Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-22
EVENING STAR.
THE GRAND DUKE.
where He Will Be Entertained.
Interesting Description Of the Gaia
cary Mansion.

tiIitc. ne nOuSts JIOGkn anu TOOtnJy =
furnished with a simplicity that astOnishes Us
who associate magnifcence with position and
royalty. The house Is double with parlOrs on
one side OF the hail. and dining-roOm aud but
leT's pantries ON the other. The hall II wide, the
hoOr covered with a neat pattern OF Brussels
carpet An eye % economy Is evinced by the
strip of oil cloth at the door and a narrow strip
running from the front 20 the back door. 4 few
heavy walnut chairs, a Tnarble-tOp table Tor the
Iece ptiOn of cards and a hat-rack complete the
furniture here. Heavy green curtains draPe all
the doors. The door on the left opens into the
drawmg-rOOm. As you enter this room the tirst
object that attracts your attention is the reiec
ton in the mirror over the msntel OF
LOVELY PICTURE.
IL is the portrait of Madame De Catacazy,
painted by Madame Mindelif, Russian lady,
who has a studio on the Avenue. Ibis picture
rests upon a stand in a corner of the rOOms and
AZ a work OF art as well a truthful portrait,
can be looked at and stHdied with pleasure.
Hanging on the wall, opposite the Fireplace, lisa
portrait of the Emperor in military dress wear
ing many orders. These are the only large pic
lures in this parlor. Thecarpet is handsome
tapestry one, grey ground, with bright flowers.
There is a superb OrmOlu centre table, and
ormOlu cabinets are each side OF the fire.
place. The white marble mantel is relieved OF
its cold appearance by being covered with a rich
scarlet lambreQuin. The curtains are of satin
the same color, and the furniture to match.
Satin curtains hang in heavy folds between the
two paTlOTs The back room is much simpler
than the front. a. the furniture is covered with
chintZ, and IL Il used more As a sitting room than
eCcptiOn room. There is q mirror over the
mantel, and a single picture on the opposite
wall. There are many easy chairs dispersed
through the room, and lounge near one of the
windows. There is a small and beautiful table
at the head of the sofa. that has many small OBJ
jCcts upon it that are rare and OF value, among
them box OF jasper, bOHbOHHisre Of enamel,
and
LARGE EGG OF PORCELAIN
heavily gilded on ore side and with pietare on
the other of the Madonna. pink ribbon passes
through the egg, coming out OF an aperture at
either end. \ very pretty Russian custom is
made known in a history of this egg. At the
Easter festival friends in Russia greet each other
BY kissing three times and by each giving an egg
To the other. The egg may be an ornament LIE
the one just described, or IL may be case, egg
shaped, containing jewels of value, but whatever
DC the gift II must bear the semblance OF an egg
The egg above mentioned was given by the Grand
Duchess Constantine, sister-in- law of the Empe-
Tor, to Madame de Cstacazy. Among the orna-
ments on the stand are picture of the Grand
Duke Alexis and miniature of Madame de
Catacazys father, FitZ James de Berwick. There
several small stands in different parts of the
room with articles of of beautiful workman
shiP. There are blooming plants in one corner
of the room near the French window that opens
on a back piazza. This room has heavy gilt
candelaeras with wax candles, for no gas is used
in either parlOrs, dining-room, or bedrooms.
The dining-roOm is spacious, and has
carpet of blue and grey; the flowers are small
and the material Brussels. The furniture is
black walnut, and heavily carved. The bouffet
has glass doors, through which may be seen the
massive silver dishes and other articles for the
table, all of which are of the same precious
metal. Over the mantel is a magnificent plate
glass mirror, in a carved walnut frame. The
chairs walnut, with high backs, and are
covered with brown morocco. Between the
glass doors, hanging high, is beautiful clock
Of carved wood, with ivory hands and figures
upon the dial. The glass doors open into the
buffers pantry, and here the carving of the
meats is done, for the dishes are handed around
the table and each person helps himself. The
table linen would crafty the good housekee per's
taste for its fineness and beautiful pattern,
Pffs e 70 e. ogs G Sa
the table Is the finest, and the china is the best
Dresden, with Madame de Catacazy's initials
upon each piece, for in Russia all the household
furniture belongs to the wife, and is marked in
her name. Mr.. DE CatacaZy is an epicure, and
enjoys good living. His cook is the best France
can furnish, and his wines ofthe purest and best
quality. There is different wine for each
course, and each is cooled or left at the temper
allure most Palatable. There is nicely andd dis
tinctiOR in this that only the epicure under
stands and appreciates
THE GRAND DUKE AND ADMIRAL PoIssET
are the only persons who stay with the Minister,
and their sleeping apartments are devoid of all
OrnamentstiOn, while very comfortable.
THE ROOM OCCUPIED BY THE GRAND DUKE
as sleeping apartment has the floor covered
with OilclOth and a Persian rug through the
middle. An the furniture Is covered with chintz
except two chairs and the lounge, which are
covered with white pique; the curtains are of
ChintZ. There Is an Old-fashiOned toilette table,
covered, with blue and white muslin over il,
with hutings. very perfect mirror rests on
the table, and many little jewel boxes and pretty
articles are upon the table. These il rosewood
armour, with full length mirror; there il
an upright piano, center table, with books and
albums, and at the extreme end of the room
French bedstead arranged To look like a couch
Over the bed hangs a receptacle for holy water,
and picture Of the Saviour in a gilt frame,
presented to Madame de CatacaZy by her hus-
bands sister. There is bureau OF Louis Four
teenth's time, OF satin wood, with gided bronze
ornsments. There are many small pictures il
EGfn
and painting Of the garden at Ems. The
dressing room contains only a lounge and chairs
and the bathroom adiOins-
THE ADMIRAL's ROOM
Is plain and comfortable, il adjOns Mr.. de Gaia
Gays Office, which last is a cheerful room with
ckintz covered furniture, a handsome writing
desk in the center of the room and an inlGid
secretary. There are pictures of the imperial
family, OF Prince GOrtschakof, Madame de
CatacaZy and President Grant. There are also
specimens Of the cable TO be laid i'm the Pacific
ocean betW cen the United States, China, Japan
and Russia, presented by Cyrus Field 10 Mr.. de
Catacazy.
1t will be seen that Mr.. de Catacazy has made
ne change in bis house for the accommodation
ofiis roy al visitor. but receives and entertains
him with hospitality that has nothing in il of
CANDY pretence: But for the unfortunate mis-
understanding between the Russian minister
and our Secretary Of State, there would have
been many festivities in Washington to greet the
Grand Duke. Ii had been the Intention OF Mr.
and Madame de Catacazy TO give a grand ball
ON his arrival, but all idea OF 30 doing has been
abandoned.
THERE rs LITTLE REASON TO BELIEVE
that the Grand Duke will return 10 Washington
for a more lengthy visit later In the season The
programme for his travels and the length of
time he Il 10 remain in each place was made ont
last summer by Mr.. de Catacazy at the En-
perOr's request and submitted to the EMPEROR
Tor approval, and was approved by him The
delay In the Grand Dukes arrival will ma
tsrially shorten his visit to America, since the
time OF his departure having been fixed by his
Imperial father, 10 il not likely IL will be altered
When the Emperor Of Russia has once given his
approval of plan, IL Is like the laws Of the
Aedes and Persians, which alter not.
PERsONAL--hr. James +. Taylor, the artist
who acco imprinted the Santo Domingo expedition
Tor Frank Leslie's IlEstrated Paper Is in town to
do up the pictorial features of the Grand Dukes
visit 20 Washington for the same Journal. Some
Mr. TaylOrAs DR. wings while the excursion