Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 869 pages of information about Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission.

Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 869 pages of information about Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission.

The castle consisted of a two-story gable, the front of which was almost exclusively occupied by the high windows and two by-parts with four axes, each with three-quarter Corinthian columns.  Of the three stories, the uppermost—­the mezzanine story—­served only as a storeroom.  The gable above the center part bore in large letters the inscription “Das Deutsche Haus.”  Groups at the corners of the gable represented Power and Wisdom.  The capitals of the columns were molded from the original and the balustrades of the cornices were made from designs.  The roof of the house was a platform like the original in Charlottenburg, surrounded by a cast-iron balustrade.

As at the prototype, in front of the German House the two Borghesian gladiators with sword and shield kept guard.  The death masks on the sentry houses were Schluter’s work and were erected after models taken in Charlottenburg.  The dark color of the building and the patina of the roof accentuated the historical character of the building.

Around the building on the broad terraces, surrounded by a balustrade in modern Baroque, were long rows of laurel trees and rhododendrons which were brought over from Germany.

In the lower story was a circular center hall, the flat ceiling of which was supported by 8 columns, a true copy of the entrance hall of the Charlottenburg Castle.  In the two wall niches, between high laurel trees, were placed busts of the Emperor and Empress.  The pedestals were done in gray, specially prepared oak wood.  Behind the busts were two stucco reliefs molded from the originals in Charlottenburg, representing scenes from Roman history.

A room with modern escritoire equipment served as reading and writing room for the members of the German press.

Off the center hall and facing the front was the extensive reading hall, likewise a copy of the room of the Charlottenburg Castle.

Noticeable in the room was a picture of the capital of the German Empire, Berlin, showing the bridge across the Spree, with the renowned statue of the Great Elector; behind this the great Royal Palace; also a picture of the “Hohkonigsberg,” in olden times a mighty castle in German Alsatia, which for centuries has been a desolate ruin, but now is built anew in its old pomp and splendor.  The series of pictures was concluded by a view of a plaza in the Hansa Town Lubeck.

In addition to these views, around the hall were the busts of eminent scholars, artists, poets, musicians.  Besides other pieces of ornament, the reading room contained choice pieces of the royal porcelain manufactory, as well as a series of artistically finished groups representing the different countries of culture.  Finally, to symbolize the character of the reading room, on the right table a bronze figure was placed showing the greatest German historian of all times, Theodore Mommsen, who only a short time ago died in extreme old age.

In the rear of the reading hall a broad terrace led down to the garden plots, embellished by the group by Professor von Uechtritz, Berlin, “The Crown is the safeguard of peace.”

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Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.