The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-04-21
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. April II, 1876.

phANO AAafADo, NAASh's %APAAt 49, AS'S'
Mr.. EDITOR:
AS there is general dearth Of news as we'll as
of business, we thought 1t might not be unin-
teresting to your readers to know what we find
to engage our attention up here on the border
Of the frozen region, where the snow and ice
has not yet quite all disappeared from the
shady side of the streets.
The past week the sales ROOMS OF Nelson d
Matter have been the center OF attraction as
the furniture intended for the Centennial has
been on exhibition. 1t consisted Of bedstead
and dressing case made OF the finest walnut,
and ebony with gilt tracery, the former we
judge to be about sixteen feet high at the head,
in mixture Of Corinthlan and Doric architec-
ture, the arch at the center surmounted by
large gilt eagle with spread wings; under this is
niche in which. stands a statuette OF Washing
ton about eighteen inches in hight, which Is
white, but we think not marble Either side
this niche are small ebony columns supporting
the heavy moulding at the top,-either side
there are lesser inches arched above and finished
at the outer sides OF the bedstead with other
ebony coluuns-and in these are bronze statuette
ecote hWOiNo ihSdoo niSnt, bcAOW tuccc Wo
would say to the ladies' are elegant panels, CIV
ing ample room to display the most exquisite
OF pillow shams. The foot which Is about three
feet high, also contains three niches In the GEN.
ter one stands o gold bronze statuette about
twelve inches in hight Of Liberty. Either side
are lesser ones where names we have forgotten,
the, shall we say posts at the foot which are
about the hight as in center or octagonal are
about foot across, on these stand knights in
green and silver bronze about the hight of the
others; in the extended hand is gas jet which
Is kept burning whenever we have seen it.
As to the delicacy and beauty OF carving
which everywhere ornaments the whole we shall
attempt no description; enough that this piece
OF furniture Is valued at the modest sum OF
five thousand dollars.
The dressing case in every way corresponds
in elegance with thus and ia valued at two
thousand, making the set worth the very mod.
crate price OF seven thousand dollars. The
finishing has been the work OF three men since
Thanksgiving. general hearty good laugh
was produced one day by country woman who
after walking all round the bedstead, and seem
ingiy critically examining it, stepped back an(
exclaimed "Well, don't know as could res
a bit better on that air bedstead than my owl
at home, but it would be kind o. nice to hav,
sich man as that, pointing tc the figure O
Washington) lowering over body while the,
was asleep
The Phoenix Furniture Co.. also have SO
nearly completed for the same place, il is no
yet on exhibition but photographs have alread
been taken; it promises not to DO second Il
the first. In this the figure OF Washington
carved in the solid wood of which il is com
posed, and is the work OF some OF their owl
employees.
Berkey & Gay have also one nearly done. up
on which they have been at worl it is ST.;
nearly year. We believe they claim a ne,
kind Of finish which is equal in beauty to tn
finest veneer1ng, and not liable to chip of tn
patentee is in their employ and finishing thei
set 10 this manner, little else Is known about
at present.
The other one engrossing topic is-rents mus
come down. The business men Of the city hav
held several meetings 10 determine what wa
best to be done. Many landlords upon beln