The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1870-10-12
E1-secretary seward at Home.

An Auburn correspondent Of the Commercial
Advertiser writes as follows:
few days ago in his lovely Auburn home
our honored friend and neighbor, Mr.. Seward
celebrated his sixty-ninth birthday. He was in
his bsppiest mood. aud gave hearty welcome to
the fair young girls who, from neighboring
school. came to honor him and the day. To their
graves they will carry the memory of the genial
hospitality aud transformations kindness which the
did not consider it a trouble to do so much to
make the dag ed lettered one in the calendar
Of their lives.
Glad rs we who loved him, were to have the
day happy one. feeling of sadness would be
uppermost when we thought Of his near approach
to the three score years and ten, after which the
only strength we are permitted to hope for Is
but labor aud sorrow" Still, though we may
not look for the vigor which has sustained him
thus far in his eventful life, pray that for many
years yet he may be spared to enrich other minds
with the treasures of his own, and to make glad
his own happy home. OF this home, Astounding
as it does with treasures both of nature aud Of
art the world may like to know something. be-
longing, as it does. to one whom no amount of
fattery and attention has succeeded IN making
vainglorious.
There are in this land many mansions far more
imposing than this Of Mr.. Seward. but there can
scarcely be one more pleasant. or filled with so
much to interest Although situated in the very
heart of the busy city it is surrounded by so
dense a foliage that it is as secluded as if far
away. In this Mr. Seward rejoices, and in the
Spring time watches with delight the putting
forth of the leafY screen which protects him from
the view Of all around All who come through
the open gate. up he broad walk into this happy
enclosure are hidden welcome but be would have
no curious outside gazers More especially how
ever he enjoys these luxurant trees because their
wide-spreading branches offer so many safe and
pleasant homes for the birds he love. so well.
From the terrace or the South side of his house,
or on the long avenue bordered on either side
with acs an syrihgas, be hastens to their sweet
songs and watches their pretty ways as they
battle in the beautiful fountain or gather up choice
loEctlc lOE Tue ilNtl@ DuCS ~ lucAi hCSiS. DfhS'
ing, US we do. that the bright sunlight Is essen
tal to the heathful development of public life as
well as vegetables we have feared sometimes.
that this dense foliage was not quiet conductive
to the health Of the dweilers in this home, but
latterly openings have been made about the house.
so that the life-givng rays Of the sun no lon
ger excluded.
The house, built many years ago, was not orr
ginally very large. but has since had so many ad-
ditions that it may now be called spacious man
sion The original style of architecture having
been preserved it has still an antique appearance.
The drawing-room. long beautiful apartment is
hung about by fine paintings, to each Of which
belongs history its floor is covered with car
pet woven expressly for it in the looms Of Tur-
key and scattered all about are specimens of the
workmanship of all parts of the world.
Through the large double doors one may pass
from the examination of these beautiful things
into the dining room, place suggestive Of OPP
portunities for ample hospitality with great com
fort so large is il and m gni6cent withal, within
its polished inlaid floor and heavy wainscottings
Of natural wood One that is DESTROYS to know
all that is possible of this world on which live
would turn with great interest to globe in one
corner of the room. II came from Berlin. and
there is but one other like it in the country, and
that is in the State Department The mountains
are elevated in proportion TO thei different
height, and the valleys depressed so that by the
touch one may know something of the face Of
the country. In a niche over the mantel is vi
shun, one of the gods Of the HindoOs, bearing
such marks of antiquity that those learned in
such matters. believe it to be one of the verita-
bic craven images against which Moses full
minated bis commandment one of the proofs
being the red lines used to show the indentatious