Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-02-18

lures past a tinted window, and a
statue in a niche, then we suddenly
found ourselves in Aladdin world of
beauty. Here are four rooms en- suite,
communicating by broad door ways, so
that standing in the front room you
seem to be looking down the nave Of a
cathedral, the tintings are so rich, and
the light so mellow. At the
extremity of the vista is large
stained glass window. whose rich warm
! colors beyond the shadowy middle dis
tance produce very fine effect. Each
of these rooms is fitted up in an entire
ly different style, having character of
its own as unique as it is beautiful
On entering the front room, which is
the drawing room, you feel yourself en-
veloped in soft brightness, a glow Of
cheerful freshness pervades the apart
mcnt. The prevailing tints are
rose and drab. Carpet, walls,
furniture, ornaments harmonic
in softened brilliancy, and large mir
rors at the opposite sides of the room
repeat this beauty with fine effect. At
ter few moments you discover there
is something more here than a mere
suGusion of soft, bright color, there is
meaning here--a history
The walls and ceiling are pictured
allegory. This painting resembles fres-
co, but is finer than fresco, as it is
done upon canvass attached to the
walls. The whole painting represents
The Overthrow of Paganism by Chris
tianity." Upon the ceiling in groups
are represented "Jupiter " with his
thunderbolts Minerva" Hercu-
les. the tragic story of : Promethe-
u.s., Saturn upon his Throne" The
Fairies and their Trains,' and the
"Fates, in their various vocations
Here is the exquisite story, Diana
and Eadymion.'' Apollo" dashes
through the heavens, scattering and
dispensing the clouds. The pretty
story of :" Cupid and Psyche follows;
then comes & Aurora" ushering in the
morning, surrounded by gcnii, who are
refreshing the earth with dew. These
mythotogical subjects have been care
fully arranged with reference to their
significance, TO illustrate the moral
growth toward Christianity. On one
side Of the ceiling are "Moses Holding
the Tables of Stone" and ''Sibyls and
Prophets Receiving the Divine Light -
On the opposite sides are " st. John
with the Revelations, " 9 Prophets and
Sibyls," and "The Magi Following a
Star - The side walls are arranged in
panels, divided by pilasters. In the
panels are represented successively y the
Christian virtues, Love-" Truth, ::
s'Faith," Justice Temperance, >
by some scene from life. The pilas-
ters are finely decorated with vines,
! flowers, birds, cherubs, and graceful
ca,yatides support the entablatures.
Though there are several hundred fig
ures upon this ceiling and walls, one
does not have a sense of crowding OF
confusion. The tints are so soft and
harmonious that it is only when one be
gius to study the painting that the
smaller figures develop themselves. A
Philadelphia artist, Carl Harnisch, ex,
ecuted this extensive and elaborate
work. Among the many rare articles
Of vertu in this room | can mention but
one, a delicate gilt card stand, with ex-
quisitely painted porcelain top, which
was taken from the boud0ir Marie
Ant0inette.
Passing out of this brilliant room. we
returned to the soft twilight Of the
room which we had entered from the
stairs. It is lighted from tinted win
dow half way up the second stairway the
color Of the walls and furniture is dark
and the light is subdued, which gives
the room an air Of mystery. Here are
multitudes Of japanese works of art
the most remarkable of which are two
ebony sofas, the backs and seats OF
which are landscape marble a curious
dark drab marble, with trees and hills
and clouds as clearly pictured as if AT
on artists brush had painted them. In
an arched recess which runs the length
af the room are mysterious dark pic
lures, statues. and cases of curious ar
ticles worthy of Hawthorne's ''FirtuO
So" One Of the most interesting arti
cIes in this room to me is quaint
clock. Above the dial-plate is seatec
a figure, representing, [ believe, "Old
Time" while gathered ip a circle
about its face are seven or eight bronze
cherubs the hours, perhaps, s,-wht
seem to be turning on wheel or chas
!, ing each other. These figures are
about six inches in length and are il
the most graceful and varied attitudes
{ of wakefulnesss and sleepiness imagina
Bile. It is one of the most charming
t groups [ have ever seen. DR.. Swanr
seems to have passion for rare clocks
| In each room is curious time-piece, IL
, harmony with the character of the
room each study of itself. At th'
hour Of twelve tinkling melody raj