The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-04-18
(CoNTrNUED NEXT WEEK. J
A MAGNIFICENT MANSION.

The HandsoInest Private Renidence I'm the
South SIinuteiy Described-AIr. G. w.
WiilInins's Newly Erected EstabIisI,rnent
in Charleston.
Probably the hands0mcst and most
complete private residence In the South.
| and one Of the handsomcst in this coun.
try. is now nearly completed. Reference
/ IL mad TO the magnificent building on tho
east side of Meeting street, near the Bat
terry, designed mainly by Mr. w. p.
Russell for Mr. G. w. Williams. By the
hard times since the war our people have
been debarred from exercising their taste
in the building of palatial dwellings,
and have had little opportunity of seeing
modern displays of magnificence. On
this account, and because the structure
Is I'm ornament TO the city, it has been
thought that somewhat full description
of it will prove of interest.
| The building faces west, and stands in
a lot which fronts on Meeting street one
hundred and thirty.six feet, running
buck two hundred and forty feet east to
Church street. The house itself fronts
seventy feet, is Gne hundred a..i twenty
six feet deep, and ffty-five feet in height
from the aground to the caves, comprising
three stories, o basement, aud an attic
fourteen feet high. If the reader will
imagine himself (or herse!f) standing di-
rectiy opposite for moment, he will be
soon taken inside. First, however, he
will take Look at the exterior of the
building whoae proportions shave just
been given. 1t IL constructed of pressed
brick. From the centre there is a pro.
Lection, built of the same material, six
teen feet wide, and four feet in depth
from the main wall. The corners of this
projection, al of the house itself, are
ornamented by slate quoins, (the square
pieces used to protect and support the
external angles Of buildlpgs.) This is
the only house in the world in which
slate is used for this purpose. Against
this projection is built portico having
three. foors, each floor being protected
by broad, low baluatrade, and support
ed by Corinthian pillars. The house is
the full details nf that order of architec-
ture, the roof being plain and slated,
which meets in the centre on q tympa.
1um or triangular space, elegantly en-
riched with elaborate ornamentation in
carved wood. Upon each floor of the
portico just mentioned is large folding
door, each door being fanked on each
side by classical twin windows, composed
OF four lights of plate glass one-quarter OF
an inch thick, and having walnut Vene-
tian blinds inside, the dimensions being
on the first fuor thirty nine by forty.
seven, on the second thirty y-nine by forty
three, and on the third thirty-nine by
thirty-ive. The. angles of these win.
dows are ornamented with quoins OF
} black brick. connected with these at the
angles of the house and projection by
betting courses, or rOws, of black brick.
The tops, or mullions, of the windows
supply their keystones, and their heads
! being covered by scroll and ornamental
carving in wood. On the south side OF
the house il throe.story piazza, twelve
feet wide by fifty feet deep, with low
balustrades'aDd supported by Corinthian
Having inspected the front, the reader
J will now walk across the street. Crossing
broad pavement composed of white
and blue marble squares, he reaches an
iron, gate forming, by quarter turn,
In the iron fence, an alcove. In one OF
tee granite pillar. ssha atoaa be!og floa.
Winnsboro) IL little copper knob. A
touch upoh this starts electric bells ring
ing, the workings of which will be de-.
answer to his ring the visitor will have
time to notice aud admire the four foot
pavcments of the alcoye, which is form.
cd of encaustic tiles, beautifully made
apd laid; also the flower garden, which
has sprung forth as if by magic The
gate being open, he steps upon a similar
tile pavement eight feet wide, and
branching off to the right and left plat
forms of the portico. Up each side of
this portico is short fight of solid slate
sleps. eight feet long, laid in common
with the platform and floor of the por-
tico Ia marble and ynriegated slate tiling.
The front door is folding, and made of
solid black walnut, eleven feet high and
six feet wide. It is surmounted by a
large plate glass transom, and enriched
with rope moulding, tho panel Jams be.
ing also decorated with carved mould.
inGs.
The RECEPTION RooM.-The ceiling
OF this is panelled and beautifully fresS'
coed in modern Italian, and is further
ornamented by egg and dot mouldings
tipped with gilt, and an artistic Egyptian
centre. piece from which depends glass
and silver chandelier. The cornice from
walls to ceiling is deep, and in the full
Details Of the Corinthian architecture,
| <Ae euo Suutb ouu Ot tnt8 room r largo
plate glass window slides up almost at q
touch. giving an exit six and half feet
high upon the piaEza. This sash Weighs
one hundred and sixty-iye pounds. Bat
is SO delicately balanced on either side
by lead weights as to ue lifted with case.
From the reception room another door
opens into the main ball, which il four.
teen feat wide, fourteen feet high and
sixty.nve feet 10 length. The ceiling of
this hall Is alone subject for a DAVIS
study. At each of its four corners is a
fresco representing one Of the four Sea.
sons, end the main portion 10 frescoed In
panels which surround an elipticsl Ro.
man ceutre-piece.
I rum inc mali on tne north aide, the
visitor next goes through pair of wal.
nut-sliding doors, ten feet In width bv
eleven IN height, into the drawing room.
Rv O ample and Ingenious arrangement
within the HSll these doors are so made
as to rebound wNen forcibly pushed back.
and close themselves again. The draw.
ing room Is twenty BY thirty y-eight feet,
and on its northern side is deep bay
window, direcly opposite the door, light.
ed By largo plate glass ss.sin window,
with side lights fanking it. On either
side CO .ti1 dur anu the recess OF this
window 10 o Cerinthian pilaster OF solid
che.iy, supporting heavy cherry beam
running across the apartment from north
to sonth. Tho cornicea arc Corinthian,
ana carved in aolid cherry. The wains-