Around the building on the broad terraces, surrounded by a balustrade in modern Baroque, were long rows of laurel trees and rhododendrons which were brought over from Germany. In the lower story was a circular center hall, the flat ceiling of which was supported by 8 columns, a true copy of the entrance hall of the Charlottenburg Castle. In the two wall niches, between high laurel trees, were placed busts of the Emperor and Empress. The pedestals were done in gray, specially prepared oak wood. Behind the busts were two stucco reliefs molded from the originals in Charlottenburg, representing scenes from Roman history. A room with modern escritoire equipment served as reading and writing room for the members of the German press. Off the center hall and facing the front was the extensive reading hall, likewise a copy of the room of the Charlottenburg Castle. Noticeable in the room was a picture of the capital of the German Empire, Berlin, showing the bridge across the Spree, with the renowned statue of the Great Elector; behind this the great Royal Palace; also a picture of the "Hohkonigsberg," in olden times a mighty castle in German Alsatia, which for centuries has been a desolate ruin, but now is built anew in its old pomp and splendor. The series of pictures was concluded by a view of a plaza in the Hansa Town Lubeck. In addition to these views, around the hall were the busts of eminent scholars, artists, poets, musicians. Besides other pieces of ornament, the reading room contained choice pieces of the royal porcelain manufactory, as well as a series of artistically finished groups representing the different countries of culture. Finally, to symbolize the character of the reading room, on the right table a bronze figure was placed showing the greatest German historian of all times, Theodore Mommsen, who only a short time ago died in extreme old age. In the rear of the reading hall a broad terrace led down to the garden plots, embellished by the group by Professor von Uechtritz, Berlin, "The Crown is the safeguard of peace." At both sides of the reading hall the office rooms were situated; to the right a large office room of the imperial commissioner or his representative, very tastefully equipped in modern style. The walls were wainscoted in oak and had capacious book shelves. From the ceiling, the beams of which were ornamented, numerous lamps and large candelabra were suspended. The room was completed by a comfortable fireplace, and to the left side of the room, or reading hall, were office rooms. The upper center hall, with its eight columns, was a copy of the center hall of the Charlottenburg Palace, and in its quiet dignity highly characteristic of the Prussian development of the art of the Baroque. In front of the nether window, between two columns, was placed the bust of the German Emperor in the uniform of the Gardes du Corps, with the eagle helmet, from the royal porcelain manufacturer in Berlin.