, 1869-02-01
The Finest Private Residence in tbe
West Opened for the
Occasion.
A Brillialt t Gathering.


sfea hAe aoAlA1J ~ appreciate IT, IL Is tsus,
haps. and no dtscredIt 10 ous "wtide," ths, enob-
bishnees, which airs Itself in sir. in. hands aud
places Itself out Of the reach OF the whole
soulcd generosity Of sturdy freemep,
meets with bat slight acknowledgment: but
anything that Is genuine that is good for tho ere
to see that eleVatea the mind and iucu.eates t.ne
Of the beautiful, Is as heartily apprc.
c!ated In Illinois and Iowa ~ in New YORK or
Western people, tho pioneers
and upholdcrs Of liberty, with but scan.y ueArs
for communicating with the enlightened and ar1s-
tcc1a,,c world, In former years had literally and
mctAphorically too many wolves to tight at their
doors. to sit down IN splendor, and let tho world
WIG as 1t would. No matter how much tney nay
advance, II Is doubtful. judging nom their pres
cnt spirit, II they Will ever allow much wagg1ng,
without having something to ray about 1t Fbut
this much lt certain. they do appreciate se1ne-
ment and luxury, aud not because It can be
bought with gold, but because, when properly
applied. It may conduce to thels Own and thelr
nctRhbors' happiness.
Mr. u. +. Allen, k1oHn ~ tho banking king and
millionaire Of Iowa, 10 = tsuo son Of tho Wost
AID OF that typo which Ia making this rosion
great and powerful. nc u not wealthy beeausc It
haH bccn tho AIN OF his liGc to acquire fortune
and that to that end al else was made to sub.
te,ss, bat simply for the reason that bis idoas
arc ~ laEEr and comprehensive a. tho territory
that surrounds him, and lnat be ses about to In
PLACED 1t si. 'eommsnd. La nsd D1,s'' H. 1oaa oaa
tcfs be would be an unworthy eop Of sho soil be
occupies. Fully master Of h!a position, b. duly
o's Il. e. a ssf saa s s:
II With tho utmost discretion, tns,oaa:of mcct-
ing with hatred and envy. It ts the wish Of orery
continue To prosper and aceumal4te, for hs ifs has
r + a,s seiois j his s!utdy eaeIzy |: isy spses,
Mrc. Allen tet,lsd iu Des Moines ID iBiv, i you'll
OF hiLc!ern, With a few thousand dollars tn bis
posesesion. which b. hsu accumulated during
OF speculative tntn ot mind he invested his fur.
tuEe in gov. rnmcnt land, then going begging Al a
dollar and quarter an acre, and by sct attention
GALES and scstant rctnyestmeut, soon doubled
and redouhled hlt little fortune. As the country
s. ne IN b.s saa Peps.y n9 a
tsoliseea M THE now has four nnde: his ezelu.
ss2 sn2anf Tas Under ffsdss Ss IN y ee9
Of agriculture ha invested largely, aud when
uesMoines began to talk Of railroads, be put his
horse s1oTtea thsoush the vlase IL IL une noh
he LEAD defship q Mr Allen. it w4s honoted viii
The ehoiee tos ihe state Captta1: Thns be
between four and five millions. With laudabie
deetre to erjoy this life and make seusibla use
Of bis vast accnmolatIone. he resolved to erect
del1nE that should be commensurate with bis ias'-
and inclnstion. AID With this view .,.e. r,+s'
-a1 suggestions for the improvement o7
iDgton, Eae ,ihe wsl!:known architect this city,
ment. De.Moires to-day possesses the dncst
private residence in the Western county. With
r. 1ntesua! improvements, tfe cost will approach
cality WILL yio With any site on the hudson. The
capital Ct Iowa Is Situated IN basin having a
srsn1iefsnce I'm sSa Of anout .wsnty a,lses Thsoakn
beautiful streams. tie former eventhav1nE pre-
ten.ions to navigation. The ground selected is
ahont thusy acres IN extent, and on su elevation
nediate1y overlooking the r1sers. From the OBJ
eeIyatoIy new q The eo1ntfy for ten miles
ryese. the elegant residences that dot the sar-
5oGndtne as and the easy railroad 'pes
as Sase Of IL n e91nenes nss1y a.c 50qad III shs s
iull view. The style Of architecture adopted
is the modern French. with MaIssrd roof The
abntments, The main entrance IS on thc north,
through The main tower. a structure uincty feet
high. 1t leads through yestlbule. from whence
the Library and music rooms. spacious hall In
terseets The building isom north TO south and
stairway leads TO the upper aoor. When stand
ing On the plateau. formed half way bets 9een tue
doors, ffu1l y!cW Of both is obtained. and the
ns es,ose s' vew i 1I R5S
| change Of position a vailed and commanding
view Of The interior IL obtained. The spa,
ss eSs Of Rs srxa1 + o1ssd rns 10 sns
above sso al very eommodious, and furnished
With dressing .rooms. hot and cold baths, and
sgs1y eon1fnts1Se e sopolatsn e The
city, and the Aupply Of water Ii forced hv means
of Wind.nille from the nnptd Coon Il would BE-
atask, easnely beyond the scope Of newspaper
house with any degree Of detail. 1t Is furnished
IN style that fa1sly borders On Oriental magnid-
cenee. The carpets are the dnest Wilton E1rn1ns
ii. C to D: the rooms. The furniture II Of 1osa- So
wood and walnuss worked In the most elaborate
patterns. AZ the roons 7ary in denRn and color.
the mlHors. Of hinge dimensions, thu window cor.
ntees, nd other psotecs'ons arc either Efldsd q
q ms1ble: II apholstsIy. tic residence
y probably 1nexee'lea oy ny . n ne sonnt5y: II
coverings and window crEtalns, and to Sit In one
OF the ecote ol arm chztP, Or on one Of the dozen
srfas, ts .ike lodging in bed OF perfume and
BY j. ziezler d Co.. New York, expfese1y for this
house. and Nj. Il. C. Gilman II. Of the arm, came
on expressly to 1T each IN ,ts place With statu-
MT, 4ud pictures rarely aEd toetly. the house 1s
Tepletc. and every nook and corner Is adofucd
with aome beautiful Wotk ot aft.
o he nesass he or,
cf the residence just dnished. Mr.. aud
Mrs. Allen hsd ja.t completed the fifteenth
we're vsa In It the name oi the .univertaty ons saoa
ssrd In nvttatons had been extended, aud, IS may
be inferred, but fey "tegress" were returned.
buQue and other cities ecnt lsz9s delegat,oas and
tie tctult was ono OF the fnett gatherings ever
Witnessed IN the West. To DesNo.nes, II Was,
Of cUurse. almost the e1ent Of Its existenee, and
from the moment that the affair was1plaeed On the
tapks 10 Its fuletment, II Was tho one theme OF
ccusertation and comment 1t sho capital. RFcty-
was s,nrlted. The placo Wis nearly turned topsy-
tu1vy with the excitement Of preparation. such
teason for nlllinc1s and dEefsIn akorb WAs never
bestow adv1ec and Assist IN tho ar1anIements.
The Jorcg ms OF the city. also. shared IN the ex
ctscmcnt, sad On the evening Of the affair It vas
i.hnens q sns s.7sy Houss sD and see tae s' pro.
digious crowd waiting for the word "ne1t." 1t
Is estlnated that fully oEe hundred failed 10 A.
time 10 visit the balls Of epleudos aud delight.
Friday evening, At Dcs Aoints, vas 4 severely
cold one. but nc Indictment state Of the Weather
ING present The only trouble experienced oy
v.s,tors was the lack ct vehicles 10 convey them
nn;rsd nc @ s.ek@.sd saa snd '1s sssS eSs1
baina,est d.,. Aeont 10 oeioeF he S.saertns
suisaed ss.!sy, snons @ inc tall % ~omea .ad ess9e
men. 1t stands alone In the annals OF the Hawk
eye State. Not only weso tho B:ate dlEnltarcs
pfcsent. but ex-6oTefnorE and CougItsamtn,
Geuetals Acd Jucgea ftom every prominent city
In the State were everywhere ooee1rAh!e. In
fact. nearly everybody Inst Is notab!e IN that
Heiher the aeacubl'ge numbered nc.t.y. one
thorsard. Bat wlthAl, there was An abundance
OF room, which fact WILL glve fa!t iuustsatton Of
the grand p1pport1lpa Of the edidce.
The eute1taiEEen, furnished By Mr. Allen to
hts fellow w.citfzens AID nesRheoEB Was worthy OF
hls tcputauon for hbetaity and laree-hesTted-
ness. For tie good trirgs that cheer the body
Wright, cur tanous opera Hoase esteser. Vas
culinary part in the most approved metropolitan
style. His department was ! grand success, aud
| such m e!lgart spread has seldom been Wit
nested. even In the Garden City, where With his
kitehen he !: a heme: How Il. the
Of three hntdred ard ffty miles without Injury L
| r. Ally q wonder, and another indicanon Of the
n.lch Of progress. Although IN the dead oi
winter, the mansion had the appearance Of doE-
| e garden IN June, 80 proIU.eiy vere the hot
ho1se PRODUCTS scattered trou shout, and Ch1clRc
ard Other cities were bC1tft Of thet last rose 70
add 10 the atusetion. Every table, stanu, and
worked in manifold deT:tes we1r charming s!ghi
| to behold: Especially noteworthy Vas mono
rf1m Of the ZANE Of the master Of the touae IL
tube.roses AID tbs device
-: -:
| worked IN tr1mcSteile, pendant oves the grand
stairway In the main h4ll. Thevaloe Of the uofal
d. c3raiions were estimated at 1900.