1893.] Archeology and Ethnology. 841 
1866, costing two million dollars, has been completed so that 
the contractor was able to deliver it over, a finished building, and move 
out of it with all his forces within less than two months from the date 
originally fixed by the contract. The building is in the form of a rect- 
angle. On the longest sides, that is facing east and- west (the Paseo de 
Recoletos and the Calle de Serrano), the building is 446 feet long. On 
the other sides it is 410 feet long. The principal facade and entrance 
is on the Paseo de Recoletos, the secondary one on the Calle de Serrano. 
The building is three stories—a basement and a first and second story. 
The basement is built of granite, the first and second stories of marble 
and brick. The projections in the centre and at the corners are made to 
break the sameness of the long stretch of smooth wall—these projec- 
tions are of Spanish marble, not clear white, but grey, streaked with 
yellow, and slightly ornamented with engaged columns or buttresses. 
The style of the building is of Greek architecture, though of no defi- 
nite or particular style. The windows are square without caps or other 
ornamentation and without stile or mullion. They are about 25 feet 
high and 7 feet ‘vide, and are filled with clear plate glass allowing the 
utmost amount of light to pass through. The cornice is of the Greek 
style; the moulding is quite heavy, though in good proportion, and 
projects above the flat roof which it hides entirely. The building 
covers a superfice of 16,850 meters. There is slight decoration upon 
the outside of the building except at the two entrances mentioned. 
Owing to the lay of the land, the entrance to the principal story is 
much higher on the Paseo de Recoletos than upon the Calle de Serrano. 
This fact has been used to advantage in making the former the princi- 
pal entrance with higher and broader steps, more doors and entrances, 
greater amount of ornament and decoration, and altogether more 
imposing in appearance. The approach is by three flights of steps 
extending the whole width of the facade, with a broad terrace between 
each one which is utilized by placing :pedestals and statuary 
opposite the pillars or columns between the doors of entrance. Some 
of these statues are seated and some are standing. Those seated are 
San Isadore and Alfonso the Wise ; thosestanding are Luis Vives, Lopez 
de Vega, Nobrija and Cervantes. In various places on the facades and 
vestibules, are placed medallions representing many of the great men 
of Spain. On the facade of the Calle de Serrano, the pedestal upon 
each side of the entering stairway is occupied by immense griffins 
20 feet long and 10 feet high, with human heads and breasts, 
and lion and eagle claws. Outside of these on the pedestals 
against engaged columns, are respectively the statues of Berre- 
