The Fairmount IVater-works , Philadelphia 
carved for the triumphal arch erected in front 
ot the State House for the reception to Lafay¬ 
ette. I .ike most of Rush’s works these and 
the Nymph and Swan (called also “ Leda and 
the Swan ”) were carved in wood. The female 
figure of the latter was modeled from a cele¬ 
brated belle of the time, Miss Vanuxem. A 
replica ot this group was ordered to be cast in 
bronze by Frederick Graff, Junior, who suc¬ 
ceeded his father as superintendent of the 
works and grounds, and it now stands in the 
stone fountain-basin in the garden. About 
the grounds at Fairmount other sculptures 
have recently been placed. They add a great 
interest to the scene ; their light spots amid 
the green and gray lead one to excuse the 
shortcomings of their detail. A figure of 
Diana overlooks the forebay, and several 
sphinxes of cheerful mien squat here and there 
upon vantage points of jutting hillside. 
The temptation to examine detail in the 
architecture of the water-works is not a strong 
one. It is the unaffected simplicity of the 
buildings, the interest of their site, their dig¬ 
nity, their irregularity of plan,—so informal 
for a classic arrangement,—in all these lies 
the charm of the old group and the beauty 
of its whole. The masonry and the light 
gray plastering are shaded by many seasons ; 
the woodwork and the darkened shingles are 
cracked and sprung by sun and rain : a neu¬ 
tral mass against the brighter colors in the 
water, the sky and the Park. The main 
building (see the general view and Nos. 2 
and 7) has a very simple ground plan. A 
large square hall occupies the center; and in 
the space remaining between the square and 
the rectangle, at either end, are two small 
rooms. 'Through this hall, upon the level 
ot the gardens, there is access to the portico 
giving out to the water at a considerable 
height above it. T his height varies with the 
tide, upon an average of five or six feet, while 
in the spring time this is far exceeded ; and 
sometimes the wheels are stopped by the 
river’s backing up into them. Below this 
terrace the space lighted by the semi-circular 
windows where the machinery used to be is 
now a lavatory. In the second story is the 
dwelling of the engineer. 
The entrances to the wheelhouses (see the 
general view and Nos. 1 and 5) are in a sort 
of frame clerestory, which rises above the 
large room containing the wheels. A long, 
low superstructure formerly connected these ; 
but it has been removed and a shelter pavil¬ 
ion erected. Entering the doorway shown 
in No. 6 the visitor descends into the wheel- 
Br •• 
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(8) FROM THE RESERVOIR HILL 
FAIRMOUNT WATER-WORKS 
