rent. 60. ana Shakespeare; Law by Scion
Il /, s'ehee by Newton and Henry.
d crcn,, eollar Of the dome, which is $50 fee,
aatlons a is symbolism of the twelve
he adva aau epochs which have contributed to
aasstas ss " the world, each represented as
Y IN a asure bearing the emblems suggestive
Es,ten p9 p attribute. Egypt represents
tsecofds; Judea, Religion; Greece