Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-06-10

j. rarely graClHeQ IN It's QeSlro TO learn some
thing definite about the private lives OF its
favorites, and always peeps with avidity
behind the domestic curtain which hides
the hearths of the household gods of great
men, whenever some favored hand, deli
cately or rudely, good naturedly or i'm
pertinently, draws it aside. We have an
apt illustration of this irrepressible pro.
clivity to play the woman, in the constant
inquiries OF which that great wit of the
arena, and truly estimable gentleman, Col.
Dan Rice, is the unprovoking cause, and
also something of an opportunity to CRAFTY
it, in the following which we find in the
N. Y. Commercial Advertiser:
Dan Rice resides at the beautiful and
thriving village of Girard, Erie county
Pennsylvania, where he has two large
farms. The fertile fields of the smaller one
smile sunnily into the honest faces OF tn,
worthy burghers OF the town. the other is
some five miles away, and is the winter
home of the famed Sacred Cattle, the won
dertul blind horse Excelsior, Jr., and the
various other trained animals which, dur.
ing the summer months, abide in tents with
Dan and his equestrian sons, that they may
be seen of all men, as verify they are.
The Coloners residence stands a short
distance back of the principal village
square, modestly embowered in noble
shade trees, and surrounded by acres OF
park, parterres and lawns, made leafy laby-
rinths by the sinuous hedges bordering
with emerald each walk and drive.
The house, thus surrounded by a rural
paradise, is most noticeable as suggestion
of the unosGentatious and happy domestic
life of its celebrated owner. There is
nothing pretentious or gingerbready in its
appearance. 1t looks its best in looking
just what it is-the commodious and COM
Portable home of hospitable country gen.
tleman. The latch-string always hangs
outside the door-let us pull it and step
across the threshold. -t
You may, and probably will expect the
atmosphere of the ring to follow you, and
to be unpleasantly reminded of the show
"shop." A glance around will suffice to
undeceive you. You will not find even a
suspicion of the sawdust. On the contrary,
1t is at once evident that you are beneath
a roof, where wealth and refinement, bless
ings so rarely united in these days OF mush-
. room fortunes, harmoniously abide to-
gether. So numerous are the works of art
rare curiosities and costly souveners, chal-
longing attention on every side, that the
house would be almost domestic museum
but for the Intervention of exquisite tastt
in arrangement. the work one more thar
witty owner.
The walls are adorned with the works oi
the masters, conspicuous among which are
two wonderful Mosaic pictures, which sa-
vans certify date as far back as the nata
day of the royal mummy with which AL
bert Smith held poetic confiab, and wortl
a sum reaching far beyond an editors com.
prehension of the golden thousands.
The picture gallery is repository o
glorious landscapes, speaking portraits
rare etchings and proof plates, and here anC
there the eye rests on dainty bits OF sculp
ture. A life-like marble bust of the Colo
mel, the offspring of the genius of Volk anC
the foundation of his fame, is worthy tn,
special study of the cOnnoisseur.
Wisdom and Bellies Letters, are costly dom
iciled in a study containing one of the larg
est and best selected private libraries in tn,
country. You scarcely anticipated, schol
astic reader, meeting so many of your ole
and cherished thought acquaintances in th'
snuggery of the great Disciple of Momus
but there they are, and the chances ar,
that you will find them on quite as familia
terms with him as with yourself.
AS we don't do the uph0lstering busines
for fashionable novels, we shall not attemp
description of the magnificently furnish
ed great DRAWN groom and the other apart
ments. 1t is sufficient to say that they ar
all abundant means and original and cor
in their way.
And in this beautiful home, surroundet
by charming and estimable family, tn
admirable Crichton of his profession en-
joys brief seasons of rest, dispensing hos
pitality to the great and humble alike will
dignitied and yet winning courtesy. 1t il
not too much to say of him that his liberal
ity, public spiritidness and faultless life
have made him the idol of the communit,
in which he lives. The citizens, who's
prosperity has been enhanced by his en-
terprise and sagacious counsels, have re
peatedly pressed high offices upol
him, but he has hitherto decidedly
declined all political positions, declaring
himself to be man of the people, and, a
such, not proper subject for party hon
ors. When his advice is sOlicited-as it fire
gently is by those high in authority-witl
reference to the great questions of the day
he freely and frankly expresses what, il
his Judgment, would be best for the pros
perity and happiness of the whole countr,
neither ingenious argument or captiou
opposition can drive him beyond that.
1t is not in the arena alone that Da
Rice pre-eminently charms. His prOfoun
knowledge of men; unerring intuition
scintellating wit; power of reparte an
inexhaustible fund of anecdote, make hir
one of the most brilliant conversationalist
of his time. His powers of fascination ar
as potent with individuals as with audieu
ces. and should any of our readers eve
enjoy the privilege of social visit at h
fireside, they will find themselves charme
into absolute forgetfulness of the fiyin
hours, and awake only to apathematize I'll
tell-tale hands of the ineXorable clocl
pointing far in the direction of dawn"
If Dan makes people as happy in his tel
here, to-day and tomorrow, as he appea
to be in the charming home describe
above, he would find it profitable to s,
| journ a month with us.