The union Democrat., 1871-10-28
THE GRAND DUKE.
How he Is Cared for i'm ,hi. Country.
TFom the New York Post.l

Rom the New York POST
MS APARTMENTS AT THE CLARENDON.
The suite of rooms engaged by the Russian
Minister, Mr.. Catacazy. at the Clarendon
Hotel. to be used by the Grand Duke Alexis
and his party, are now almost ready for his
occupancy. They are thirty-fve in number,
and comprise almost the whole of two of the
three four-story buildings connected with the
Clarendon Hotel on Fourth avenue. The
rooms have been furnished and decorated
with royal magnifcence. Over the main en-
trance the royal arms of Russia have been
frescoed in bold relief. The main hall and
staircase are covered with bright green car
pet, having a border of deep orange color
richly ornamated with floral designs.
The walls are tinted with blue and GRIM
son, relieved with gilt pannelling. A hand
some bronze chandelier, richly gilt, with col
ored porcelain globes, adds greatly to the
general effect. The grand dining-saloon is
on the right of the hall, and consists of three
rooms, formerly divided by folding doors.
The latter have been removed, and in their
place elegant arches have been substituted,
the appointments of this room are exceed
ingly rich and tasteful. The carpet is of
heavy velvet, brilliant with many colors skill
fully blended. The curtains are of lace and
Gamask, the man.els of marble, the CRATES
and tenders silver-gilt, with gold tracery.
In each corner stands en- Etruscan vase
filled with choice exotics, while at one end a
magnificent marble fountain of Cologne wa
ter dtfuses a delicate perfume. Over the
fountain is large and life-lke portrait of
the Gear of Russia. The walls and ceiling
nre frescoed on gray tinted ground. The
furniture is black walnut inlaid with gold,
and to complete the decorations, the Ameri-
can and Russian colors worked in silk, with
silver-hullion fringe, are intertwined in
graceful folds above the different arches.
There are four rooms on the second floor.
The first is the Dukes bedroom and is fur
nished in rosewood, with G heavy Administer
carpet. The canopy of the bed is formed by
Russian and American standards. A large
room in the rear has been sumptuously furn-
ished in black walnut for the use of the grand
chamberlain. The royal body-guard will be
stationed in the rear hall room.
The other rooms have been re-furnished on
the same scale of magnifcence betting the
rank of their occupants.
STEAMER FITTED UP FOR SINGLE TRIP.
From the Albany Times
Many persons wondered, week or TIVE
ago, why the steamer Vibbard was taken
from the Albany route and the Mary Powell
put in her place. 1t was thought by a few
that the steamer needed immediate repairs,
although this was contradicted by those who
were supposed to know but if the cause was
asked of her mysterious disappearance,
wink and shrug of the shoulders were all
the satisfaction one received. It now turns
out that the Vibbard has been chartered to
take the Russian Grand Duke Alexis from
New York to West Point the week after next,
and that she is laid up in New York under
going thorough course of ornamentation
previous to this great event in her history.
A small but magnificent saloon is being built,
and will be fitted up for the Grand Duke in
manner so elegant, sumptuous and beauti-
full that it is expected it will excel in point
of splendor his gorgeous rooms at the Claren-
don Hotel in New York and then the other
parts of the boat are not to be sighted. Eve
rything in the way Of ornamentation that
art can invent or taste devise, will be done to
adorn and beautify the vessel. Persian car.
pets will be laid on the cabin floors, for the
imperial foot to tread upon, luxurious sofas
will be placed all over the vessel in great
profusion, and the grand saloons will be per-
fumed with exquisite odors for the imperial
nose to inhale. "Cap'n Dave" as his pie
bean friends are wont to call him, is so proud
over his coming greatness that he refuses now
to respond to this cognomen any longer, and
unless you call him Captain Hitchcock, you
will most certainly be snubbed, for he is at
tending to all these arrangements on his trim
little craft himself 1t is whispered that the
new naval uniform now being built for this
gallant tar, which he will don the day Alexis
steps upon the Vibbard. is to be marvel of
the tailor's art, and will cost more than Col.
Benton's coat. But the dinner that will be
served that day, Oh. We epicures who would
revel in visions of the daintiest and choicest
dishes that can be served at Delmonico's or
the Hoffman House, straightway provide
yourself with one of these bills of fare and
read (if you can) the delicious morsels that
will be eaten on the Chauncey Vibbard that
great day. The dinner tickets, however, are
to be fixed at reasonable rate, only SIS
apiece without wine, or about 500 with that
beverage.