Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-11-27
For the .Southern Standard.
Grand Festive Entertainments.
"a very good piece of work, assure you, and a
merry"

GA very good piece of work, assure you, and a
merry"
We deem it appropriate, by way OF introduction
to what follows to state, that our townsman, Col.
Charles McLaran, recently had erected on one of
the most eligible and beautiful situations within
the limits OF our CITY, splendid and costly brick
manslon,-the GROWING architectural structure
among the many stately edfces, private and pub
lie, that adorn city, and delight the eve of the
stranger en- pdSSant,-and which, in dimensions
and external grandeur--internal arrangements.
style and exquisit finish is, probably, superior to
anything of the kind to be found in the Southern
States.
1t is not our purpose here to enter into minute
and critical description of this unique architectu-
raj structure, or to dwell upon the good Judgment
and fine taste displayed by the proprietor in the
liberal design and perfect completion of his splen-
did establishment; but we will simply state, that
1T includes an entire square in the plan of the CITY
bordering on the bank of the Bigby river on one
side, and is enclosed by neat pastered brick wall
about FIVE feet in height, except the entire front
and small space in the centre of the rear, where
a highly ornamental castiron paling supplies its
place. and gives an air to the premises alike taste
ful ana imposing. The building occupies CEN
trail position IN the square, surrounded by luxuri-
ent native forest trees, and is a solid quadrangle
lar figure, of the Corinthian or composite order
constructed OF the finest compressed brick, wrought
INTO Piiastered walls, covering an area sixty one
feet square, and rising forty feet in height from
the base to the eves.-surmounted by an obserya-
tory, twenty feet square, and towering up to an
elevation OF sixty feet above the ground the spa
clous WINDOWS OF which--three on each side-bv
the cunning continuance of the artist, present to
the eye OF the observer from within, the appear
ance IN the surrounding objects of the four seasons,
VIZ. winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. Two
spacious portlcos placed exactly opposite, the one
IN 'front.' and the other in the rear each supported
oy tour insulated ante, standing in rows parallel
with the walls of the building, and rising from
marble plinths up to the caves of the main struc-
ture, with pavements composed of the most er-
qulslte marble mosaic work-complete the outlines
of this stately private residence.
| Among the most striking ornamental objects r.
be seen about the exterior of the establishment
are two emblems of fidelity, chiseled out of whit
marble IN half salient attitudes and nlaced rnar
the projecting buttresses on each side of the stems
OF the front entrance-wecoming the visitor tc
the quiet single blessedness, and the liberal hos
pitailty OF the owner; and two huge recumhent
cas1lron hons occupying similar positions in the
rear and symbolically guarding the opposite doc,
and back premises 49,
rye can present only mere glance at the yari
Gus apartments, and many other splendid objects
connected with the internal structure. and the ex
qulslte style and finish of every thing IN this ad
niiraoie mansion. Plaster walled parlors. adorn
eo with the richest entablatures. -vspacous part,
saloons ana private boudOirs -mantles Of n,
purest Egyptian marble,-ceilings of the mos
Tony elevation, the richest plaster panel work an,
'1'ns moss superb nnlnh,--an admirably eoutsivs,