paneling could hardly be better. At the foot of the flight, on the
landing and at the head of the stairs, the ramped surbase with its dark
wood cap, corresponding to the handrail opposite, is supported by
slender fluted pilasters which materially enrich the effect. The space
under the lower run of the staircase is entirely paneled up with a small
diagonal topped door opening into the little closet thus afforded. The
scroll-pattern stair ends, balustrade and spiral newel treatment are
much the same as at Whitby Hall. Although similar in pattern the
balusters are more slender and placed three instead of two on each
stair.

On the second floor, as below, the hall extends entirely through the
house, and following a frequent custom of the time was finished in a
different order of architecture, the pulvinated Ionic being chosen, no
doubt, for its lighter grace and greater propriety adjoining
bedchambers. In furtherance of this thought, only the cornice with its
jig-sawed modillions was employed at the ceiling and the flat dado was
paneled off by the application of moldings to give it a lighter scale.
The complete entablature was used only over the archway at the head of
the stairs, where it was supported by square, fluted columns with
beautifully carved capitals. Another mannerism of the time is the
variation in the treatment of the doorways, the pedimental doorheads on
one side being broken, whereas the others are not.

But the handsomest features of this upper hall are the Palladian
windows, admitting a flood of light at each end, with their rectangular
sashes each side of a higher, round-arched central window and a
delightful arrangement of curved sash bars at the top. The many small
panes lend a pleasing sense of scale, while the architectural treatment
of the frames adds to the charm of the interior woodwork quite as
materially as to the exterior facade. In working out the scheme, the
entire Ionic order is utilized on a small scale. Both the casings and
the mullions take the form of fluted square columns with typical carved
capitals. These support two complete entablatures forming the lintels of
the rectangular windows and being carried around into the embrasure of
the central window, the keyed arch of which springs from the
entablatures. It is a design which has never been improved upon.

[Illustration: PLATE LXXVI.--Independence Hall, Chestnut Street Side.]

[Illustration: PLATE LXXVII.--Independence Hall, Stairway;