National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-07-20
THE GREAT SHOW.
A Short Rsmble Through the British Build
PHIIA lnlv Il 1911.


PHILADELPHIA, July IL, 1878.
Unless any one wishes to come to an ignomn-
GUS end by meltirg let them stay away from Phil
adelphia The patriotic citizens consOled US through
June by saying that they always had a cool July
Now they say they will have a cool August. The
thermometer has been over ninety every day for
nearly two weeks and forbearance has ceased to
be a virtue. The poor wretches who perspire
around here trying to see the sights babble of
nothing but the furnace-like air and the GOODNESS
of their far-away homes. A party from Ken
lucky came here Saturday morning. and left
Sunday morning, declaring that nothing could
induce them to stay in such terrible place. Sun
stroke is the order of the day, and strcetcar
horses are forever falling down in the tracks and
leaving people in q dilemma as to whether they
shall get out and walk or be brutal enough to
wait and make the jaded animals haul them over
the scOrching payements.
Among other cheerful results of the heat is the
report that we will not have anything to eat I'M
less we have rain soon. Out in the country every
thing is parched and wilted, the streams drying
up and the wells giving out. Soon will be heard
the cry of the marketmen, 1--WE will have no
peaches this year W hat keeps the water supply in
the city from giving out cannot see for there has
been no water going over the dam for more than
month. Sunday was intolerably hot, but some
people were rash enough to go five miles out to
hear Bishop Simpson preach in q tent. The tent
was pitched in the midst of a treeless field, and
those who survived the excursion could tell OF
nothing but their sufferings. The park was filled
with people all day but the air was as motionless
there as down in the city. Even out on the Gen.
tennial grounds, where there is always some
kind of breeze, the same cry against the intol-
cradle heat was raised Flags hung limp and
motionless all day. Those who were rash enough
to attempt writing stuck to 1t in the literal sense
of the expression. Every time lifted my hand
the paper went along with it, and soon gave up
trying to inform any one of my fast languishiDg
state.
The British buildings ought to he delightfully."-
for comfort and ventilation The exterior is
rather plain, as all must be aware, from the
numerous pictures in our illustrated papers:
cannot be excelled; From the front porch one
enters the square hall with its tiled floor, large
fire place, oaken benches, tables, and
BEAUTIFUL BUFFET.
which bears some Of the choicest specimens OF
England's ceramic work. Engravings of works
of favorite artists are found in all of the rooms,
and Mr.. Jopling, the artist in water colors, has
contributed twelve pictures for the afornment of
the British home All OF these twelve pictures
are portraits of Mrs. JOpling in different atti-
tudes and costumes, and his three contributions
to Memorial Hall have the same subject.
This unusual admiration of an artist for his wife
calls forth many remarks from visitors In 6ll,
the house contains eighteen rooms and each one
seems more beautiful and attractive than the
others. Opening into the main entrance hall is
u small drawing room. with abreakfast-ro0m and
library at either end, connected with folding
doors The general tint of these three rooms is
rich brown. The walls are wainscOated and hung
with dark brown paper in Venetian leather pat
tern and finished at the top and bottom with
brilliantly gilded dado and frieze. The hreplaceS
are laid sides and floor, with encaustic tiles, and
brass andirOns with sun1Owers on their fronts,
complete the picture of the Sixteenth century.
The carved oak mantlcpiece, reaching nearly to
the ceiling is simple in shape and ornament, and
hos wp1UpwOOu faience plaques
and Jugs uphold some of ElkIngton's famous re-
productions of Cellini's masterpieces:
The carpet is in small Persian design in green,
red and brown, and is the same throughout the
house. The furniture of oak, upholstered in
brown leather, completes the picture; These
three rooms are masterpieces of household art,
and are more soothing and delightful than any
art gallery. The perfect harmony of colors and
tints falls gratefully upon the eye accustomed to
the red. white yellow, green. blue and browns
that are jumbled together in the State buildings.
The treasures in the way Of rare china and silver
rooms famous. The small window panes in their
lead castings have the light toned down to a soft
haze by curtains of Russia crash, over which fall
the heavy damask hangings.
The ladies' reception room is furnished in ebony
upholstered in black and gold damask. superb
ebony cabinet, with heavy diamond-like pieces of
plate glass let into the cases, almost bewilders
one with its beauty. A card-receiver on the large
ebony table is reproduction OF Cellinfs MUSES."
in repOussee silver. Up stairs are more reception
rooms and Offices all furnished in the same per-
feet taste, and from their deep window stills fine
views are nau oil the PARK ana the grOunus anu
buildings of the Exhibition. In Colonel Sand
fOrd's office, by whose courtesy We were shown
through, were more portraits of Mrs. Jopling and
more exquisite china. On the buffet were two
cGrofes OF Cashmere porcelain, the most beauti-
full thing in china that has been introduced since
the days of Josiah WedgewOOd. The decoration
is on gold ground, and the whole surface is COW
cred with the graceful and peculiar designs hith-
erto sacred to Cashmere shawls.
One can hardly imagine anything so unique and
beautiful. This ware is the production OF one of
the Stafordshire potteries, and was first shown
to the public at the Vienna Exposition. On the
centre table a silver tray with cut glass mugs,
and a comcal ''gray beard" of terra Gotta, the
fOaming contents of which had but lately disap-
peared down the throats of these loyal Britons.
At the front door we were invited to register our
names, and for that purpose were given a gray
goose GULL, tina. iIIaue percep;Ible marx. As
rule, the worst pens in the world are found on
these grounds. The points are all like needles,
and have way of sticking one foot into the paper
and kicking ink around with the other that 1t is
enough to drive one distracted in such weather.
In the yard Of these English buildings the grass
seed even was sent from England but has not the
greenness of the turf of the tight little island.
All sorts of lovely, comfortable chairs are scat
tered around the lawn back of the house, where
the ROSY commissioners set on these hot summer
Diphtss