House & Garden 
his figures of the “ Nymph and Swan ” from 
Centre Square (where the City Hall now 
stands, and where the first water-works were 
erected in 1799) and to set them up on the 
rocks beside the forebay. Jets of water were 
led to them ; and playing in fair weather, they 
“were of themselves,” says an old local history, 
“a constant wonder and delight.” The door¬ 
ways to the wheelhouses are each crowned 
with a reclining figure by Rush. I heir promi¬ 
nent position attracted for them a great deal 
of attention and admiration. The records of 
the time saw fit to thus explain and describe 
them : 
“ The male figure is recumbent on a bed 
of rocks, the water flowing in several direc¬ 
tions from him. It represents Old Age, the 
head covered with flags, a long flowing beard, 
the body covered with water-grass, etc., and 
a chain attached to the wrist, intended to em¬ 
blemize the neutralized state ot the Schuyl¬ 
kill by locks and dams. A bald eagle at his 
feet, with wings opening, is about to abandon 
the banks of the Schuylkill in consequence of 
the busy scene which art is introducing. The 
female figure is represented as seated near the 
pump which pours water into the reservoir ; 
on the left side is represented a water-wheel ; 
her left arm gently waved over it is indicative 
of the water power ; her right arm or elbow 
rests on the edge of a large vase, representing 
the reservoir at Fairmount. On the side ot 
the vase a pipe represents the ascending main. 
Water gushes out of the top, falling into the 
vase, and to make it more picturesque, but not 
appropriate, overflowing the vase and falling 
down its sides.” 
These sculptures, though of wood, are still 
in an excellent state of preservation ; and their 
whiteness makes a sharp contrast to the lead 
color of the buildings surrounding them. 
Within doors statues by this same sculptor 
are to be found. In niches on either side of 
the large room of the main building,—now 
used as a refreshment saloon,—have been set 
his full length figures of Wisdom and Justice, 
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