Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-04-28
ANCIENT AND MODERN HOMES.

Inc Romans walked on mosaic floors:
bat they were hard and cold. The pal.
ace halls Of Queen Elizabeth were strevn
with straw and rushes; but we, of this
western world, walk over landscapes.
designed by the genius of Claude Lo-
ralne-thus bringing to our very feet, in
tie luxurious tread of the parlor, all the
images Of beauty which once adorned
the walls Of Italian palaces, and which
are now sought for with eagerness, and
looked upon with veneration.
The progress of art and taste is e'ec-
trio in our age, and inventions for null
tiplying whatever exaltS or embellishee
civilized life, outstrip the widest imagi-
nation. We were forcibly stauck with
this thought the other DAY, as we glanced
rapidly through great carpet estab-
llshncnt. There is always much that
lS suggestive and striking in a superb
collection Of rich fabrics gathered from
every part Of the world, and thrown open
to the eye OF taste on our fashionable
Boulevard; and every season brings its
new attraction into Broadway. But at
no former period have we witnessed more
marked progress in any department, than
We iind this spring in the new styles OF
arpets, and every species Of covering
with which We clothe the halls and floors
of our dwellings. There we notice O
luxurious Mosaic rug, which seems an
exact counterpart Of one Of the finest
pictures of the old masters. From q
short distance the sky is ss blue-ths
clouds as golden-the water as limpid-
the tree-shadows fall as mirror-like upon
It's CLASSY boSom-the herds are as lazily
wandering IN the mesdows-the noun
lalns rise as dark at the base, as purple
up the sides, and as golden On the tops,
as ever the finest imagination pictured.
At the farther end Of the stately hall
| above referred to, (which, for COM
mercet sake, We must call q sales room,
is suspended something entirely new in
the world OF art-an American invention.
it is the first sample seen in the world
OF the Medallion Ingram Carpet. 1t il
composed Of five breadths, which unite
in a gorgeous and splendid design
unique, fresh, striking, beautiful, AID
suggestive of images of beauty; and yet
this work of art which is worth thou
sand times more than all the meaning
less scrolls and flowers, and confusion OF
colors, hurled together to make up car
pets of common design. cost scarcely a
| groat more than one Of those old-fash-
Toned things We have grown so tired OF
long years ago. Why shall We not have
things that are beautiful in our dwellings,
when the genius of art and the sturdy
arm Of commerce bring them to our
doorsl
| This is an age Of luxury and of peace
Ito US on this untroubled side Of the
| ea,"h. 1t may we'll be; for the olive ia
growing N our New World, while the
| flames of war e,ra lighted in the Old.
And here is a nation Of working men.
walking on a continent OF gold. Once all
the beautiful objects, images and associa-
tions ofart were confined TO the rich and
/ ncble. Democracy has revolutionized
the world. 1t has lifted the veil, and
opened an earthly paradise to the long
toiling. and eycr-lorso,se- million. The
home Of every active, intelligent, upright
American, may now be frightened 81
| those iuxuries which, by the magic work
ings Ct modern machinery, have been
within the common reach. To the ener'
gy, boldness and taste Of such, our city
and country arc indebted for much of the
luxury and comforts Of American homes
Home Journal.