Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-13

decorated room in the building. The
whole ornamentaton of the room is the
work of Brumidi. the Italian artist who
did SO much of the more pretentious dec
oratiye work in the Capitol, and VINO
was at his best in the establishment OF
the Presidents room.
Constantine Brumidi had a most roman
tic career. His father was a Greek and
his mother an Italian, and he learned In
Rome the now almost forgotten art OIL
fresco. He was captain OF the fapai
Guards at the time of the revolution In
Rome and was thrown into prison and re-
manned there for more than year, only
being released, at the intervention or the
Pope, on condition that he Immediately
leave Italy. This explains his migration
to America His first three years IN the
new world were spent In Mexico OUT a.
the end of that time he took up his resi-
dence in Washington. and entered upon q
life-work the crowning achievement Oh
which was the decoration OF the Presi-
dents room. ~
Conspicuous among the paintings IN
the Presidents room are Splendfo meod'-
lion PORTRAITS of President George WASH
inaton and the prominent members Of his
cabinet-Thomas Jefferson, Secretary OF
state: Henry Knox, Secretary or war;
Alexander Hamilton. Secretary OF the
Treasury: Edmund Randolph, attorney
General, and Samuel OSgood, fos.inas'e =.
General 1t will not be surprising II
President Wilson arranges when occupy
ing this room, to face the portrait OF Jei-
rerson. for his admiratio for the founder
of the democratic party is wen kho"n'
and is the more readily understannap,e
when it is borne In nina ina, WIS.," nn3v . .
birthplace in Virginia Is distant only q
few miles from the home and tomb OF
Jefferson at Monticello, and wilson, as a
Young man. attended the university Wnich
was founded by Jefferson and winch was
his especial pride.
In tho four corners of the President S
room are frescoes of four famous men.
each of whom has been chosen as repre-
sentative of a force in civilization. Chris
topher Columbus typifies DscoVery'
Americas Vespucius signlhes ENpiora'loil:
BENJAMIN Franklin suggests History, ana
William Brewster, elder of Plymouth col
ony. is representative of Religion. carry
ing the same idea farther, four groups
in fresco beautify the celling-to the
north Religion, to the east Executive Al-
thority. to the south Liberty, and to the
west LEGISLATION. The intricate mosaic of
the floor is quite as ornate In its way as
is the decoration OF walls and ceiling,
and there Is a massive chandelier that
completes the effect
one thought that is bound to suggest
itself upon an inspection of the Presi-
dents room is that things are likely to
be somewhat crowded if the President
should desire to receive there a consid-
cradle number of legislators at any one
time. There is huge. full-length mirror
at one side of the Presidents room, which
conveys an effect Of spaciousness, but In
reality the apartment is Of comparatively
modest size-when compared. for instance.
to that adjoining ''show place" the ia
nous marble room"-bLilt entirely of
Italian and Tennessee marbie-and which
Is used by the senators as a private re-
ception room.
But for all that the Presidents room is
rather limited in size. it has been the
scene of some rather large gatherings. A
notable occasion in point was Friday.
December is. 1874. when King kalakaua
of Hawaii and his suite gathered in the
Presidents room and were greeted by
many senators and representatives Per-
haps the most historic event that ever
had the Presidents room as its setting
occurred one evening in March. 1865.