Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-04-07
An Equine Palace.

lodH L inclScO' 'Cal.
MI. John 3. Shawman, q retired men,
Der OF the San Francisco Stock Board, and
a gentleman of great wealth, is the owner
of the finest private coach house in Califor-
MIA, if notin the country. The horse palace
has just been completed, at cost of nearly
100000. The building is located about
thirty feet back from the street, the main
entrance being ON California street. An
iron ornamental fence encloses the struc-
ture, which is approached by rather
steep carriage drive. A substantial brick
and stone foundation supporting the whole,
the basement allowing sufficient room IN
which the horses may wallow and romp.
The coach room is first entered. Here are
stored the various vehicles used by the
family. This apartment is 16 feet to the
ceiling, and about 40x60 feet in width and
depth. Tie floors, walls, and ceiling are
| finished in tasteful combination Of oak,
ash, Oregon pine and walnut woods, the
ceiling being deliberately and exquisitely
ornamented. To the right. upon entering,
a door leads to an octagonal apartment,
the first floor Of the tower. This is Mrs.
ShaWman's parlor where friends are en-
tertained while the horses are being hitch
| ed up. "A warm colored carpet covers the
floor. The ceiling is frescoed in Vlham-
brain style, in blue and gold. The mantel.
piece is of Tenne ssee marble and carved
walnut, and has upon it some fine brOnzes
and muSic-boX. An immense mirror over
the fire place reflects the light from the
numerous circular windows above. The
furniture consists of some easy chairs, up
holstered in q style corresponding to the
richness of the apartm emit.
The ladies reception room fitted up with
mirrors, cabinets, lavatories with hot and
cold water, WardrobeS for ladies' riding
habits, is an independent apartment en-.
| tered by a door. A mammoth glass case,
| in which is kept the harness of the fourth
| hand, is one OF the features of the coach
| room. In another corner an apartment is
partitioned off for q harness-room. The
| panels are Of French plate glass, and the
glittering harness hung up in methodical
| TONS can be seen from the coach-rOOm. A
marble water trough for the horses, neal
the stairway, is u fine specimen Of the
| sculptor's art. The water runs into the
! trough from the mouth of a lion, whose
shaggy head peers just above the edge OF
| the basin.
The stable proper leads directly from the
coach-room, an immense sliding door Shut
| ting off the communication. In light,
ventilation and entire cleanliness this
stable cannot be surpassed. 1t is 45X65
with patent cribs and feed boxes, the in
vention Of Mr.. Duff, are On the right-hand
! side, and two box stalls and two open stalls
on the left-hand. The floor is built on in
verified arches in sections, and is easily re-
| movable for the purpose OF drenching the
| same with water An extension of the
stable-room leads to two stalls for cows
and Il foot-bath stall for horses. Opposite
| to these stalls is place for washing car
riages and Il wash-room for stable men.
| The tower is approached by a magni6-
| cent staircase, on the lowest bannister-
rail of which is perched q fine bronze figure
Of Alexander the Great holding aloft a
| lamp. This staircase is constructed from
a variety of woods, the ratings being ele.
g;lntly carved. The various floors i'll the
large tower are used as stCra-rooms, sleep
| ing apartments, etc., etc. The hay-loft is
| immediately over the coach-room, and diff
| fe;rs very far from the traditional hay-lo
| It is sufficient to say that it is i'll keeping
with the elegance Of the other portions of
the building. The interior Of the superb
stable is lighted at night with gas from
numerous pendants. Glass globes Of pretty
designs are fixed over the burners. One OF
the noticeable features in the decorative
line is the distribution of escutcheons at
| Intervals along the cornices and up in the
ct'rners. Upon these are printed heraldic
devices, no two being alike. The only
horses now in MI. ShaWman's stable are a
fine Belmont mare, broken in and driver
by Mrs. Shawhan, and four fine horses Of
!, tie Abdallah stock, imported from Ken
lucky. They are very fine animals, anC
/ the cynosure of all eyes when driven through
the park four in hand.