The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-05-15


TIN HOME OF DAN RIcE.-The public
is rarely gratitied In Its eager desire to
learn something positive aud definite
concerning the private lives OF It's faySerl'
ties, and always peeps with aYidity be
hind the domestic curtain which htdee
the hearths of the Household GODS OF
great men, whenever some taTore"
hand, delicately or rudelT, goou ma
turedIy or impertinently, draws 1t "Slu .
We have an apt ILLUSTRATION OF THIS
irrepressible proclivity to play the wo-
man IN the constant enquiries Of which
TINT brilliant wit and truly estimable
gontiemnn, Col. Dan Riceis the nnpro,
vok ing cause, and also an opportunity
TO crafty it-furnisbed' by the Will
mington Commercial az follows: g .,! 60
Dan Rice resides ut the beautiful and
thriving Village Of Girafd, In the Coun.
ty Of Erie and State OF Pennsylvania,
where he has two large farms. The
fertile hsldS- Of the smaller one smile
sunnily into the honest faces OF the
worthy burgharSof the town; the other
y some five miles away, and Is the win
ter home of,the famous sacred cattle;
the Incompatible equine wonder, Tx
celsior, Jr., and the various other train
ed animals which, during the Summer
hmonthS, abide in tents with Dan and
yhiS aCrObatic sons, that they may be
seen of all people-as verify they are.
The ColOnel'S residence stands q short
distance back OF the principal village
square, modestly enbowered in noble
shade trees, and surrounded by acres
of park, parterreS and lawns. made
labyrinths by sinOus hedges bordering
each drive and walk.
The house, thus embraced by rural
paradise, is most noticeable as Sug-
gestion of the transformations and happy
domestic life of its celebrated owner.
There is nothing pretentious or ginger
broadly in its appearances. 1t looks Its
best in looking just what 1t is-the
spacious and comfortable home OF a
hOsPitable country gentleman. The
latch string always hangs outside the
doOr-let us pull it and step across the
Threshold.
You may, and probably will, expect
the atmosphere OF the ring to follow
you. and to be unpleasantly reminded
of the show 'shop." If such is the
case, u single glance will serve to
agreeably undeceive you. You won't
find even n suspicion OF the "saw-dust."
On the contrary, it is ut once evident
that you are beneath a roof where
wealth and -etinement-blessing so
rarely united in these days of mush-
room fortunes-harInOniO abide to-
gether.
So numerous are the works of art,
rare curiOsitieS and costly mementoes,
challenging attention on every side, that
the house would almost be domestic
museum but for the intervention feX-
quisite arrangement-the work, one
more than suspects, of gentler hands
than those of the renowned jester.
The walls are adorned with the works
of She masters. conspicuous among
which are two wonderful mosaic pic
lures, which savanS certify date as far
back as the nativity OF the mummy
with which Albert Smith held poetic
eonfab, and worth a sum fur beyond an
editors comprehension of the golden
thousands.
The picture gallery is repository Of
glorious landscapes, portraits, cunning
etchings and proof plates, and here and
there the eye is caught by dainty bits
of sculpture. n life like, marble bust of
the Colonel, the Offering OF the genius
of VOlk, and the foundation of his
fame, is worthy Of the special study OF
the connoisSeur.
Wisdom and Bellies Lettres are costly
domiciled in u study, containing one OF
the largest and best-selected libraries
in the country. You scarcely antici-
pated, scholastic reader, to meet SO
many of your old and cherished
thought acquaintance in the snuggery
of the great disciple of Momns; but
there they are, nevertheless; and you
may perchance find them on quite as
familiar terms with him as with Your
self.
And in this delightful home, sur
rounded by Il charming ant estimable
family, the admirable Crichton of his
profession enjoys brief season of rest,
dispensing hospitality to the great and
humble alike, with dignified and yet
winning courtesy.
The fortunate and popular Dan it
will be borne in mind, exhibits his
Great Show and School OF Educated
Animals, on Wheeling Island, next
Friday. If he makes people as happy
in his tent as he appears to be in his
delightful homeland he most undoubt-
eddy will-instead OF stopping with us
tor but Say he would find it profitable
to remain month.