otable instance of this latter type of hall
and staircase. The wide hall extends entirely through the western wing,
the main entrance being on the flag-paved piazza of the south front. On
the north front there is a tower-like projection in which the staircase
ascends with a broad landing across the rear wall and a low outside door
beneath. This unusual arrangement permits side windows on the landing in
addition to the great Palladian window in the middle, so that both the
upper and lower halls are flooded with light.

A great beam architecturally embellished with a complete entablature
with pulvinated frieze, the soffit of the architrave consisting of small
square molded panels, spans the hall over the foot of the stairs along
the line of the rear wall of the western wing. It is supported on
opposite sides by well-proportioned fluted pilasters with nicely tooled
Ionic capitals and heavy molded bases. Thus the staircase vista from
the front end of the hall is framed by an architectural setting of rare
beauty. The heavy cornice of the beam, with its molded and jig-sawed
modillions, continues all around the hall ceiling, the turned and molded
drops of the newels on the floor above tying into it very pleasingly
over the stairs. A molded surbase and skirting, with a broad expanse of
plastered wall between, provides an effective dado all around the hall.
Where it follows up the stairs, it corresponds to the handrail of the
balustrade opposite. The molding is the same; there is the same upward
sweep of the ramped rail, and it is also capped with dark wood. On the
landing dainty little fluted pilasters support the surbase, their fine
scale lending much grace and refinement. One notices there also the
beautiful beveled paneling of the window embrasures, the paneled soffit
of the Palladian window and its built-in seat. The balustrade is of
sturdy conventional type characteristic of the period. Two attractively
turned balusters grace each stair, their bases alike and otherwise
differing only in the length of their tapering shafts. The newel
treatment is especially appropriate, inasmuch as it reflects the Ionic
order, the balustrade winding scroll-fashion about a slender fluted
colonnette, and the first stair tread taking the outline of the rail
above. Graceful scroll brackets adorn the stair ends beneath the molded
projections of the treads. Altogether this is one of the most notable
halls of this type in Philadelphia.

The oldes