The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-05-03
Charles Summers nome.

Standing first among the palatial resi-
dences of Washington is the elegant home
Of Charles Sumner. 1t is unquestionably
the most unique private establishment in
the District and probably in the United
States. .... --
The beautiful house is filled with every
thing that is rich. rare. and therefore Of
inestimable value. that gentleman poss-
essing a highly cultivated mind and UNI
limited wealth would naturally wish to
surround himself with. r"t aas
The beautiful rooms are heavily wain>-
coted with carved walnut. the floors
covered with Turkey carpets and beauti-
fhl rugs. and the long windows richly
draped with brocade. lined with exquisite
lace.
Upon entering the reception hall. the
first object that meets your eye is an eX-
quisite statue of Minerva. and you are for
an instant surprised to behold your own
face peering at you over the shoulder of
the goddess. You scarcely recover from
this surprise when the wonderful ''cuckoo
clock" hanging near the statue attracts
your attention. and thus through all the
rooms. while you are silently admiring
some valuable relic from the Old World.
YOU arv constantly attracted by some
In the parlor. Turkish lounges and
quaint chairs. luXuriOusly upholstered III
yellow brocade. curiously inlaid tables
and rare statuary. form a picture of ORR
entail magnificence.
One of the attractions of the dining
room is the massive black walnut side
board. upon which may be found well
filled decanterS. dainty goblets In quaint
designs. and elegant fruit dishes of rare
workmanship. To those. however. who
''look not upon the wine when it is red
the elegant table cover upon the dining
table would BE- the greatest curiosity.
This marvellous piece of work came from
Turkey. The most dazzling colOrs of
Constantinoplc are artiStically wrought
in curious figures upon alternate rows of
black and crimson cloth. Its gorgeous
ness is almost inconceivable. except by
ocular demonstration. and its intricate de
signs make it IN ''artistic puzzle in
needlework." a
In the library are views of all the mem
orable peace conferences in the world,
from Westphalia. in lS4S. down to Paris
in 1856; of the Congress of Vienna. of
the grand old Cathedral of Cologne. There
is a fac simile of one of the windows of
the Alhambra. paintings by the Count de
Vergennes. the celebrated Cabinet minis
ter of Louis XVl.: Sir Samuel ROmily,
Bismarck and FenelOn. and numerous oil
paintings, chiefly chosen for their bril-
liant coloring. Pictures and choice en-
gravinS are everywhere. There are Gro
tius and his wife, two pictures of Edmund
Burke. and engravings of many great
generals and statesmen Ofthe Old World.
whose names stand high upon the scroll
of fame. together with some of our own
most prominent men. There is a sybil
two hundred years old; bronZes on the
manteIs, the tables and in inches and cor
ners bronZes that tell old stories of my
tbolOgy. and curious studies in China,
Japanese, Dresden. and modern French
vases.
Tn the library up stairs, where, with his
and books, when he Was not
otherwise engaged in trying by his for
cible logic to impress upon the American
people the question of equality as viewed
by European nations generally-that all
things else being equal, the colOred man is
worthy of Us much attention as the white |
man-the honorable gentleman from Mas
sachusetts may be found.
Here. as in the lower rooms, the walls |
are covered with valuable paintings, while |
the collection of canoes, mOsaics. mis- |
sails. autographs, and thousands Ofquaint |
treasures betray the veneratiOn and love |
Mr.. Sumner cherishes for all that is old |
and antique.
In this beautiful home Mr.. Sumner en-
tertains in princely style, and his soci-
ETY. is eagerly sought by the refined and |
cultivated of our land and the aristocrats
Of foreign countries who visit this city.