Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-01-03
Duca, Palace Essilt by a New
Work SHCD.

York SncO.
DR.. S. P. Townsend. the saIsapariIa doc
tor. whom every body has heard or read Of,
made half million dollars by dosing the
peop!e of the whole Union, and has recent
Iiy been building splendid house for his
own residence, on the corner of Thirty
fourth street and Fifth avenue, in this city.
We have not yet learned whether the doc
tor intends 10 christen his new mansion by
The significant and odorous appellaton OF
"SarsaDarilla Hail." 1t would certainly be
quite appropriate. A few years ago the
doctor bought or leased church IN Nassau
street, in this city, fitted it up. and filled it
with his sarsaparlIa bottles, and christen-
ed it '.The Temple of Health" But per-
baps some of our readers would like to see
description of bis new '.palace" in the
fashionable qualter:-The building is 80
by 56 feet, and occupies two lots OF ground,
in an elevated position, which cost S42,
600. lis general appearance is OF the rich,
massive character common 10 many hrst-
class houses, though internally The arrange
ments have The claim OF originality. 1t has
been remarked, however, by those who
have visited the European continent, that
The house has some resemblance 70 the res
,dence of the late Duke of Parma. Upon
entering, the visitor finds himself at the
Threshold of grand hall, Aanked on Ell
ther side by tiers of galleries and columns,
which extend upward to the roof, where
they terminate under gorgeous DOME
The galleries, walls and columns are all
decorated in The richest manner with Tres
co painting, gliding and elaborate moul-
dings. The prevailing color employed in
decorating the ceilings being blue, relieved
with gold, these are presented most proml-
nently 10 the eye; bat the effect Of the
whole when first bebcld, is 10 bewllder
with sense of magnifcence. The CO.
lumns supporting the galleries through the
several stories, are sixty in number OF The
Corinthan style, which are sustained at
the base, on The first story, by pllasters OF
scagiola. Passing to the rear in one COR
ner of the ediGce, is grand spiral star
case having diameter OF about twenty
feet and terminating in the highest story.
beneath rich dome Niches at the sides
are to be filled with appropriate pieces OF
statuarv, and decorations IN plaster. Fres-
co gold and carved wood are introduced at
the discretion of the artist. The cost Of
this staircase will not be far from S3,0O0.
The chambers and other apartments above
are all finished in the same superb style
The Fresco paintings upon the walls gen.
orally represent scenes IN Italy, though
there are many figures, scrolls, &C., purely
| l(anclful: other portions, such as are de-
signed for the picture gallery and library,
are classic; the bathing rooms are furnish
ed with nympbs and juvenile angels, &C.
One of the "curiosities' is chapel TO- re-
Igious worship which occupies portion OF
The third and fourth stories. The apart
mcnt is SO by 16 10 feet, finished in the
Gothic stve, and is to oe provided with
superb alier-piece TO represent the babtlsm
Of the Redcemer The requisite amount OF
dim, religious light" properly colored en-
ters through a single circular window OF
stained glass. There is also gymnasium,
with suita5l apparatus for the physlcal eX-
ercse. and Bowling saloon. The upper
floor, being too lofty TO receive water from
The public works, tank is provided, in:o
which water for the baths, &c. will be lore
ed by pump, The picture gallery is 2S
BY "a feet, and it is said that twenty pic
lures for il are IN course of preparation in
Italy, by the best living masters, at an az
erage cost of 81 ,000 each. Some OF the a
partments are provided with very costly
! fire places We noticed one OF beautiful
Italian marble. which cost S4O0. The En-
lire cost of the building aud ground is es-
timated at 100000. The contract for
stone is about $4,000; iresco painting
So coo; pIastering, from $4,000 TO $40
600: and the carpenters contract IS about
$50 0OO. Such, in brief, is the last and
greatest of the great sup town" houses.