The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-01-30

hills and clouds as clearly pictured as il
an artists brush had painted them. In
an arched recess which runs the length Of
the room are mysterious dark pictures
statues, and cases Of curious articles wor-
thy Of Hawthorne's "Virtuoso." One Of
the most interesting articles in this room
to me is quaint clock. About the dial
plate is seated figure, representing, ]
believe, "0ld Time, while gathered in a
circle about the face are seven or eight
bronze cherubs-the hours, perhaps-who
seem to be turning a wheel or chasing
each other. These figures are about six
inches in length and are in tho most
graceful and varied attitudes Of wake
fulness and .sleepiness imaginable 1t
is one Of the most charming groups
have ever seen. DIR. Swami seems to have
passion for rare clocks. In each room
is curious time-piece, in harmony with
tho character Of the room; each study Of
itself. At the hour of twelve n tinkling
melody ran through the rooms successfully;
so soft, one might half doubt ones sense
of hearing and fancy it was a memory of
sweet sounds
The third room IS called the Hercula-
neum Room, being nearly exact copy of
a room discovered in that buried city. II
is the library, and one side of tho room is
composed of handsome dark carved cases
filed with books The prevailing colorin
the room is dark, rich and warm. The
ceiling is frescoed to represent coffered
ceiling in dark colors, with beams inter
secting at the centre, giving the general
effect of a star. The carpet and furniture
are of the richest dark colors. In the
centre Of the room is rare table on which
are bronzes, quaint, comic and tragic; the
principal one is noble stag, nearly half
life size, rocks. The mantelpiecc is orna-
mented with bronzes, and bronze statues
stand upon pedestals in various parts Of
the room. These bronzes harmonic with
the Horculaneum character of the room,
yet do not crowd it or detract from its
character as Il library. The room seems
filed with stately serenity 1t is not
solemn as might be imagined, but seclud-
cd, poetic, restful, just the place for refuge
when one would read and dream forgetful
of tho hurrying world in which we live.
Beyond this room lies the fourth, which
We enter with an exclamation of surprise.
We seem to have passed from shadow into
a golden glow of light We are enveloped
in buff-here aud there little green in
the furniture enlivens it; while the light
streaming through the stained window,
brighten, warm, and enrich this buff world
till We are in an enthusiasm of admira.
tion. But what are these curious walls
abont us2 Carved wood, trees and vines.
and fruits and flowers. The entire waiis
of this room are wood, of the natural tint
the carvings are ofash, upon plain ground
Of elm The easements of doors and win
dows, the corniee and the angles of the
room are decorated with wreaths of leaves,
fruits, and flowers, entirely American
corn, with the husks opened, nuts adher-
ing to the branches, grapes upon the
vines. Over the mantelpiece is a picture
in carving. 1t represents an Indian on
horseback capturing an infuriated buffalo;
in the distance are mountain, meadow and
stream. The Jas-reliet' in the nearest OBJ
jeets must be three or four inches. This
is surrounded by heavily carved frame,
both picture and frame constituting the
wall. This curious piece of work was ex-
ecuted by Philadelphia artist, and su-
pervised by DR.. Swami himself While
we were studying the intricate carvings,
DR.. Swami produced pretty bird cage, in
which were two feathered songsters, who
Immediately commenced the most charm
ing music; turning their heads to look at
each other, at their gifted case, and at us,
tipping their tails and swelling their
throats while making wonderful trills, ar
peggios, and warblings. We were delight
ed, charmed; and might have believed
that we were listening to two of natures
songsters if DIR. Swami had not applied a
key and wound up the little musicians
While chatting in this bright room our
host told us something of the growth Of
this world of art about us. He said he
never had desire to squander money in
driving "a carriage and four" and horses
tandem, or in any ostentation. He pre-
ferred to gather together objects Of beauty
which might be delight and benefit to his
friends as well as to himself He said he
had frequently been asked by visitors f" if
he lived here 2" The question is not at
all singular. We had visited seven rooms,
six of which seemed exclusively devoted
to art; but there were stories above aud
below these, and mysterious stairways, of
course, between the alcoves Beside we
had visited the drawing g-room-a parlor ft
for prince, but not too good for an Amer
lean gentleman--and this room, with its
graceful carvings, was, of course, the din
ing-room. Who would not doubly enjoy
feast surrounded by such beautiful tints
and such graceful forms ?
As we grow wiser we beautify the places
where we eat and sleep, where We work
and where our children play, so that our
souls may constantly feed on beauty
When men grow rich in purse, and not in
soul, they invest their entire wealth in
business, or in banks and bonds; when