Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-01-27
a nucal Palace in New York.

rho ma pniGcent structure now approaching COM
-,o.;on IN the corner of Thirty-fourth street and
EE;f,b Avenue, for Dr. S. P. Townsend, of sarsapa-
lila memory. cxcites almost as much OF wonder
INT and curiosity as did ever its pretending
n uatnonorary the Crystal Palace. Though having
.v cow imposing exterior Of handsomely wrought
a.oun stone an observer would scarcely suspect it
" surnassing in costly elegance any private man
" Ion in the New World, and vieng with the most
aanovned mansions and halls of the Old. brief
Ioscr;ntion will convey some idea of this new
',a;mant to the attention Of wonder-seekers and
letter writer's The building is 80 by 56 feet and
ocrunies five lots Of ground, in an elevated position
,sh;ch cost $4,000. Its general appearance is OF
a. r;ch, massive character common to many first
Mass houses. though internally the arrangements
ha,e the claim of originality. 1t has been re-
marked, however, by those who have visited the
Euronean Continent, that the house has some re-
.o,nhance to the residence of the late Duke of
Parma. Upon entering, the visitor flnds himself at
.ha tbreshhold of grand hall, flanked on either
.;Se Nv tiers of galleries and columns, which ex-
.and inward to the roof where they terminate I'M
dar a gorgeous dome. The galleries, walls and
aoIu,nns are all decorated in the richest manner,
18th fresco-panting, gliding and elaborate mold
;ngs The prevailing color employed in decorating
.hs ceilings being blue relieved with gold, these
40 oresented most prominently to the eye but the
ag,at of the whole, when first beheld, is to be-
wilder with sense of magni6cence. The columns
sunportng the galleries through the several stories,
are sixty in number, of the Corinthin style, which
are sustained at the base, on the first story, by
masters of scagliola. Passing to rear, in one
corner of the edifce is a grand spiral staircase,
having diameter of about twenty feet and termils-
atinp in the highest story, beneath rich dome.
inches at the side are to be filed with appropriate
nieces of statuary, and decorations in plaster
Fresco, gold and carved wood are introduced at the
discretion of the artist The cost of this stairway
will not be far from $4,000 The chambers and
other apartments above are all finished in the same
superb style. The fresco painting upon the walls
generally represent scenes in Italy, though there
are many figures, scrolls, &C., purely fanciful !;
other portions such sare designed for the picture
gallery and library, are classic the bathing-roo,ns
are furnished with nymphs and juvenile angels,
&C. One of the "curiosities is a chapel for re-
ligous worship, which occupies portion Of the
third and fourth stories. The apartment is 33 by
1854 feet furnished in the Gothic style, and is to
be provided with superb altar piece to represent
the baptism of the Redeemer. The requisite
amount Of " dim religious light" properly colored
enters through single circular window of stained
glass There is also gymnasium, with suitable
apparatus for physical exercise, and bowling
saloon. The upper floors being too lofty to receive
water from the public works, a tank is provided,
into which water for the baths, &C., will be forced
by pump. the picture gallery is % by "a feet,
and it is said twenty pictures for it in course
Of preparation in Italy, by the best living masters,
at an average cost Of $1,000 each. Some Of the
apartments are provided with very costly fire
places. We noticed one of beautiful italian marble
which cost $500. The entire cost of the building
and ground is estimated at $780, the contract
for stone is about $4,000; fresco painting. $4,000;
plastering from $4,000 to $4,000, and the car
is the last and greatest Of the great "up-town"
houses.