Page:Library Construction, Architecture, Fittings, and Furniture.djvu/267

Rh been sculptured by Mr. D. Mora. These form a most interesting memorial of the early printers, the only modern one being that of the Riverside Press of Cambridge.

Above the arcade is a narrow frieze, bearing on each façade an inscription. That on the front of the building is "The Public Library of the City of Boston. Built by the People, and Dedicated to the Advancement of Learning, A.D. MDCCCLXXXVIII."

A noble cornice enriches and crowns the building. It is ornamented with a row of lions' heads, and topped by a copper cresting, coloured an antique green. A similar copper cresting crowns the sky-line of the roof, and terminates at the corners of the building in metal masts.

In the centre of the Boylston Street side is the entrance to the administration offices of the library. While not so elaborate as the main entrance, it is still very fine. It has three arches, the centre one giving admittance for vehicles.

The main entrance on Copley Square leads into a vestibule, and thence by three doorways into the entrance-hall, the whole being executed in pink marble. The doorways are copied from those of the Temple of Erechtheus on the Acropolis of Athens, and are to be closed with bronze doors, now being designed by Mr. D. C. French.

The entrance-hall leads to tin- grand staircase and two elevator which give access to the main rooms of the library on the first floor. On either side are short corridors, 10 feet wide, leading to the catalogue-room, newspaper-rooms, and the interior